By Affordable lines have always been the hallmark of Asus’s TUF brand, and the recently unveiled A14 and the updated A16 carry on this heritage. But here’s where things stand out: the aesthetics have been completely redesigned to appear a lot more upscale.
Furthermore, the gaming laptop lineup now includes a second, more portable alternative thanks to the arrival of the A14. Naturally, a laptop’s performance is its most crucial feature, and during my hands-on, I was unable to run benchmarks to formally test that out. However, with those specifications, it ought to be capable of handling any PC game you throw at it, even AAA titles.
PRICE AND AVAILABILITY
On July 22, 2024, Asus TUF Gaming A16 and A14 are anticipated to ship in the US, UK, and Australia.
Starting at $1,799.99 / £1,799.99 / AU$2,299, the TUF Gaming A16 is available for purchase, while the TUF Gaming A14 is priced at $1,399.99 / £1,299 / AU$2,400.
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14 specs
| Component | Spec |
|---|---|
| Display | 14-inch/16-inch QHD+ 2.5K (2560 x 1600), 165Hz, 3ms, 400 nits |
| CPU | A14: AMD Ryzen 7 / A16: AMD Ryzen 9 |
| Graphics | Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 |
| RAM | Up to 32GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD |
| Port selection | A14: 2x USB Type-C ports, 2x USB Type-A ports, 1x combo jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x SD card reader / A16: 2x USB Type-C ports, 2x USB Type-A ports, 1x combo jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 port, 1x Kensington lock, 1x ethernet port |
| Weight | A14: 1.46 Kg (3.22 lbs) / A16: 2.20 Kg (4.85 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 13.94 x 10.59 x 0.70 inches; 35.4 x 26.9 x 1.79 cm (WxDxH) |
DESIGN
The most striking thing about the new Asus TUF Gaming A16 and A14 models is how much more stylish they are in comparison to earlier TUF series models. The A14 is far more portable and light than you would anticipate from a gaming laptop, and the A16 has a sleeker, more expensive-looking design that belies its comparatively cheaper price. The bottom cover and lid are made of aluminum, adding to the smaller model’s durability.
The power light is a nice addition that has a cute flower-like pattern. It blends in with the laptop’s updated appearance in a subtle way. The only major issue I have is that I wish there were more colors available, but because this is a more affordable brand, it makes sense not to.
The A16 makes use of the additional space by including a numpad and a complete keyboard. Both models have huge touchpads that are ideal for navigation while gaming, as well as well-sized and spaced-out keys that greatly simplify error-free typing. The exquisite glass touchpad on the A14 in particular feels incredibly smooth.
Additionally, both feature an excellent array of connections, including combination jacks, USB Type-A and Type-C ports, HMDI ports, SD readers, and an Ethernet port on the A16. It is nice to have the smaller laptop as close as possible to the larger one and to have a gaming laptop with all the connections and slots available.
The A16’s redesigned bezels, full-width heatsink concealed in its slimmer frame, and even a pop-up screw that removes the chassis to facilitate upgrades and repairs were other features that I found impressive.
PERFORMANCE
The newest AMD Ryzen 9 CPUs and up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU are installed in the Asus TUF Gaming A16 and A14. According to previous benchmark results, both gaming laptops ought to run smoothly when playing the greatest PC games, even the most demanding AAA titles. All of this is still conjecture, though, as I was unable to test these laptops while I had them.
With their QHD+ 2.5K resolution, 400 nits of brightness, 165 Hz refresh rate, and 3 ms reaction time, the A16 and A14 screens guarantee most gamers a fluid and stutter-free experience.
CONCLUSION
The TUF Gaming A16 and A14 pleased me the most out of all the gaming laptops on display at the Asus Computex 2024 presentation. Asus is redesigning its entry-level lineup to make it look neater and more attractive. I am a huge fan of the A14 because of its powerful yet compact design.
Both have rather reasonable prices, with the A14 being significantly less expensive. Although the A16 is a little pricey, it is still far more affordable when compared to other laptops with comparable capabilities. Hopefully, as manufacturers shift their focus to AI chips, the market for affordable and nearly affordable devices will continue to grow.
