// PC GAMER — GAMING
Asus TUF Gaming A16 gaming laptop review
The TUF A16 is a remarkably well rounded gaming laptop, with an exceptional compliment of hardware at a well adjusted price point. With a crisp, clean, high refresh screen and a svelte style, for those looking for a budget(ish) laptop that can handle everything you can throw at it look no further.
PC Gamer's got your back
Our experienced team dedicates many hours to every review, to really get to the heart of what matters most to you. Find out more about how we evaluate games and hardware.
The ask this month was a simple one. Take a trio of mid-range(ish) laptops, the Asus TUF Gaming A16, the Lenovo Legion 5, and the MSI Katana 15 HX. Benchmark the crap out of them, run them as a daily driver for a spell, research the bejesus out of them, and then see which one croaks under the pressure. A, dare I say, qualitative and quantitative group test of sorts, split across three separate reviews. Akin to the old printed tech mag days of yore.
It's been fun, inciteful, and frustrating at times, and as this is the last review of the bunch, let me tell you, if this was Maximum PC or PC Format, it's here that I'd be waxing lyrical about how the winner of this month's arduous journey, is, without even a modicum of doubt, the Asus TUF Gaming A16.
Truly, its implementation is a thing of beauty. It's an expertly balanced laptop that satisfies not only the needs of the professional, but that of the gamer as well. Its blend of hardware, style and pricing has put the TUF on the right path to claim its very own slot in our best gaming laptops buying guide, and with good reason.
That's not to say it's perfect, I have my quibbles with it, don't get me wrong, but what Asus has managed to achieve here, on a budget is nigh impressive. The form factor, the design, the performance, the screen, the ports, all of it hits the marks that matter, and smooth over the wrinkles that the others introduce.
It's a thing of beauty, again all for a price that slides under what you'd expect Asus would charge for something like this. If you're after a new laptop and find this thing on sale during Black Friday and the next few months, and it sits in your price bracket, I'd highly recommend it.
✅ You want a well rounded gaming laptop: Everything on the TUF A16 is remarkably well balanced, the hardware spec blended with that 1920x1200 screen is an absolute treat. If you want to game, or work on it, present or stream, you can do it all without fear.
❌ You're looking at a futureproof purchase: Although it's good today, 16 GB of DDR5 and an RTX 5050 err on the conservative side. If you're looking to keep this running long into the future, frame rates may begin to stutter as you approach the three to four year mark.
The TUF A16 is a remarkably well rounded gaming laptop, with an exceptional compliment of hardware at a well adjusted price point. With a crisp, clean, high refresh screen and a svelte style, for those looking for a budget(ish) laptop that can handle everything you can throw at it look no further.