2024 could finally be the year when gaming laptops become, well, laptops again. The latest generation of processors is making gaming machines more efficient than ever, turning them into true portable powerhouses that won’t die on you after just two or three hours. Enter the brand new Asus TUF A14, a shining example of this new era of gaming laptops.
Powered by AMD’s Strix Point processor, the Ryzen AI 9 370HX, and integrated Ryzen 890M graphics, this machine runs incredibly efficiently at just 35W. That translates into all-day battery life, even during demanding tasks. Plus, the dedicated Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 and 14-inch QHD display with a 165Hz refresh rate ensure you can enjoy games like Warhammer Space Marine 2 at over 60fps—all on the go.
I’ve spent three weeks living, working, and gaming on the Asus TUF A14, and let me tell you, it’s hard to find things to complain about. Especially when you factor in the $2,599 price tag, which, in this spec range, feels like a steal.
Design and Build
At first glance, the TUF A14’s compact 14-inch frame is surprising. With a thickness of just 1.69cm and a weight of 1.46kg, this is a machine that’s built for portability. The power brick is small too—barely bigger than two stacked iPhone 15 Pro Max units—making it a laptop you can truly take anywhere.
Built from durable plastic and aluminum, the TUF A14 has passed MIL-STD-810H military-grade tests, meaning it can handle drops, vibrations, and extreme weather conditions. Perfect for the rough and tumble life of a student or professional on the move.
Surprisingly, the design is subdued for a TUF series laptop. Aside from the branding on the lid, you’d be hard-pressed to know this is a gaming machine. It’s ideal for users who prefer not to advertise their gaming hobby in professional settings. But honestly, who cares, right?
The TUF A14 doesn’t skimp on connectivity. On the left, you get a USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, USB 4 Type-C with DisplayPort 2.1 and Power Delivery 3.0, an HDMI 2.1, and the proprietary Asus Slim power jack. On the right, there’s another USB-A 3.2, USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4, and a UHS-II microSD card reader. It has Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth, but for wired Ethernet, you’ll need a dongle.
Display and Keyboard
Opening up the Asus TUF A14, you’re greeted with a well-spaced keyboard that makes typing feel natural and comfortable. The 1.7mm key travel ensures that typing is tactile and satisfying. While the keys are backlit, don’t expect per-key RGB customization here—just a straightforward backlight that’s plenty bright for easy legibility in darker settings. The trackpad is decent in size with a smooth glass surface that handles gestures well. It’s a classic clicky trackpad, not the newer haptic ones like on the Dell XPS 16, but it does its job reliably.
The TUF A14’s speakers, however, are just fine. Dolby Atmos helps keep them crisp and clear, but they lack bass and volume, which can feel underwhelming, especially with their downfacing orientation. Place the laptop on a soft surface, and you’ll lose even more sound quality. On the plus side, the 1080p webcam is solid and comes with Windows Hello support for quick, hassle-free face unlocking—far more convenient than typing in passwords.
The 14-inch display comes with a 2560 x 1600 resolution in the 16:10 aspect ratio, it’s sharp and vibrant, making icons and text look crisp and clean. The 165Hz refresh rate with a 3ms response time ensures buttery smooth gameplay, and 100% sRGB color coverage means you can even dabble in some photo and video editing. The colors are vibrant, contrast is solid, and while it’s no OLED, it’s a great display for both gaming and everyday tasks.
It also supports G-Sync, which means no tearing or stuttering during gameplay. Watching movies or YouTube is pleasant too, though you’ll want to be mindful of where you place the laptop to avoid muffling the speakers. Overall, it’s a great panel for gaming, media, and productivity.
Performance and Battery Life
When it comes to performance, the Asus TUF A14 packs a serious punch. Powered by the new AMD Ryzen AI 9 370HX and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, this laptop excels in both CPU-heavy tasks and gaming. It keeps pace with more expensive machines like the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H-equipped Acer Predator Triton Neo 16, outperforming it at a lower price point. What’s even more impressive is that the performance only drops by about 20-30% on battery, meaning most users won’t notice much difference during regular tasks.
In gaming, the RTX 4060 delivers over 60fps at 1440p on the highest settings across my testing suite. Titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider run smoothly, thanks to Nvidia DLSS and Frame Generation, which enhance both performance and visuals. When switching to the integrated Radeon 890M, performance drops significantly, but you can still hit 50fps on lower settings when gaming on battery. Upscaling tech like AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS will be your best friend with this laptop.
I primarily used Performance mode, which strikes an excellent balance between power and fan noise. The Turbo mode unleashes the full 110W TGP, but it ramps up the fan noise to an uncomfortable level for just a minor 10% performance boost. That said, Performance mode keeps temperatures below 80°C, impressive for a machine this compact.
Gaming on battery is possible but not ideal—you’ll get about 1.5 hours, similar to handheld devices like the Asus ROG Ally. The 890M struggles to maintain 60fps on its own, so you’ll need to drop your settings for a smoother experience. For everyday use, though, the TUF A14 shines with up to 8 hours of battery life. That will drop significantly if you’re doing heavy video editing or gaming, but for light work like browsing and streaming, it’ll easily last most of a workday.
Charging is quick too, reaching 50% in 30 minutes. My only gripe is the proprietary power port—a slightly thicker version of USB-C that doesn’t quite allow for universal charging. There is a USB-C port with power delivery, useful for connecting to external monitors or docks for more productivity.
Verdict
The Asus TUF A14 exceeded my expectations in almost every way. While it lacks the premium OLED display and top-tier components of the pricier Zephyrus G14, it still delivers fantastic performance for nearly $1000 less. With its blend of power, portability, and a student-friendly price tag, this is a near-perfect laptop for university students or professionals on the go.
I think this model will set a new standard for 14-inch gaming laptops moving forward, especially with Intel’s Core Ultra 2 chips on the horizon. The TUF A14 is proof that gaming laptops can be efficient, portable, and still powerful enough for the most demanding tasks.
Asus Australia kindly loaned the TUF A14 to PowerUp for the purpose of this review.
