Skip to main content

Asus updates its budget TUF laptop range with a dedicated performance switch

Asus has launched a slate of new budget gaming laptops at CES 2022. The trio forms part of the company’s TUF laptop lineup, which is focused on the more affordable end of the gaming spectrum.

They include the TUF Gaming F15 and F17, the TUF Gaming A15 and A17, and the TUF Dash 15. All come with new features inside and updated designs on the outside, which Asus says makes for a “more refined” look inspired by “mecha anime.” Gaming laptops aren’t exactly known for their subtle designs, and Asus’ fare is no exception, so you might find the refreshed TUF range a welcome break if you’re a little tired of LED-festooned everything.

The Asus TUF range of gaming laptops.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The whole range comes with Asus’ hardware MUX switch. Rather than routing GPU frames through the CPU’s integrated graphics to save on battery life, this switch lets you flip to direct GPU throughput for better graphical performance, which Asus says translates to a 5% to 10% uptick. Unsurprisingly, Asus hasn’t mentioned the potential battery impact of using this direct mode, but we’d expect it will have you reaching for the power cable.

Recommended Videos

All three also come with a 26% larger trackpad for roomier navigation, although you’ll probably be sticking to a gaming mouse if you’re eyeing one of these primarily for gaming. Still, it’s a nice thing to have.

Performance on a budget

How about some specs? Let’s start with the TUF F15 and F17 laptops, which offer chips up to and including Intel’s 12th Generation Intel Core i7-12700H processor and an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU. You can load each one with up to 16GB of DDR5 4800MHz memory and a 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. Both sizes let you choose between a 1440p 165Hz display or a 1080p option that offers an impressive 300Hz. As for ports, you’ll get a Thunderbolt 4.0 slot, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, and one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port.

The A15 and A17, on the other hand, stick with Team Red and can be maxed out with AMD’s Ryzen 6800H processor and an Nvidia 3050 Ti GPU. You’ll get the same 16GB DDR5 RAM and 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD options, and the same 144Hz and 165Hz screen types, too. The A15 and A17 drop the Thunderbolt 4.0 and USB 3.2 Gen 2 slots, though, instead replacing them with two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C ports, an HDMI 2.0b port, and a Gigabit Ethernet jack.

Rounding out the trio is the TUF Dash F15, which is the highest performing laptop of the bunch. It ups the maximum chip options to a 12th-generation Intel Core i7-12650H CPU and an Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics card, while you can kit it out with up to 32GB of DDR5 4800MHz RAM and a 4TB PCIe 4.0 SSD. There’s a Thunderbolt 4.0 port and options for a 165Hz 1440p screen or a 300Hz 1080p display. Asus says the device is thin and light, although that’s somewhat relative when we’re describing a decked out 15-inch gaming laptop.

All three devices will be available in the first quarter of 2022, with pricing yet to be announced.

Alex Blake
Alex Blake has been working with Digital Trends since 2019, where he spends most of his time writing about Mac computers…
The new ROG Zephyrus gaming laptops look like absolute stunners
asus announces rog zephyrus g16 m16 ces 2023 white 01

Gamers, ready your wallets -- Asus has just announced two new ROG Zephyrus laptops during CES 2023, and they're both likely to quickly climb the ranks of the best gaming laptops you'll be able to buy in 2023.

The ROG Zephyrus G16 and M16 are the two new laptops in question, both high-end premium devices with a unique set of features and specs.

Read more
The ROG Zephyrus G14 infuriates me, but it’s still my favorite gaming laptop of 2022
Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 front view showing display and keyboard deck.

Gaming laptops are antithetical to how I play games, and despite my best efforts, I've never had great luck with them. That's why I sold my 2019 Razer Blade 15 to buy a Steam Deck early in the year.

But after a few months without a dedicated machine for traveling and working on-the-go, I took the plunge again with the 2022 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, and it completely changed my relationship with gaming laptops. Despite the roller coaster of problems, and even cycling through a few different units, I still use the G14 every day.
Honeymoon phase

Read more
Asus could launch a massive new ROG laptop at CES 2023
A new ROG laptop teased by Asus for its CES 2023 show. The laptop supposedly has an 18-inch display.

Asus is planning to launch a brand-new 18-inch laptop at CES 2023. That’s according to a leak from the Lonely City Hardware account on Weibo, which rather appropriately dubbed the forthcoming laptop “Big Guy.”

The Weibo post adds some apparent context to a cryptic tweet posted by Asus a few days ago. On Friday, the official ROG Twitter account teased that “Something *BIG* is coming,” followed by the date January 3, 10 a.m. PT.

Read more