Asus has expanded its laptop lineup in China with the launch of the 2026 Vivobook 14SE and Vivobook 16SE, two new Intel Wildcat Lake-powered notebooks aimed at users who want modern performance, slim designs, and high-refresh-rate displays at a competitive price.
While both models share many of the same internal specifications, the Vivobook 16SE stands out thanks to its more impressive screen option. Asus is offering the 16-inch model with two IPS display choices. The base panel features a 1920 x 1200 resolution, while the upgraded version increases that to 2560 x 1600. Both displays support a smooth 144Hz refresh rate, making them appealing for everyday productivity, browsing, media playback, and light gaming.
The higher-end Vivobook 16SE display also adds variable refresh rate support and reaches up to 400 nits of brightness. On paper, this makes it one of the more attractive display options in its price category, especially for users who want sharper visuals and smoother motion without moving into premium laptop pricing.
Under the hood, both the 2026 Vivobook 14SE and Vivobook 16SE are powered by the Intel Core 5 320 processor from Intel’s Wildcat Lake family. This chip is positioned as a mid-range option, designed to handle daily computing tasks such as multitasking, document editing, video streaming, web browsing, and general productivity.
Asus pairs the processor with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of PCIe 4.0 storage, giving both laptops a solid foundation for fast boot times, responsive app loading, and comfortable multitasking. For students, office users, and home users, this configuration should be more than enough for regular daily workloads.
The two laptops also share the same slim and lightweight design. The chassis measures as thin as 15.9mm and weighs around 1.29kg, making the Vivobook 14SE and 16SE easy to carry in a backpack or laptop bag. Despite the portable form factor, Asus has included a practical selection of ports.
Connectivity options include two USB-C 3.2 ports with Power Delivery support, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, one HDMI 2.1 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. This setup should be convenient for users who still rely on traditional accessories such as wired mice, external drives, monitors, headphones, or projectors.
Battery capacity is also the same across both models, with Asus fitting a 52.5Wh battery inside. Real-world battery life will depend on the efficiency of the Intel Wildcat Lake processor, display brightness, refresh rate settings, and workload. However, the combination of a modern Intel chip and a moderately sized battery could make these laptops capable options for all-day productivity.
Pricing is another major highlight. In China, the 2026 Asus Vivobook 14SE and Vivobook 16SE start at CNY 4,599, which is roughly $675. The Vivobook 16SE with the upgraded 2560 x 1600 display is priced at CNY 4,999, or about $734.
With a sharp 16-inch screen option, 144Hz refresh rate, Intel Wildcat Lake hardware, 16GB of RAM, PCIe 4.0 storage, and a slim design, the 2026 Asus Vivobook 16SE could become a strong choice for buyers looking for a feature-rich laptop at a reasonable price.
Asus has not yet confirmed full global availability details, but more information about international launch plans is expected to arrive soon.
