It’s been a long time since I heard the name VAIO. Once tied to Sony, VAIO gained popularity as a brand focused on supporting creative endeavors. It was so popular that Steve Jobs wanted it to run MacOS. VAIO was the first mobile computer to feature a built-in webcam, popularize chicklet-style keyboards, and offer a better overall better screen experience than the competition. Even the name VAIO—Visual Audio Intelligent Organizer—was a sign of the brand’s dedication creators. If you look at the logo, it resembles a sine wave with the IO representing binary digits 1 and 0. VAIO has a deep devotion to those who wish to take their creativity to new levels, but does it measure up in the modern day? Let’s take a look at the VAIO SX14-R and put it to the test!
Design
In terms of aesthetics, the SX14-R knocks it out of the park. For this review, I received the emerald green model, which features a stunning green chassis with gold trim that looks incredibly premium, sleek, and stylish. The colorfulness of the SX14-R is hard not to love, though the chassis is a bit of a smudge magnet inside and out. Luckily, a nice cleaning cloth is included.
When it comes to the build quality, the SX14-R is a mixed bag. A handful of modern laptops have adopted a metal chassis that adds a sense of reliability to their design while also adding weight. VAIO went with carbon fiber, which explains why the SX14-R feels so light, I barely feel it in my commuter bag. Also, according to VAIO, this laptop can resist drops from up to 5 ft.
The hinge can be opened with just one finger which is nice while feeling smooth as it slowly opens up to a full 180-degrees. This hinge gives secondary viewers a clear look at the beautiful screen which I will touch upon later. When open, the keyboard is placed at an angle to provide a comfortable typing experience.
Keyboard Trackpad
I can’t say many positive comments about the keyboard. It doesn’t necessarily feel second rate, but I believe it should feel better as this is a premium laptop. The keys themselves feel a bit squishy, and the tray is very flexible, which doesn’t feel great if you are a heavy typer. As per VAIO, supposedly the reason for this is because the keyboard is water resistant. There are no hot keys to adjust the keyboard backlighting, so you must go through the VAIO control center to properly adjust instead of doing so on the fly. Although, there are some solid choices when it comes to how your backlighting is engaged, so if you like to fine-tune your experience, there is something there.
While the keyboard leaves much to be desired, the enlarged touchpad does feel great! I really enjoy how smooth it feels and how responsive it is. It doesn’t click down and instead has two dedicated buttons for left and right clicks. Despite their presence, you can still use typical gestures to control your desktop. Simply tap with one finger for left click, two fingers for right click.
Display
The SX14-R’s screen really stands out. Rivaling some of the most advanced laptop displays out in the market, the SX14-R’s display boasts incredibly clear visuals thanks to its crisp 2560 x 1600 resolution IPS touchscreen. The color accuracy is also phenomenal and doesn’t require any sort of calibration.
The only downside to the display is the refresh rate, which isn’t explicitly stated by VAIO, but I was able to max it out around 60 Hz. There was some occasional screen tearing when I scrolled past certain elements too quickly, which isn’t a great visual experience. Granted, stationary images still look great. Some people might not like the glossy finish on the display as it could produce glare, but I didn’t feel that it got in the way as the brightness, while not defined, goes up so high that it seems to negate any glare and finger smudges. Professionals who like to dabble in Photoshop would make great use of this display.
Connectivity
For a laptop this size and class, I am pleasantly surprised at the connectivity options. We have two Thunderbolt 4 ports and two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports. Additionally, a single HDMI port is available for external display support alongside the dual Thunderbolt ports. I do appreciate how both the USB-A and Thunderbolt ports are located on the left and right side of the laptop, which is surprisingly rare in many cases and makes a ton of difference here. This split design allows me to pick and choose where to plug in my charger and peripherals without trying to snake a cable from one side to the other.
Bluetooth 5.3 technology allows you to use wireless peripherals if you don’t want to use any of the available ports. While the laptop does have Wi-Fi 7 wireless networking, it also has an ethernet port for wired connections, a great feature for professional environments where signal isn’t great or not offered at all.
When it comes to sound, the built-in speakers sound fine. When you get near max volume, the sound can become a bit distorted and feel muffled which isn’t great. There is a bit of a tinny sound at this volume level, and it meshes too much with the low end. I wouldn’t lean on this device for audio capabilities or editing.
I also tested out the onboard camera, which operates in line with most onboard webcams in other laptops. When on conference calls, it does the trick. I don’t think you would need anything more. The camera was able to capture me clearly.
Performance
When it comes to how it operates, the SX14-R does perform well considering the build. It is equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, a 1TB SSD, and backed by integrated Intel Arc Graphics. When it comes to the pure speed of the machine, it measures incredibly well especially for the use case. When I look at the whole picture of who the SX14-R is for, I can’t say it is necessarily the creative crowd. It is quick, responsive, and it can handle programs like Photoshop quite well, but anything revolving around video or audio editing will need a more robust machine.
While it isn’t ideal for resource-demanding tasks, there are some redeeming factors. It is a great device for the professional world where image editing done on occasion, and in-person collaboration is necessary. The 180-degree hinge makes it easy for others to view work together while the touchscreen enables a more direct approach to controlling the device. If you want to change something on the fly, it is quite possible along with managing documents and sifting through PDFs.
Overall, the VAIO SX14-R is a sleek and stylish device with an incredible display that outshines a wide margin of laptops I have used, but it has a clear limit on what it can do, and the keyboard could be leagues better.
If you’d like more information about the VAIO SX14-R and even want to see the other breathtaking colors and configurations, make sure you click on the links above.
