The ASUS ROG Flow X16 would be a superior choice for performance-intensive tasks like 3D, machine learning, and engineering software because it comes with a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia GPU. It also offers a higher resolution, better screen color accuracy, and touchscreen capabilities. However, it's more expensive and slightly less portable due to its weight. On the other hand, the Gateway 15.6" is more affordable and slightly lighter, making it easier to carry. Although, its less powerful Intel i5 CPU and integrated graphics are better suited for general use than gaming or engineering work. It also lacks features such as a high refresh rate display, a touchscreen, and hardware ray tracing. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
Good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.0/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
502.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
5.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.4/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 offers a powerful CPU, high RAM, and excellent screen quality which helps with multitasking and clarity for different applications; however, these features come at the cost of battery life and a higher price. The Gateway 15.6" also supports general use with a capable CPU and sufficient RAM, but prioritizes affordability and longer battery life, sacrificing high-end screen quality and lower portability due to its weight.
Gaming and AI
7.6/10
6.0/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 offers better gaming and 3D performance due to its superior Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 165 Hz, which provides smoother visuals in fast-paced scenes compared to the Gateway 15.6", which has an Iris Xe graphics card and a standard refresh rate of 60 Hz. Additionally, the ASUS has a more robust CPU in the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HS and a higher resolution screen, contributing to overall better screen quality and gaming performance.
Engineering and Design
8.3/10
6.2/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
7.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 stands out for engineering and design with its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample storage, and superior screen quality which includes higher resolution, touch capability, better brightness, and color coverage compared to the Gateway 15.6"; despite the Gateway's portability and longer battery life, its lower tier CPU and integrated graphics, limited storage, and lower display quality make it less suited for demanding engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.0/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.7/10
6.7/10
8.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.5/10
6.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
502.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 likely excels due to its higher resolution and brightness, making text sharper and content more vivid, while the Gateway's fair screen quality suggests adequate but less remarkable display characteristics. In engineering and design, the ASUS's superior color gamuts ensure more accurate color representation, an essential factor for professionals, whereas the Gateway's performance in these areas suffices for casual or non-professional work. However, for Gaming and 3D tasks where the refresh rate is crucial, the ASUS's poor rating suggests it may not handle fast-moving visuals as smoothly, a significant drawback compared to laptops with high refresh rate displays.
Battery
5.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
8.5/10
5.1/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has very good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,300
$380
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a price of $1,300 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $380.
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Flow X16 or the Gateway 15.6"
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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