VAIO's fancy SX14-R laptop focuses on looks, portability and conferencing

It's all thanks to a new construction method and a bit of AI magic.

VAIO SX14-R “Kachiiro” limited edition.

VAIO is alive and well. In fact, since its spin-off from Sony, the brand just hit its 10th anniversary as of July 1 this year (though it’ll soon be acquired by electronics store chain Nojima in early January 2025). To mark the occasion, the company released two new 14-inch lightweight laptops: the consumer-facing SX14-R and the identical-looking Pro PK-R for business clients. (So technically speaking, it’s really just one new laptop design.) While these Japan-made machines are powered by the slightly older Intel Meteor Lake chips, VAIO does offer some cunning AI features to address pain points related to conference calls.

I got to see all six SX14-R designs at VAIO’s Tokyo office, and my top choice is the “Kachiiro” (勝色) deep indigo limited edition, especially with how its rose gold accent accentuates the deep indigo body. But I’m also a big fan of the cool-looking “All Black Edition,” the flamboyant “deep emerald” and the posh “urban bronze” options. I was also a little gobsmacked by the completely black keyboard on the “Kachiiro” and “All Black Edition” models, with each key top featuring subtle “hidden engraving” (with the exception being the fingerprint-reading power button) — these do become more visible when the backlight comes on, thankfully.

The “deep emerald” version of the VAIO SX14-R.

It’s a tough choice between my four favourite picks. At the end of the day, it’s all about your own fashion statement, and what kind of impression you want to leave at work — especially when you meet clients. The VAIO team doesn't shy away from being finicky about colour perfection, and I’m sure long-time fans will attest to this.