ASUS TUF A16, Ryzen 5 7535HS, 16GB, 2TB SSD, RTX 4050

The ASUS TUF A16 is a budget gaming laptop with a 16-inch 144Hz display, RTX 4050, and a rare 2TB SSD plus 32GB RAM combo. It's great for 1080p gaming and light video editing, but the small battery and aging CPU hold it back. Buy it for the storage and screen, not for portability.

The RTX 4050 sits at the 79th percentile in our database, which means it's well above average for a laptop GPU. In practice, you'll see smooth frame rates in esports titles like Valorant and Apex Legends, often hitting the 144Hz ceiling. AAA games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Hogwarts Legacy will run fine at medium settings with DLSS enabled. The 6GB of VRAM is the main limitation, but for a budget gaming laptop, it's acceptable.

The Ryzen 5 7535HS lands at the 56th percentile for CPUs, which is about average. It's a 6-core, 12-thread chip based on Zen 3+, so it's not the newest architecture, but it handles gaming and light video editing without complaint. The 32GB of DDR5 RAM is overkill for gaming but great for multitasking, and the 2TB NVMe SSD is a standout at the 94th percentile for storage. Boot times are quick, and you won't be uninstalling games to make room for new ones.

Against the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, the TUF A16 loses on raw power. The Legion packs a much faster CPU and GPU, but it also costs significantly more. If you're a competitive gamer who needs every frame, the Legion is the better pick. The TUF A16 is for people who want a capable gaming laptop without spending Legion money.

The Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max is in a completely different league for creators, with a stunning display and unmatched efficiency. But it's also several times the price. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is a closer competitor, offering a sleeker design and newer internals, though you'll likely get less storage and RAM for the same money. The MSI Prestige and Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro are thin-and-light machines aimed at productivity, not gaming, so they're not direct rivals unless you prioritize portability over frame rates.

The ASUS TUF A16's value depends heavily on what you pay. The 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM config is a rare find in budget gaming laptops, and that storage alone would cost you a decent chunk to add yourself. Compared to the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, this is a fraction of the price for solid 1080p gaming performance. But the HP OMEN Transcend 14 offers a more modern CPU and better portability if you can find it on sale. For budget shoppers who want big storage and don't mind the older CPU, this is a strong deal.

The ASUS TUF A16 is a budget-friendly gaming laptop that tries to punch above its weight. You get a 16-inch 144Hz display, an AMD Ryzen 5 7535HS, and an RTX 4050, all wrapped in the TUF line's typically sturdy chassis. The config we're looking at comes with a beefy 2TB SSD and 32GB of DDR5 RAM, which is unusual for this price bracket and makes it a tempting option for creators on a budget.

Is the ASUS TUF A16 good for gaming? For 1080p and 1200p gaming, yes. The RTX 4050 handles most modern titles at medium to high settings without breaking a sweat, and the 144Hz panel keeps things smooth. It's not going to max out Cyberpunk at 4K, but that's not what this machine is for.

For video editing and school work, the Ryzen 5 7535HS is a solid six-core chip. It won't beat a Core i7-13700H in heavy multi-threaded tasks, but it's efficient and gets the job done. The 100% sRGB display is a nice touch for photo and video work, though the 56Wh battery means you'll want the charger nearby for anything beyond light browsing.

Skip the TUF A16 if you need a laptop that lasts all day on battery or fits easily in a backpack. The 56Wh cell and 2.2kg weight make it a poor travel companion. Serious video editors working with 4K footage should also look at machines with newer CPUs, like the HP OMEN Transcend 14 or a MacBook Pro. And if you want max gaming performance, the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is the better investment, though it costs more.

Should you buy the ASUS TUF A16? If you're a budget-conscious gamer or student who wants a big, fast display and tons of storage without spending over a grand, this is a solid yes. The 2TB SSD and 32GB RAM config is genuinely rare at this price, and the RTX 4050 delivers where it counts for 1080p gaming.

But if you need all-day battery life or a lightweight machine for campus, look elsewhere. The 56Wh battery and 2.2kg weight make this a desk-bound laptop for the most part. And if you're a serious creator, the aging Ryzen 5 7535HS will feel sluggish in heavy 4K video editing compared to newer chips. For the right buyer, though, this is a lot of laptop for the money.