The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is less expensive, provides solid gaming performance with a mid-range graphics card, and is built for durability. It's a good choice for gaming and general use, but it has a lower resolution screen and heavier weight, which impacts portability. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, while costlier, offers a high-resolution OLED screen for vibrant colors, making it ideal for creative professionals and those who prioritize display quality. It also features a higher-end graphics card suitable for more demanding tasks but has a shorter battery life compared to the TUF Gaming A16 due to its powerful components. 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
Very good battery life
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is rated higher for general use primarily due to its superior OLED screen with higher resolution and color accuracy, and its more powerful Intel i7 processor and Nvidia graphics that can better handle a variety of tasks; however, it is heavier and has shorter battery life than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, which still offers good general performance, a solid AMD processor and graphics, and longer battery life for those who prioritize longer use on the go.
Engineering and Design
7.7/10
8.6/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X is better for engineering and design as it features a high-resolution OLED touchscreen with more vibrant colors and deeper contrast, coupled with a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics card, catering to demanding software needs; however, it has a higher price and is slightly heavier, impacting portability. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers robust processing with an AMD CPU and GPU and good screen quality on an IPS display, which may suffice for moderate engineering tasks and provide better value for users prioritizing budget and battery life.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.5/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
7.3/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
7.5/10
8.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has a better screen for general use, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, where clarity and comfort are key, both the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offer screens with crisp resolution and bright displays, enhancing user experience through vivid colors and sharp text. Engineering and design work benefit from the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X's high color accuracy, covering a wider range of color gamuts, which ensures that designs are viewed with precise colors for professional tasks, while the TUF's good screen still offers substantial quality, but with less color fidelity. Both laptops, however, have lower refresh rates, making them less ideal for gaming and 3D applications where smooth visual transitions play a crucial role in performance and overall immersion.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has 7 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.
Cost
$838
$1,300
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X costs $1,300.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for gaming and AI.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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."
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
100,695
Recommendations made
21,818
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.