Previously, I’ve stayed clear of Asus TUF laptops, because it was once the bottom-tier in relation to design. That supposed chunky chassis, deficient shows, and thick bezels. The fashions from 2025 seemed extra fashionable, however the costs weren’t aggressive with a few of my favourite reasonable gaming laptops just like the Lenovo LOQ 15 and Acer Nitro V 16.
However once more, the TUF A14 is one thing new, and the design is spectacular. It’s proper round the similar thickness and weight because the 14-inch MacBook Professional, and the bezels across the aspects of the display screen are actually trim. The ground bezel is thick, essentially for the reason that A14 makes use of a 16:9 side ratio display screen. I gained’t belabor that time, but it surely approach much less display screen and extra bezel in the similar footprint. General, it’s very delicate. The gaming aesthetic is closely downplayed, with only some components left, such because the typeface at the keycaps and the form of the vents beneath the hinge. There’s no longer even per-key backlighting at the keyboard.
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
You’d by no means know this was once a gaming pc according to the usability of the keyboard and touchpad; on gaming laptops as opposed to paintings ones, those can incessantly be afterthoughts. Right here, they’re each very good. The touchpad, particularly, is outsized and strangely exact. Even though the pc is made from plastic, it treated the power I used to be hanging on it across the lid, keyboard, and palm rests with out an excessive amount of give.
The TUF A14 has a useful collection of ports. At the left aspect, you get a USB-A three.2 port, USB-C port, HDMI 2.1, headphone jack, and proprietary energy jack. You get an extra USB-A and USB-C (USB4) port at the proper aspect, along a micro SD card slot. I actually like the verdict to place the USB4 port at the proper aspect, because it approach you’ll each price the pc or connect with an exterior show from the appropriate aspect too. Handiest with the ability to price from one aspect is one among my puppy peeves, so just right process, TUF A14.
Extra Than Gaming
{Photograph}: Luke Larsen
When I noticed the answer of the show, I knew the TUF A14 was once now not an actual “funds” instrument. It’s 2560 x 1600, a large step up from the standard reasonable gaming pc. It additionally has a 165 Hz refresh fee, which turns out to be useful for when taking part in in 1200p—and let’s be truthful, that’s the go-to the majority of the time. The upper answer, even though, performs into why the A14 is a cast hybrid instrument that may paintings as neatly for gaming because it does for college or paintings.
