ASUS TUF Gaming A17 review
The Asus ASUS TUF Gaming A17 ranks as the #759 laptops globally, achieving a LibraScore of 63. Across all metrics, this product stands out most for its #390-ranked performance among 163 laptops. Consider the Asus ASUS TUF Gaming F15 or Asus ASUS VivoBook 15, which offer higher scores while staying in the same price range.
Is it Worth it?
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is a solid gaming laptop that justifies its price tag. Priced at $1099 or $999 for the 15-inch model, this laptop offers impressive performance with its NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti and AMD Ryzen 7 4800H processor. The laptop's 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, and 120Hz display make it a great value for gamers on a budget. While there are some drawbacks, such as the laptop being a fingerprint magnet and having subpar color accuracy, the overall package is well-rounded and delivers good performance and battery life. Overall, I would say this laptop is worth its price, making it a recommended choice for those seeking an affordable gaming experience.
Build
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17's build is a mixed bag. The laptop feels sturdy, but doesn't quite live up to its MIL-STD 810H certification claim. The palm rest has minimal flex, but the keyboard and display exhibit some give. The laptop is also a fingerprint magnet, with the display being particularly prone to smudges. The build quality overall feels more like a budget-friendly option rather than a premium gaming laptop. While it's not poorly constructed, it doesn't feel as solid or well-made as other laptops in its class. You might prefer Asus ASUS TUF Gaming F17, designed with an upgraded build for a better experience.
Display
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17's display is a mixed bag. While it has decent viewing angles, the colors are lacking, failing to cover the sRGB color space. The adaptive sync feature, touted as an innovative touch, was absent from my experience. The 120Hz refresh rate is welcome, but ultimately overshadowed by the poor color reproduction and lack of brightness. Overall, the display feels like a compromise rather than a highlight of the laptop. For a superior display, Asus ASUS TUF Gaming F17 could be the right choice.
Performance
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 delivers impressive performance for its price. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti GPU provides enough power to play most games at 1080p with Ultra settings. In benchmarks, the AMD Ryzen 5 CPU performed well, beating some high-end processors in certain tests. Temperatures remained under control, with the GPU staying in the mid-70s and the CPU rarely exceeding 80°C. Battery life was also a highlight, lasting almost as long as my 2017 MacBook Pro on a single charge. Overall, the A17's performance is more than satisfactory for its price. A better alternative might be Asus ASUS VivoBook 16X, featuring a next-level performance.
Battery and Charging
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 boasts a 90Wh battery that delivers impressive battery life, rivaling my 2017 MacBook Pro's performance. This is particularly remarkable given the laptop's gaming capabilities. The power adapter is also thin and efficient, making it easy to carry around. In my testing, I found the battery to last for a good amount of time, even with intense gaming sessions. Overall, the battery life and charging experience on this laptop are commendable, making it a great option for those who need a reliable gaming laptop.
Connectivity
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 features a decent array of ports, including power, Ethernet, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C (without terminable compatibility), and an audio jack. The laptop also boasts Wi-Fi 5 connectivity. However, I was surprised by the minimal holes on the bottom panel, which may hinder heat dissipation and make servicing more difficult. If you’re after a better connectivity, Asus ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR 15 could be the ideal option.
Features
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 boasts a range of features, including an NVIDIA GeForce 1660 Ti GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. The laptop's display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and Wi-Fi 5 connectivity. The keyboard features a soft touch feel with textured WASD keys, while the touchpad is decent-sized with smooth scrolling. The laptop also has a DTS audio system and multiple I/O ports. Asus ASUS TUF Gaming F17 might be a smarter choice, offering an upgraded features.
Support and Maintenance
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 laptop has some concerning aspects regarding support and maintenance. The laptop's durability is questionable, as it doesn't feel certified for MIL-STD 810H standards despite claims to the contrary. Serviceability is also a letdown, with minimal access points on the bottom and a need for specialized tools. This could lead to difficulties in cleaning or repairing the device.
Pros
1. The laptop features a strong NVIDIA 1660 Ti, which performs very closely to an RTX 2060.
2. It has sixteen gigabytes of RAM and a one terabyte SSD for smooth performance.
3. The display is a 120 Hertz panel with Wi-Fi five, making it suitable for gaming and daily tasks.
4. The keyboard has a soft touch feel to the keys, and the WASD keys are textured and clear.
5. The touchpad is of decent size with nice physical buttons on each side and smooth scrolling with Windows precision driver.
6. The laptop's cooling fans can be easily cleaned from the bottom panel.
7. The power adapter is relatively thin compared to bigger gaming laptops.
8. The AMD CPU performs well in benchmarks, beating the Ryzen 9 9900K in some scores.
Cons
1. The display has some flex and a fingerprint magnet everywhere on its surface.
2. The viewing angles aren't too bad but the colors are pretty bad, not covering the sRGB color space.
3. There's no adaptive sync functionality despite being advertised as having it.
4. The speakers are down-firing, which affects sound quality when the laptop is on a flat surface.
5. The power button and ports are positioned in an awkward way, making them difficult to access.
6. The bottom panel has very small holes for airflow, potentially affecting performance.
7. Servicing the laptop requires removing screws from the bottom and using a guitar pick to release clips.
8. The battery life is only slightly better than average, not impressing considering the price.
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