The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior performance and is more suitable for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering workloads due to its high-end processor and graphics. However, it is less portable, has a shorter battery life, and comes at a higher price. Conversely, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is more affordable, lighter, and has a longer battery life, making it a good choice for general use and gaming. If portability and budget are major considerations, the TUF Gaming A16 may be preferable. If performance is paramount and the budget allows, the Strix G18 is the better option. 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 Strix G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
Good portability
Very good battery life
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18, with a top-tier CPU and plentiful RAM, delivers superior processing power for general tasks, complemented by a high-quality screen, but the trade-off is less portability due to its larger size and weight. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 also has ample RAM and a capable CPU for everyday use yet offers better battery life and easier portability, albeit with a less vibrant display and slightly lower overall performance.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and 3D thanks to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a higher screen refresh rate of 240 Hz, which allows for smoother visuals and better performance during fast-paced games or 3D applications. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, while still good for these tasks, is equipped with the less powerful AMD RX 7600S GPU and a lower refresh rate of 165 Hz, which may not deliver as fluid an experience as the Strix G18.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
7.7/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers superior performance for engineering and design tasks due to its high-end Intel i9 processor, RTX graphics card, and larger, higher-resolution display, making it very good for demanding workflows. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, while still good for engineering and design, has a mid-range AMD Ryzen processor and RX graphics card and a smaller, lower-resolution screen, which may not handle the most intensive tasks as smoothly.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.6/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
8.1/10
7.3/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
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
8.7/10
7.5/10
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels due to its high-resolution display and brightness, providing sharp images and good visibility in various lighting conditions. In engineering and design, its wide color gamuts ensure accurate color reproduction which is essential for detailed work. However, for gaming and 3D tasks, the lower refresh rate of the G18 makes it less suitable, as it won't deliver the smooth visuals that fast-moving or interactive content requires.
Battery
8.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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.
Portability
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
16.0in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good build quality, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$838
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $838.
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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.
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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