If you’ve previously read our article on the best laptops not made in China, you’ll know that the VAIO SX14 is one of our favorite choices of computers. It is made in Japan and is one of the most durable pieces of tech out there.
VAIO has continued to be a brand that stands out when it comes to building a laptop that works for you. A strong competitor in the laptop game the VAIO SX14 is an ultrabook that pulls no punches.
Designed as a business laptop, the SX14 is lightweight but still durable, has a 4K display and fast performance overall. One of the biggest perks is the number of ports that allow you to run multiple extensions.
So let’s go over the VAIO SX14 and see if it lives up to the hype. We’ll run through all the pros and cons of this sleek laptop and whether you should invest in one today.
VAIO SX14 Pro Review
Here we’ll go over the main features and review the VAIO SX14.
While designed as a business laptop the VAIO SX14 has numerous benefits for anyone looking to invest in a quality laptop
Pros
- Extremely lightweight yet durable
- Stylishly designed
- Overall fast performance
- Tons of ports
- 4K display
Cons
- Short battery life
- Smaller touchpad
- Speakers are not designed well and don’t transmit sound
Overall Design
The VAIO SX14 is a 14-inch ultrabook laptop.
Boasting a 4K display and fast performance, this feather-light laptop is highly portable. Keeping up with competitors, the VAIO SX14 keeps the weight down to a very low 2.3 pounds making it great to carry from meeting to meeting or class to class.
While the price is higher for a student laptop, if you’re looking to invest in something that will last and work hard for you over time, this laptop would be a worthwhile option.
Processor and memory
With a fast processor that loads almost anything at a snap, the VAIO SX14 does gaming, video streaming, and loads graphics in a snap.
Utilizing “Intel†Turbo Boost Technology, the VAIO SX14 loads huge amounts of data in just seconds. Running the Core i7, the 1TB memory bank easily transfers large amounts of data so it will be ready when you need it.
The drawback to the fast processor and internal memory is that the battery life is lacking and you’ll be limited on what you can accomplish by the time that your laptop will stay alive. While being close to a plug-in may seem like a viable option at any point, you never know where you might find yourself. Losing your project or work because of poor battery isn’t something you want to happen.
Keyboard and touchpad
While the keys have shorter distances between them they’re still very comfortable to type on. With an island-style backlit keyboard that is angled downward, the pressure on your wrists is lessened making it easy to keep typing on your project.
The touchpad, however, needs some improvement.
One of the smallest touchpads on the market, coming in at just 3×2 inches, it makes it hard to maneuver around the screen. The buttons to click are often stiff and hard to click making it hard to utilize at the best of times.
Using a Precision Driver can help with the responsiveness of the touchpad but it can still be hard to maneuver around the screen. Using an external mouse with one of the many USB ports can help reduce the issues you may have.
Battery Life
While the laptop utilizes a 4K display and a U-series processor this tanks the battery life. Most laptops clock in at 8 hours or more of battery life while the SX14 only lasted about 4.5 hours.
The simplicity of a laptop is its ability to be cordless. With the poor battery life of the SX14, you may end up back in the stone ages connect to a power source if you plan on using your laptop for very long.
Webcam and audio
The 4K display may be phenomenal but it’s not translated to the webcam.
The VAIO SX14 webcam offers up a large amount of visual noise in the connected image and doesn’t offer a clear picture for the most part. Even with large amounts of light in the room, the camera didn’t pick up pictures the way it should.
The audio is also a tough sell with the speakers on the bottom of the laptop that sound weak and hollow for the most part. Even at full-volume, they tend not to fill the room with sound.
Price
There are tons of laptops on the market that would fit anyone’s lifestyle choices and budget. Knowing your budget before you go out to buy a laptop can help you narrow down your selection.
The prices on the VAIO SX14 range from $999 up to $1,999. It’s on the pricier end of the models on the market right now and comes with a variety of storage capacity for the prices.
Who Should Buy the VAIO SX14?
If you’re looking for a great business laptop that gives you several options for ports and storage, this laptop is right for you. Anyone who does lots of gaming may give this laptop a try with the 4K display and tons of storage but for anyone streaming, the webcam is a huge drawback.
If you’re working in the business world and looking for a laptop that will work hard and fast and look great while it’s doing it, you’ve come to the right place. The VAIO SX14 may have shorter battery life and a small touchpad but both are obstacles that can be easily overcome.
Working on the go and making sure that your laptop looks as professional as you do, this VAIO SX14 will work well for you.
While an option for students, the high price tag is a hard sell. With the large storage capacity, it may be a viable option for any students who have deep pockets and an external mouse. But for the most part, this laptop is geared toward the dedicated professional who is willing to drop some serious cash on a laptop that looks great and works well.
The Takeaway
The VAIO SX14 looks sleek and shiny but has a few drawbacks. The small touchpad and shorter battery life make it hard to use on the go. But as an office set-up with higher storage capacity and ultra-thin and sleek design, the VAIO SX14 will work hard and fast and look great doing it.
The price tag on this laptop may make you second guess but the added storage capacity for the more expensive model makes it worth the cost. If you’re just a casual gamer, student, or just starting in the business world, this model may not be for you.
But if you’re serious about getting into business and need a computer that will travel, has multiple ports, and will look great while you’re working, this is the computer for you.
