GoKawiilThe Asus TUF Gaming A14 is an impressively powerful compact laptop with standout productivity performance from its Ryzen AI Max+ CPU, with good battery life to boot. However, its integrated Radeon GPU at this premium price sharply limits its appeal. It’s a solid choice for niche users prioritizing CPU horsepower, but a poor value for gamers.
Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
We’ve tested AMD’s Strix Halo platform in desktop form, and now it arrives in a 14-inch laptop courtesy of Asus’ TUF Gaming A14. This compact laptop delivers abundant CPU performance from its Ryzen AI Max+ 392 and proves well-rounded in many areas beyond raw speed, from battery life to input devices. However, for $2,199.99 as tested, the question is whether its integrated Radeon 8060S graphics can deliver the gaming performance needed to justify its premium price, let alone make it one of the best gaming laptops .
Design of the Asus TUF Gaming A14
All-black with a gunmetal lid, the TUF Gaming A14 looks understated without being drab. Up close, the TUF logo on the lid and stylized keyboard typeface mark it as a gaming machine. The laptop has no external lighting except for the keyboard.
Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
The laptop feels sturdy, with a mostly plastic build except for the aluminum bottom panel and lid backing. It seemed impervious to flex even when I picked it up by a corner. Measuring 12.24 x 8.94 x 0.67 inches and weighing 3.26 pounds, the TUF Gaming A14 is similarly sized yet slightly lighter than the Acer Predator Triton 14 AI (12.68 x 8.84 x 0.71 inches, 3.5 pounds).
The practical port selection starts on the left with HDMI 2.1, USB4, USB-A (10 Gbps), and 3.5mm audio, plus the proprietary power jack for its rather compact 200 W adapter. The remaining ports on the right include a MicroSD card reader and USB-C and USB-A ports (both 10 Gbps). The only area for improvement is wireless; the Realtek 8852CE card supports Wi-Fi 6E, not 7.
Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tom's Hardware) (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)
Asus TUF Gaming A14 Specifications
... continue reading