Asus TUF Gaming A16 overview
The entry level end of gaming laptops is usually a blur of similar specs and compromises, but the Asus TUF Gaming A16 for 2025 tries to stand out with a surprisingly strong CPU paired with Nvidia’s entry level RTX 5050 GPU. It is not a dream machine for maxed out ultra settings, but it is an interesting option for budget conscious gamers who still want solid 1080p performance and modern features.
Inside the A16 you get an AMD Ryzen 7 260 from the Hawk Point generation. This chip has eight Zen 4 cores with simultaneous multithreading and can boost up to 5.1 GHz. All of its cores are high performance cores, with no split between performance and efficiency types. In practice this gives the laptop processing power that competes with many Intel Core i7 and Ultra 7 processors and AMD Ryzen AI 7 chips. For CPU heavy games and general PC use, you are not going to feel held back.
On the graphics side things are more modest. The RTX 5050 with 8 GB of VRAM is clearly aimed at the lower end of the gaming stack. On paper it should sit beneath the RTX 5060 and 5070, but power limits tell a more interesting story. In this model the 55 W RTX 5050 is allowed to boost up to 115 W, which lets it punch above its weight in some benchmarks and games.
The rest of the spec is what you would expect from a modern mid tier gaming laptop: 16 GB of DDR5 5600 memory, a 1 TB SSD, a 16 inch 1920 by 1200 IPS display at 165 Hz, and Wi Fi 6E plus Bluetooth 5.3. At around 2.2 kg with a 90 Wh battery, it is more of a desk warrior than a travel friendly thin and light.
Performance, thermals and gaming experience
In real world games the TUF Gaming A16 performs far better than its entry level GPU branding might suggest. In titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 it can keep up with more premium designs such as the new Framework 16, despite that machine having a stronger spec on paper.
The key is the high power limit on the RTX 5050. Compared to some RTX 5060 laptops with lower power budgets, the A16’s GPU can actually match or beat them in certain scenarios. For example, an 85 W RTX 5060 in a competing 16 inch machine scores slightly lower than the TUF A16 in 3DMark Time Spy Extreme, while delivering similar frame rates in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Black Myth: Wukong. A full 115 W RTX 5060 will still be faster overall, but the gap is smaller than the model numbers suggest.
This is a reminder that core counts and GPU tiers are only part of the story. Power limits and cooling matter just as much. The A16 runs its 5050 hard, and it shows. It is a hot little chip.
Thermals are generally under control, with average CPU temperatures around the mid seventies under gaming load and peaks just over eighty degrees. The GPU averages around the high sixties and peaks in the mid seventies. Compared to some rivals, which can see CPUs spiking up to 100 degrees and GPUs in the mid eighties, the A16 keeps things cooler on the silicon side.
The tradeoff is noise. Switch the laptop into Turbo mode using Asus’ Armoury Crate software and fans spin up aggressively to unlock more performance. You will want a headset if you game this way, because the system gets loud enough to be distracting in a quiet room. At least Armoury Crate also lets you tweak RGB on the keyboard to match your setup.
The 16 inch IPS display is a strong match for the hardware. Its 1920 by 1200 resolution does not overburden the RTX 5050, and the 165 Hz refresh rate becomes achievable in lighter esports titles or older games, especially if you enable frame generation in supported titles. Brightness hits about 385 nits which is plenty for indoor use. Color wise it covers 100 percent of sRGB but only around 80 percent of wider gamuts like Adobe RGB and DCI P3, so serious creative work will benefit from a better external monitor.
Design, ports, battery life and value
Physically the TUF Gaming A16 leans into the chunky gaming laptop vibe. At 35.4 by 26.9 by 1.79 cm and 2.2 kg, it feels solid and clearly prefers a desk to your lap. Rubber feet on the underside lift it up for improved airflow, hinting again that cooling was a major design focus. The styling is restrained: a mostly black rectangle with the usual gamer keyboard lighting and a few status LEDs hidden on the rear overhang where they are hard to see while in use.
One detail to be aware of is the front edge. The design cuts on the rear corners look nice, but the front edges can feel a little sharp if you rest your wrists there for long periods. It is not a deal breaker, just something to note if you are sensitive to chassis comfort.
Port selection is excellent for a mid tier gaming laptop. You get:
- One USB4 Type C port clearly labeled
- Three USB A ports in total
- HDMI 2.1 for external displays
- Ethernet for wired networking
- A 3.5 mm audio jack
- Dedicated charging port, with additional charging possible over USB C if you have a powerful enough adapter
This variety makes it easy to hook up peripherals, external monitors and wired internet without needing a dock. For a budget to mid range gaming machine, it hits all the right connectivity notes.
The 90 Wh battery offers a split personality. In light use, such as looping a video where the system can turn off the RTX 5050 and rely on the Ryzen 7 260’s integrated Radeon 780M graphics, you can see close to eight hours of runtime. That is perfectly workable for a day of light tasks or media. However, once you fire up a demanding game that brings the RTX 5050 into play, battery life drops sharply to around one hour and fifteen minutes. Serious gaming will require you to be near a power outlet and to keep the chunky charger in your bag.
Where the TUF Gaming A16 struggles is price positioning. With an asking price around £1,400 it ends up squeezed from both sides. RTX 5060 based laptops from Gigabyte and Lenovo can be found for less money, while very budget friendly models like the Medion Erazer Deputy offer similar or better GPU performance for a noticeably lower cost. At the same time, if you are willing to spend a bit more you can step up to a machine with an RTX 5070, which starts to look tempting once you are already shopping in this price bracket.
As a result the A16 is a good laptop that is just slightly too expensive to be an obvious recommendation. Its strong CPU, surprisingly capable RTX 5050 and good thermals make it a solid performer, but unless you are specifically keen on Asus hardware or find it on a worthwhile discount, rival models currently offer better value.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/hardware/gaming-laptops/asus-tuf-gaming-a16-2025-review/
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