The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is less expensive and better suited for gaming, with a higher refresh rate screen and hardware ray tracing, but has a heavier build and shorter battery life compared to the Zenbook Pro 17. The Zenbook has more storage, RAM, and a more powerful main processor, making it a better choice for intensive engineering tasks, 3D rendering, and machine learning, yet it is more expensive and has a lower refresh rate display which might not be optimal for fast-paced gaming. The TUF's gaming aesthetic differs from the Zenbook's premium business appearance, so consider which style suits you best. 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
Good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for content creation
Very good speakers
Key differences
General Use
7.6/10
8.3/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
294.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a balance of performance and endurance with a capable CPU, decent RAM, and a large battery, but its weight and larger physical size can affect portability for general use. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 surpasses it with a superior CPU, double the RAM for more demanding tasks, and a higher-quality screen, though it incurs a slight compromise on battery life and portability due to an even larger screen and additional weight.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.9/10
7.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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.
Content Creation
7.6/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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
7.9/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for software development, though the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is somewhat better.
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
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
1920 x 1200
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
294.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
When evaluating laptops for general use, both the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 offer clear, bright displays with resolutions high enough to ensure sharp images and text, making them suitable for everyday tasks like browsing and document editing. For engineering and design, professionals require accurate color representation, which both models provide through their wide color gamut coverage, ensuring that the designs you see on screen closely match the final output. However, for gaming and 3D applications that rely on fluid motion and quick screen updates, these laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, leading to less smooth visuals in fast-paced scenarios.
Battery
12.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has 9 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
$1,500
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a price of $838 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with a high-refresh-rate screen and powerful AMD processor and GPU, suits tasks requiring fast performance and can handle demanding engineering software; however, it's heavier and bulkier, potentially affecting portability. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a larger, higher-resolution screen and superior GPU, ideal for detailed design work and multitasking with double the storage and RAM, but has lower portability and less impressive gaming-oriented features.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.8 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.9in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.2/10
7.2/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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."
Get a great deal on the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
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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