If the higher cost isn't a concern and you need a laptop for gaming or demanding tasks like 3D modeling or video editing, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 will serve you better with its stronger performance but keep in mind it's heavier and might have a shorter battery life. On the other hand, if you prioritize a lighter laptop with potentially longer battery life for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing, and if you are sensitive to price, the ASUS Zenbook 14 is a solid choice though it won't handle intensive tasks as efficiently. 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 TUF Gaming A16
Good for gaming and AI
Very good battery life
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook 14
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Very good keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for engineering and design, though the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a powerful CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, making it well-equipped for demanding engineering applications and ensuring smooth performance on intensive tasks, but its larger screen dims portability and increases weight.
Screen Quality
7.5/10
8.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
339.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 14 for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 14 has a better screen for general use, and engineering and design.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 likely has adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, but its lower refresh rate affects the smoothness required for fast-paced gaming and 3D applications. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook 14, with its superior color accuracy covering wider color gamuts, excels for tasks requiring precise color representation like engineering and design but still falls short for gaming due to similar refresh rate limitations. Both laptops miss the mark for optimal gaming and 3D experiences where a high refresh rate is critical to render smooth motion and quick visual feedback.
Battery
12.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 14 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.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook 14 has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.8/10
The ASUS Zenbook 14 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good build quality, though the ASUS Zenbook 14 has somewhat better build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$838
$300
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the ASUS Zenbook 14 costs $300.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for general use.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a robust CPU and ample RAM for multitasking, along with a high-capacity battery and a larger screen with a high refresh rate, making it well-suited for general use and casual gaming; however, it is less portable than the ASUS Zenbook 14 due to its larger size and weight. The Zenbook 14, with its superior OLED screen quality and lighter, thinner design, offers better portability and is optimal for those who prioritize on-the-go use and vibrant display over the longer battery life and greater multitasking capability seen in the Gaming A16.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.3/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for content creation.
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
7.3/10
7.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and ASUS Zenbook 14 are both good for software development.
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.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the ASUS Zenbook 14 compare to other laptops
"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."
"Users who travel frequently and are looking for a portable laptop are in the right place with the Asus ZenBook 14. The sleek case is extremely light (1.2 kg) and surprisingly thin (1.5 cm). Outdoor use is also enjoyable thanks to the bright Full HD display, which is something that can rarely be said about laptops with TN or IPS panels. The excellent battery life complements this as well. Longer trips are no problem with the ZenBook 14. Another plus point is the high-performance Ryzen 7 5700U, which often leaves the Intel competition in the dust thanks to its large number of cores."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the ASUS Zenbook 14
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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