ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version assessment: This can be a mouthful

The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version is a mouthful when you must inform somebody the title of your laptop computer. And if you’re utilizing it, folks will ask “What laptop computer is that this?” Whereas it doesn’t have an RGB strip operating throughout the chassis, this machine has all necessities to be known as a gaming laptop computer. Additionally Learn – Asus Zenfone 10 appears precisely like Zenfone 9

One of many quirks of a TUF gaming laptop computer is that individuals don’t actually consider that is an ASUS machine, as a result of they suppose ASUS solely makes the ROG ones. However proper from the unboxing, you possibly can clearly inform that is an ASUS laptop computer and a gaming one at that. Additionally Learn – 2023 Asus ROG Stream Z13 assessment: Is that this actually a “pill”?

ASUS TUF- The place did it come from?

Some context earlier than we dive into this ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version assessment. The ASUS TUF sequence truly began as a sturdy motherboard lineup in 2010. Then in 2013, ASUS launched the AMD-based TUF Sabertooth motherboard. Additionally Learn – Asus Zenfone 10 scheduled to launch on June 29, however do not get too excited

After the motherboards, ASUS launched the TUF Gaming K7, an optical mech keyboard. And after this, the world’s first gaming monitor with concurrent movement blur discount, the TUF Gaming VG32VQ. Lower to 2023, and now we have a complete TUF Gaming lineup that borrows closely from all of the innovation carried out in its title.

I consider that is sufficient context, now we will get to the fast unboxing and detailed assessment of ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version.

Asus TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version: Field contents

This is available in a easy however fashionable cardboard field that appears higher from behind for some purpose. Contained in the field, you’ll discover the laptop computer, a chunky 240-watt energy brick, and a few paperwork. Whereas it’s a proprietary energy brick, you may also use a 100-watt USB C charger to energy this laptop computer.

Asus TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version specs

Construct, design, and upgradability

These are the three parameters on which you choose a laptop computer as quickly as you hear about it. And this one appears to tick many of the containers. In response to an ASUS assist web page, TUF gaming laptops earn the TUF badge as a result of they’re Army Commonplace (MIL-STD 810) examined. Nevertheless, the A16 Benefit isn’t on that checklist however remains to be fairly well-built.

The triangular rubber foot reduces chassis flex and raises the laptop computer for higher warmth dissipation

The chassis barely has nearly no flex, and that’s because of a intelligent little bit of design beneath the laptop computer. ASUS planted this orange triangular foot beneath the laptop computer to scale back the chassis flex, and barely increase the laptop computer for higher warmth dissipation. The opposite rubber ft are additionally well-matched with the chassis color so that you’ll not be capable of inform which one is the rubber strip with out touching it.

On the left aspect, you get DC-in, LAN, HDMI 2.1, 2 USB-C ports, 1 USB-A port, and a headphone jack. One other USB-A port and a Kensington lock reside on the left aspect. Now one of many USB-C ports is USB-4 and permits Sort-C charging for this system, which is sweet.

The massive chassis of the A16 comes with numerous improve choices. Apart from the 1TB pre-installed SSD, you’ve gotten two extra M.2 PCIe Gen4 SSD Slots with as much as 2TB per slot enlargement. Furthermore, you get 2 x SO-DIMM sockets for a complete enlargement of as much as 32 GB. So, you possibly can improve this laptop computer through the years whenever you really feel the necessity.

The design continues to impress whenever you open the laptop computer. The operate keys are in separate teams, in order that they’re extra accessible for keyboard shortcut customers. There are 4 customizable keys on high of the keyboard. By default, these are mapped for quantity up, down, mic mute, and Armoury Crate.

You’ll see warmth vents on the backbone, sides, and beneath the laptop computer. These are backed by the 84-blade Arc Stream followers, so even when the surface of the system runs scorching, it stays cool on the within. In my testing too, I discovered it releasing warmth from each course, however no drop in efficiency.

Show and audio system

I’ve been a “compact tech” man for so long as I can bear in mind. I used a 13-inch MacBook Air, then a 13-inch Dell Inspiron and my each day driver is an iPhone 12 Mini. This was for context to inform you that the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is the primary large laptop computer I’ve used as a each day driver. And I’m beginning to understand why larger screens are higher, and why the A16 is sitting in a candy spot on the TUF lineup.

It’s packing a 16-inch IPS Full HD+ (1920 x 1200) 165Hz show. It has an anti-glare coating and a 7ms quick response time. At 250 nits, it isn’t probably the most appropriate outside use machine, however amply brilliant to observe motion pictures like Avatar and Tenet. And whenever you’re utilizing it in low gentle or in a darkish room, the show can go dim sufficient to not pressure your eyes.

Due to the 16:10 facet ratio, it’s a tall display screen, and workplace work is a breeze as you possibly can see extra vertical data. You will see black bars on the high and backside whereas watching movies. However then once more, the display screen is sufficiently big that you just’ll most likely not thoughts the bars.

Coming to the audio system, it’s a blended bag. They’re detailed, however not loud sufficient. There’s nearly no bass, however should you’re in a quiet room, the general sound separation works nicely. They’re Dolby Atmos audio system and include AI noise cancellation. So, should you’re on a video name and the opposite particular person has numerous noise of their audio, this laptop computer’s audio system will block the noise, and enhance the audio output.

It’s spectacular tech, however I want ASUS gave it better-sounding audio system so it could possibly be a very good multimedia machine. This additionally has sufficient house to suit an honest sound system, so ASUS, should you’re studying this, make higher audio system occur on the following one, please.

Keyboard and trackpad

The TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version has a decently massive trackpad

The massive chassis recreation continues with my “smaller laptops are higher” idea shattering as I kind on the A16’s keyboard. It has no fancy bells and whistles, however it’s a easy, well-spaced keyboard. You get 1.7mm key journey, 3 steps of brightness adjustment, and a devoted quantity pad.

The quantity pad is appreciated as a result of you need to use it to shortly enter your Home windows pin since there’s no fingerprint sensor or facial recognition. I just like the customizable hotkeys, but when had been a extra tactile keyboard, it might be extra enjoyable to kind on.

It has a pretty big glass trackpad, as you possibly can see from the picture above. It’s quick & responsive, and gestures are easy too. Nevertheless, the trackpad additionally has a mushy feeling that’s carried ahead from the keyboard. It might’ve been clickier for higher suggestions, however you gained’t really feel the necessity to press too arduous, as it’s a responsive trackpad. And for the extra severe customers, there are sufficient ports, and Bluetooth 5.2 to pair an exterior mouse.

Software program

On the software program entrance, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version is operating Home windows 11 Dwelling. Home windows multitasking is a breeze, because of the highly effective processor and the large show. You’ll additionally discover the Armoury Crate app and the AMD software program Adrenaline Version on board.

Each these apps provide comparable insights and tuning choices. I favor the Armoury Crate over the AMD Software program as you possibly can simply toggle between modes and the overall interface is less complicated on the Crate. Whereas Armoury Crate will get a devoted AC key on the keyboard, you possibly can shortly launch the AMD device with Alt+R.

Efficiency

Ah, one other gaming laptop computer I get to benchmark and be impressed with the scores. I imply benchmarks are nice, however real-world efficiency and use go away totally different impressions. Benchmarks allow you to look into the soul of a machine, and the TUF A16 doesn’t budge. I ran Cinebench single-core twice after which ran Heaven 4 on battery energy, however there’s no throttling or extra warmth.

After I was operating Cinebench, I used to be writing a information story within the background, with another tabs open for reference. I don’t advocate doing this, however the laptop computer was easy sufficient for me to nearly forgot there’s a benchmarking app operating within the background.

Actual-world utilization

I consider there are three phases to utilizing this laptop computer to its full potential. Within the first stage, now we have Home windows and Silent mode. This places the GPU in a relaxed state, solely waking it up whenever you want the facility. So, you get about seven hours of battery life on blended utilization in these modes.

Within the second stage, there’s the efficiency mode. While you wish to run heavy workloads or edit movies and play video games on battery energy. The battery life comes all the way down to 4 to 5 hours on this mode, however you are feeling the responsiveness go up. The final one is the Turbo mode with the GPU set to “Final” from the Armoury Crate app. Use this when the machine is plugged in and you’ll throw nearly something at it.

I used to be taking part in Far Cry 6 on Turbo mode with walkthroughs open in Chrome, downloading Tekken on Steam, and penning this assessment with about 10 extra tabs open. Perhaps if I opened Premier Professional too, then it might begin to throttle a bit, however that’s an unrealistic workload to start with.

Gaming and warmth administration

I already talked about the Far Cry 6 and Tekken gameplay within the final part, however listed below are some extra insights. AAA titles drain the battery in about one to 1.5 hours flat. The system runs cool, however the warmth from the vents causes some points. As an example, the final ASUS machine I used was the Stream Z13, and you’ll learn that assessment right here. I appreciated the cooling on it as a result of all the warmth went upwards with nothing coming to your palms or the edges.

With the TUF A16, the warmth vents on the edges heated up my mouse. I left it there for 10 minutes, and it was scorching to the contact once I got here again. Though the efficiency takes no hit, simply bear in mind to maintain the mouse barely away from the laptop computer when not utilizing it.

As for gaming itself, the 165Hz show, the 7ms response time, the chip, GPU, and efficiency tuning, all come into their very own. In my testing, I discovered no body drops or abrupt lags even at maxed-out graphics. You’ll be able to throw heavy titles at this machine and play them with out an exterior show. You’ll need a mouse although, however that’s the one add-on you could play video games on the A16.

Battery

The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version has a 4-cell 90 Watt-hour battery. It is sufficient to energy this system for six to eight hours of mixed-use. However whenever you’re gaming or enhancing movies and photographs, this comes all the way down to roughly two hours of utilization. It’s a respectable battery by trade requirements, however I’ve my very own issues.

The extra you cost a battery, the sooner the charging cycle depend goes up. And extra cost cycles imply the battery well being will take a much bigger hit over time. So, you possibly can anticipate the battery standby time to deplete over time. Nevertheless, there are barely any gaming laptops on the market that may beat this battery life with these specs and show.

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version assessment: Verdict

I’ll begin with the nitpicking. This laptop computer is heavy, the vents warmth up something round them, the show might’ve been brighter, and the audio system have the required tech, however lack the audio output. With that out of my system, I don’t discover something to complain about this laptop computer.

I’ve been utilizing it within the workplace through the day and gaming in evening. Nearly by no means shut it down in my two weeks with it, and it runs simply tremendous. Additionally, the quirks I discussed above, should you purchase a gaming laptop computer, you already know you’re signing up for the typical battery and the warmth.

That mentioned, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version is tough to beat at this value. And never simply this machine, the entire TUF lineup has good specs to supply at affordable costs. This A16 laptop computer prices Rs. 1,39,990 on the time of penning this assessment. At this value, you get top-tier specs with 1TB SSD storage and 16GB RAM to start out with. On high of that, you possibly can improve the RAM and SSD everytime you need.

In order that’s my ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Benefit Version assessment. It’s a mouthful to say however has the specs to justify its title. Let me know your ideas within the feedback, and should you really feel I’ve missed one thing, be happy so as to add.