The ASUS V16 is good for gamers, but serious creatives should steer clear

Reasonable GPU performance is hampered by poor CPU performance.

ASUS V16
(Image: © Future / Paul Hatton)

Our Verdict

The ASUS V16 delivers reasonable GPU performance but is let down by its partner in crime, the underpowered Intel Core 5 CPU. It's a laptop that will perform admirably when carrying out light creative tasks and will work well for graphic designers, but if you try and push it harder, then it starts to struggle.

For

  • Great GPU performance
  • Quick refresh rate
  • Reasonable battery life
  • Sleek machine

Against

  • Only an LCD display
  • Lacks CPU power for demanding creative tasks
  • Too much flexibility in the screen

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The ASUS V16 is a portable laptop that is designed for both gamers and creators who need a balance of performance and affordability. It boasts an impressive NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050, which is renowned for its graphics performance. Unfortunately, ASUS, in pursuit of keeping the price down, has paired it with a Core 5 processor rather than a more capable i7 or i9 alternative.

When I saw this mix of hardware, I immediately expected the laptop to struggle, especially when it came to higher-end creative tasks such as video editing and rendering. We've performed a wide range of benchmarks, and we recommend reading on to find out whether this laptop will feature in our guides to the best laptops for graphic design or video editing.

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CPU:

Intel Core 5 210H

Graphics:

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050

Memory:

16 GB, DDR5

Storage:

512 GB SSD

Screen size:

16-inch

Screen type:

LCD

Resolution:

1920 x 1200

Refresh rate:

144Hz

Colour gamut:

Not specified

Brightness:

300 nits

Ports:

HDMI 2.1 x1, USB-C x1, USB-A x2, Audio jack

Wireless connectivity:

Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth

Dimensions:

35.70 x 25.07 x 1.80 x 2.20 cm

Weight:

1.95 kg (4.29 lbs)

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ASUS V16 score card

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design:

A sleek design with a good-looking matte grey finish.

4/5

Features:

A fairly standard set of specs which are boosted by the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 GPU.

4/5

Performance:

Mid-range CPU and GPU performance but definitely lacking for AI tasks.

3.5/5

Value:

A reasonably priced laptop given the specs.

4.5/5

MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo
MSI Prestige 13 AI+ Evo: at creativebloq.com

A lightweight laptop for creatives who only work on minimally demanding projects. It's a winner when it comes to portability but can't be relied upon if the going gets tough.

Apple MacBook Air 15-inch
Apple MacBook Air 15-inch: at creativebloq.com

An ultra-thin and light laptop that boasts an incredibly high-performing processor. If you're open to an Apple laptop over and above a Windows one, then the MacBook Air should definitely be in your shortlist.

The Verdict
7

out of 10

ASUS V16

The ASUS V16 delivers reasonable GPU performance but is let down by its partner in crime, the underpowered Intel Core 5 CPU. It's a laptop that will perform admirably when carrying out light creative tasks and will work well for graphic designers, but if you try and push it harder, then it starts to struggle.

TOPICS
Paul Hatton
Writer

Paul is a digital expert. In the 20 years since he graduated with a first-class honours degree in Computer Science, Paul has been actively involved in a variety of different tech and creative industries that make him the go-to guy for reviews, opinion pieces, and featured articles. With a particular love of all things visual, including photography, videography, and 3D visualisation Paul is never far from a camera or other piece of tech that gets his creative juices going. You'll also find his writing in other places, including Creative Bloq, Digital Camera World, and 3D World Magazine.

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