The Compact Powerhouse: Asus TUF Gaming A14 Defies Expectations in Performance and Portability

Achieve a 165Hz refresh rate, with an option to reduce to 60Hz

The display features a 16:10 aspect ratio and provides 100 percent sRGB color coverage. Slim bezels surround the screen, which boasts an 88 percent screen-to-body ratio. If your main intention for this laptop is gaming while on the move, the display won’t disappoint, even in outdoor settings. It also includes a MUX switch and support for Nvidia Advanced Optimus, while color profiles can be adjusted using the Armoury Crate application.

Keyboard, Touchpad, Speakers, and Webcam of the Asus TUF Gaming A14

• Keyboard — Backlit chiclet with Copilot key
• Speakers — 2 x 1W featuring Dolby Atmos
• Web Camera — 1080p with IR sensor

I’m quite fond of the keyboards on Asus gaming laptops, and this model does not let me down. It offers 1.7mm of key travel and ample space between keys, making it a pleasure to type on. Additionally, there are four extra keys located on the upper left, with uniform sizing for the arrow keys. The keyboard features mini LED backlighting, which, while bright, is limited to a single white hue. Apart from the Armory crate key and the hexagonal power button, one might easily mistake it for an ordinary laptop. Furthermore, there’s a Copilot key for added convenience.

The keyboard offers 1.7mm of key travel

Asus has included a spacious glass touchpad, which worked seamlessly during my assessment. It matches the display’s 16:10 aspect ratio and successfully avoided ghost entries while gaming. The touchpad boasts a 240Hz reporting rate, and the clicks feel satisfying.

On the downside, the speakers aren’t particularly impressive. They are fairly average, lacking depth, and are not ideal for gaming. While they can reach decent volume, they fall short in audio quality due to their placement. For better audio, it’s advisable to use quality wired gaming headphones or connect your preferred wireless earbuds for gaming or watching content. Dolby Atmos excels when headphones are connected.

The laptop features a hinge that opens 180 degrees

Lastly, the 1080p webcam is above average in quality, offering decent performance in well-lit environments but suffering in low-light scenarios with some noise. The color representation is acceptable. There’s an IR sensor for Windows Hello convenience, although a physical shutter for privacy is unfortunately absent.

Asus TUF Gaming A14 Software: Essential Applications Included

• OS — Windows 11 Home
• Additional Applications — Armoury Crate

The laptop comes pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, along with the standard Microsoft Office Home and Student suite. Asus also includes McAfee antivirus, which can often be more bothersome than helpful. The Armoury Crate utility is quite beneficial, allowing customization of numerous laptop features. Switching between performance modes is also straightforward through this tool, with a dedicated button for easy access.

The Armoury Crate is a valuable tool

The Ryzen AI 9 CPU is equipped with a robust NPU that enables efficient running of AI applications. With an accessible dedicated key, you can quickly access the Copilot+ chatbot when needed. This assistant can provide swift responses to questions, summarize information, and even manage Windows settings.

Performance of the Asus TUF Gaming A14: More Than Just Gaming

• Processor — AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 (up to)
• RAM — 32GB LPDDR5X 7500MHz (non-upgradeable)
• Storage — 2TB (Upgradeable to 4TB)
• GPU — Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 with 8GB VRAM (up to)

The latest Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor proves to be quite powerful, as evident throughout my review. This 12-core CPU with 24 threads and enhanced AMD XDNA NPU supports up to 50 TOPS. Additionally, the laptop sports an integrated Radeon 890M GPU, which I found satisfactory in performance.

The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 provides solid overall performance

In terms of performance evaluation, I conducted a few benchmark tests on the laptop. The results indicate that the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 has outperformed leading chipsets from both Apple and Intel. The benchmarks also imply that this laptop delivers superior gaming performance compared to several competitors, such as the HP Transcend Omen 14.

For everyday tasks, when set to Silent mode, the laptop operated smoothly without any lag, even while running multiple tabs in Chrome alongside other applications. If you intend to use it for professional needs, it should meet your requirements without any issues. In Silent mode, the fans hardly activate.

Enabling Turbo mode, which is optimal for gaming, yields impressive results. I played various titles, including Forza Horizon 5, Hogwarts Legacy, Mafia III Remastered, and Star Wars Jedi Survivor, achieving average frame rates ranging from 60 to 120 at 1200p resolution. The laptop does heat up and can be loud during gaming, yet it’s remarkable how Asus has managed to offer such substantial performance in such a slim and light package.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU can pull up to 110W in Manual mode, while the processor offers a maximum TDP of 65W. Although the RAM is soldered and non-upgradeable, there is an M.2 slot available supporting up to 2TB storage, allowing a maximum configuration of 4TB.

Battery Life of the Asus TUF Gaming A14: Exceptional

• Capacity — 73Wh
• Charging — 200W

The efficiency of the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor is another benefit, which, along with the laptop’s sizable battery, contributes to outstanding battery longevity. I was pleasantly surprised by the battery performance of the Asus TUF Gaming A14. For the first time, I managed to complete a full 9-hour workday on a gaming laptop. In Silent mode with Windows battery settings on Balanced, the laptop easily lasted around 6-7 hours during regular editorial tasks.

The only LED element on the laptop consists of these X-shaped system indicators

When the battery was low, a quick recharge was possible thanks to the included 200W charging brick. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes for a full charge, while 50 percent charge is attained in around 30 minutes.

Final Thoughts on the Asus TUF Gaming A14

To sum up, if you need a compact, lightweight, and high-performance laptop suitable for gaming, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is hard to overlook. It features a quality display, excellent battery life, supports AAA gaming without compromise, is well-equipped with RAM and storage, offers numerous ports, and is highly portable.

In this market segment, the Asus TUF Gaming A14 faces little competition. The ROG Zephyrus G14 from Asus is a superior option, albeit at a higher price. Alternatively, the HP Omen Transcend 14 (Review), which is more affordable, does not deliver the same level of performance or efficiency.