The 14-inch, ARM-based Asus Vivobook is half off today

I’m typically reluctant to recommend budget-friendly laptops, particularly ones that run Windows, because they suck, more often than not. That’s beginning to change, thanks in part to last year’s introduction of the Snapdragon X-series processors that offer solid performance and good x86 and x64 app compatibility. If you’re in need of a compact 14-inch laptop with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD, the Asus Vivobook 14 in the “quiet blue” color scheme packed with the eight-core Snapdragon X CPU is $379.99 for the rest of the day at Best Buy (originally $749.99).

The Snapdragon X sits below the X Plus and X Elite found in pricier laptops in terms of performance. So, it’s probably not the ideal pick if you run system-intensive apps, but it should be fine for web browsing and casual content creation.

ARM-based laptops can’t run x86 or x64 apps natively, although strides have been made to boost emulation compatibility and performance in many of the most popular apps. In short, it’s far less painful now than it used to be to jump from, say, a laptop with an Intel or AMD processor. And, despite this being a thin and affordable laptop, its port selection is fairly impressive, boasting two USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports, HDMI 2.1 output, a headphone jack, and two USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 ports (both support charging and DisplayPort out). It also has a somewhat large trackpad, a 1080p Windows Hello IR webcam, and a physical cover for the webcam. Seems like a pretty nice value, if you ask me.

Some other great Verge-approved deals

• Much has been said about the exorbitant costs of RAM these days, but Micro Center actually has a pretty nice deal on an AMD-based CPU/RAM/motherboard bundle containing its new high-end Ryzen 7 9850X3D processor, a nice Asus X870-P Prime motherboard, and 32GB (2 x 16GB) of 6000MHz DDR5 RAM. You can get all of that for $699.99. It’s a fantastic value considering that the new CPU alone currently costs $500, and the RAM is otherwise $349.99 to buy outside of the bundle.
• Depending on where you live, a Sam’s Club near you may be offering a big discount on the Nintendo Switch 2 bundle that includes a digital code for Mario Kart World. Normally $499.99 (and becoming more difficult to find since this particular model has been discontinued), it’s $424.91 when you arrange an in-store pickup at certain locations. Granted, you need to be a member in order to shop at Sam’s Club, but if you aren’t already one, this deal may be worth considering a membership to get.
• Google’s vertically-oriented Pixel Flex charger with two USB-C ports that tops out at 67W charging speed is 30 percent off at Amazon. Originally $59.99, it’s $41.99 right now. While it isn’t the fastest charge you can get under $50, you might like the way this minimalist model looks more than others. It has fold-out prongs and smooth edges, and it can recognize Pixel phones so that it always prioritizes charging them with the fastest possible speed.