I tried the Asus TUG Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 and it changed my mind about 18-inch gaming laptops
They're big, mighty machines that act more like desktop replacements than anything, and while there's no denying their sheer power, I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone pulling an 18-incher out of their backpack to use at a café.
Every laptop has its place, sure, but their generally steep pricing makes me wonder if a gaming PC would be, well, a wiser economical choice. Consider two recent behemoths, the $4,499 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and $6,700 MSI Titan 18 HX at max configurations, and you'll notice you can get a fairly decent (and more powerful) desktop setup for the same price.
Besides, both types of PCs are made to sit happily on a desk, anyway, so why replace a desktop when you can just get one? Well, that's been my line of reasoning until I got a chance to try out the mega-sized Asus TUF Gaming A18, as it appears to have struck mid-range gold.
This is the first in Asus' TUF lineup to feature an 18-inch size, so instead of being sprinkled with that premium ROG spice, this is a tried-and-true TUF mid-ranger that boasts value. That's not something you see a lot of in this category of sizeable gaming laptops, especially when many 18-incher prices soar well above $2,000.
That's how this TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 stands out, as it's priced at $1,799 / £1,599. Now, that's not cheap, but it's certainly a lot more affordable than the majority of desktop replacements I've seen over the years. But that's the highest configuration; the A18's starting price kicks off at $1,599 / £1,499 with an RTX 5060. Now that's value for its size.
The Asus TUF Gaming A18 finally presents value in an 18-inch laptop, but that doesn't mean it won't pack a punch. With its AMD Ryzen 7 260 CPU, up to RTX 5070 GPU, 1TB SSD and visually impressive 18-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS display with a smooth 240Hz refresh rate, this machine has the right kind of gaming chops. It's a slight shame it tops out at 16GB of DDR5 RAM, but not too shabby for its price.
Over in the U.K., you're also getting a value pitch that brings 18-inch gaming laptops into focus. However, this model (and the one I received) comes with a 144Hz refresh rate instead. Fast? Yes, but 240Hz would certainly be welcome (and expected).
It's very much giving off TUF Gaming A14 vibes, which we rated as the best value gaming laptop you can get. This time, though, there's a glorious 18-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response rate, along with the might of an RTX 50-series GPU.
In my eyes, the Asus TUF Gaming A18 is bringing 18-inch gaming laptops back into fashion, as I can now see the appeal of having an all-in-one PC on my desk that can handle the latest, graphically demanding titles with big-screen splendor. And it's all to do with that price.
Many RTX 50-series gaming laptops are already starting to get discounts (hoorah!), and I've seen some interesting deals out there. Even this $1,499 Alienware 16 Aurora slipped to $1,219 (unfortunately not available anymore), but that's when I saw prices for RTX 40-series machines.
I've seen them for less, but these RTX 4060 laptops, including the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for $1,599 and Lenovo Legion 7i for $1,699, are only a hair's breadth away from the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 with its $1,799 price tag (imagine when a deal cuts that price down further).
There's a lot of value to be had here, especially with the type of performance it's been cranking out in the games I've played on it so far (more on that in a bit).
Having a big 18-inch screen makes the deal all the sweeter, and for gamers (and even some productivity work), it's always a perk to expand the visual limits in the fast-paced competitive games we play and in those graphically stunning AAA titles.
For a long time, the Alienware M18 R2 stood its ground as the best desktop replacement in our list of best gaming laptops, and I have to note that, at the time, the starting price for this 18-inch beast was $1,899.
That's also a great offering, and even has the same display specs, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD as the TUF gaming A18. But that came with an RTX 4060, so the A18's RTX 5070 model is still the more affordable (and valuable) option.
I talk about its impressive price comparisons, but I know a huge factor in getting a gaming laptop is about size and portability, too. An 18-inch laptop isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those who just need a huge gaming machine that finds a home on a desk and pumps out great performance, the TUF Gaming A18 makes a stellar case.
And hey, it's not a complete lump of a machine — it's still portable enough to take from place to place.
So, bigger isn't necessarily pricier this time around, but more importantly, is it still worth gaming on? It certainly can, even with its upscaled 1600p resolution, but I also had to temper my expectations from what I usually find on more premium 18-inch gaming laptops.
Running the benchmark test in Cyberpunk 2077, with Nvidia DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation x4 and High settings with ray tracing turned on, the A18 achieved an average of 200 FPS.
As you'd expect, I was able to blaze through a couple of down Chrome tabs with a YouTube video playing and a PC title running in the background without a hiccup, but this is a gaming laptop, after all, so I put it to the test in my usual mix of games.
There's still more testing to be done, but it's safe to say the TUF Gaming A18 with its RTX 5070 can provide some serious horsepower. Backed by its AMD Ryzen 7 260 CPU, 90Wh battery and Nvidia's DLSS 4 trickery, expect frame rates to skyrocket past 200 FPS at high settings, even at 1200p resolution.
Running the benchmark test in Cyberpunk 2077, with Nvidia DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation x4 and High settings with ray tracing turned on, the A18 achieved an average of 200 FPS. That smoothness was apparent as I jumped around buildings with the backdrop of Night City — all looking immersive and expansive thanks to the screen's size.
Then I dipped into the destructible beauty of The Finals, and settings were automatically maxed out. With DLSS Quality set to DLAA and everything else cranked up (Frame Generation x4, too), the game looked stunning with a 101 FPS. Slightly lower than expected, sure, but still extremely smooth. Tinkering with settings, like lowering settings to High and altering DLSS to Quality, it achieved an even faster 160 FPS.
Finally, I gave Doom: The Dark Ages a go, and similarly saw frame rates soar to 230 FPS at Ultra Nightmare with 1200p resolution. Just what I expected in fast-paced first-person shooters, but I also tried Doom: The Dark Age's path tracing update, and frame rates dropped to a reasonable, but comparatively slow, 60 FPS (I quickly turned that off).
Funnily, despite the impressive boost with DLSS 4, the display on the TUF Gaming A18 I've been testing tops out at 144Hz. So, it can't even fully show off those extreme numbers. And I also noticed its brightness struggled to show off darker environments in Doom. But this wasn't completely off-putting.
Nevertheless, I felt I was playing on a powerful, capable gaming laptop while on this *affordable* behemoth (for its size).
Asus' TUF lineup is punching above its more "budget" weight class and entering the mid-ranger ring, and it's all thanks to its Asus TUF Gaming A18. I still want to see it perform in other demanding scenarios (especially at its 1600p resolution), but for the most part, I can imagine this 18-inch gaming laptop being my main PC for gaming.
Its big, bold display is great for gaming with an expansive view; it has the power to offer great performance in AAA titles; and at 5.72 pounds, it isn't even the heaviest 18-inch out there (many are over 7 pounds).
Better yet, this gaming laptop goes beyond entry-level gaming and delivers powerful performance at a more affordable price than its major competitors.
As the TUF Gaming A18 has proven to me, maybe 18-inch gaming laptops don't have to cost a premium after all. For accessible, powerful gaming performance that won't completely drain the bank account (and with a big screen), I'd put this on my radar.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Digital Trends
7 hours ago
- Digital Trends
Asus reveals RTX 50 series GPU power specs for 2025 ROG and TUF gaming laptops
Asus has published the complete GPU power specifications for its 2025 ROG and TUF gaming laptops, offering clarity on the exact TGP (Total Graphics Power) configurations for the latest Nvidia RTX 50 series mobile GPUs. This move provides much-needed transparency for consumers, who often struggle to determine GPU wattages due to inconsistent or hidden specs across the laptop industry. The detailed list, available on Asus' official website, covers all RTX 50-series mobile GPUs across a wide range of gaming laptop models. RTX 5090 Mobile: 100W – 175W RTX 5080 Mobile: 100W – 175W RTX 5070 Ti Mobile: 100W – 175W RTX 5070 Mobile: 75W – 115W RTX 5060 Mobile: 75W – 115W RTX 5050 Mobile: 75W – 115W Recommended Videos According to the company, all 2025 ROG Strix Scar laptops equipped with the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, and RTX 5070 Ti will be capable of running these GPUs at their maximum TGPs. On the other hand, the TUF Gaming models like the TUF A18 and TUF A16 will feature slightly more conservative configurations, with the RTX 5070 and the RTX 5060 at up to 115W. The slimmer Zephyrus G14, known for its ultraportable design, will offer the RTX 5080 and RTX 5070 Ti at 120W, while the rest of the GPUs will be capped at 100W. This reflects the thermal and power constraints of its thin chassis. Asus has shared these power figures model-by-model to give buyers a clearer idea of the performance they can expect. For instance, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with the RTX 5080 runs the chip at 175W, while the Zephyrus G14 caps the RTX 5080 at 120W to maintain thermals. While both laptops offer the same GPU, the difference in power would result in a significant difference in terms of performance. This public disclosure comes in response to growing consumer demand for transparency in GPU power ratings. Since Nvidia's 30- and 40-series mobile GPUs began allowing a wide TGP range with no strict branding distinction, buyers have had to rely on third-party reviews or hidden spec sheets to know what level of performance to expect. By sharing this information upfront, Asus seems to be giving buyers the tools to make informed decisions, especially as GPU power limits can significantly impact gaming performance, cooling, and battery life.
CNET
9 hours ago
- CNET
Ready, Set, Game: Fix Your Lag With These Tips
According to a report from Liquid Web, over 95% of users who were surveyed in a pool of 1,000 complained about experiencing latency issues while gaming. That same report showed that these gamers were known to play games on PC, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo. Anyone who's spent time gaming online knows the frustration -- you pull the trigger or dive for a tackle, but thanks to lag, your action lands way too late. That's high ping in action, and it's a serious problem. It doesn't just slow you down, it gives everyone else an edge while you're stuck playing catch-up. A strong, stable connection with low ping isn't a luxury for online gaming -- it's a necessity. With the tech available today, there's no reason to settle for a laggy experience. There are ways to optimize your internet connection. If you're dealing with high ping, the first move is figuring out how bad it is. Once you've measured it, you can take steps. Whether that's tweaking your setup or upgrading your equipment to lower your ping and keep your games fast and responsive. First off, what is ping? Put simply, ping is a test of latency, or how long it takes your computer or console to send data back and forth from a specific server somewhere on the internet. Think of it as a courier. Whenever you use the internet for anything, you're sending a courier out to fetch whatever data you need to stream a show, use an app or play a game online. In this sense, your internet speed represents how much data can be carried at once, typically in megabits per second, or Mbps. Meanwhile, the ping tells you how long -- the latency -- the trip takes in milliseconds. Locating local internet providers You'll want to shoot for a ping of around 50 milliseconds or lower for online gaming. Over 50ms isn't terrible, but you definitely want to land under 100ms. After that, lag can become an issue. A good speed test will indicate where your ping is. There are plenty of free speed tests that can provide a detailed assessment of your home network's performance. Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET Take a quick internet speed test Better yet, do a series of them -- and at different times of day, if you can. Your goal is simply to get a baseline sense of what your average speeds and ping look like before you start making changes. Oftentimes, the right set of tests can point you in the right direction as you start trying to speed things up. For instance, running speed tests on a computer that's wired to your modem and then comparing those results with what you see when you're wired to the router can help you figure out if it might be time to get a new one. Enlarge Image Looking to measure the ping to a specific site or server? Windows users can open the Command Prompt and typing "ping" followed by a space and then a URL or IP address. Screenshot by Ry Crist/CNET There are lots of free speed testing tools on the web these days. Claiming over 55 billion speed tests since 2006, the most popular is probably the Ookla Speedtest -- it's fast, simple and easy to use, and I like that it gives you control over which nearby server you're using. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.) The speed test is another good option that includes a latency measurement, and if you'd like, SpeedSmart's speed test lets you measure the ping to servers all over the globe. For example, I was able to measure a latency of 30ms to a server about 750 miles away from me in New York, then 290ms to a server located in Sydney, roughly 10,000 miles away. The distance makes a huge difference. Whichever speed test you're using, start fresh by rebooting all of your hardware first -- then grab an Ethernet cable and connect your laptop or console directly to your router. From there, a speed test will tell you what your ping looks like before your router starts transmitting the signal throughout your home. After that, you can unplug and do several Wi-Fi speed tests at different spots around the house to see how much the numbers change. Enlarge Image If you switch from a wireless to a wired connection, you'll see faster speeds and reductions in ping in your speed tests. How big of a difference depends on your router and the speed of your connection. Ry Crist/CNET Play plugged in, if possible In my home, the ping went up by about 20% after unplugging and doing a wireless speed test at close range. It likely would have gone up even more if I had tested the wireless connection at a greater distance. A good set of powerline adapters can deliver speeds and latency close to what you'd expect from a direct, wired connection with your router. Josh Miller/CNET That's why most online gamers will tell you to use a wired connection whenever possible. That's all well and good if your computer or gaming console is in the same room as your router. Experts recommend placing your router is at a central location. However, if you're using a bedroom or a back room for gaming, then the wired approach probably sounds less feasible. One potential solution is mesh router systems. A mesh router isn't quite as good as plugging directly into the router, but a wired Ethernet connection from a mesh node to your gaming system will be better than a completely wireless connection. Check your cables While we're talking about the importance of a wired connection -- it's worthwhile to make sure that you're using up-to-date cables that can support today's top internet speeds. Just don't expect them to do much of anything as far as ping is concerned. In fact, during a recent run of speed tests, I tested both a 300Mbps fiber connection and a 50Mbps cable connection using multiple speed-check services at different times of day. I ran each round of tests four times -- once with the laptop connected to the modem via Wi-Fi, and then once again using a wired connection to the modem with each of the three most common types of Ethernet cables: Cat 5, Cat 5e and Cat 6. On both networks, the Cat 6 cable connection returned the highest average download speeds, but the type of cable didn't have a noticeable effect on ping, with all three averaging out to within 2ms of one another. Still, Ethernet cables with the Cat 5e or Cat 6 designation are your clear best bet, as they're made to handle top speeds of up to 1,000 or even 10,000Mbps. Outdated Cat 5 cables aren't designed for speeds higher than 100Mbps, and they don't do as much to prevent interference as signals pass through the copper wiring inside. If you're using cables like that, then it's worth picking up some new ones. Optimize your wireless setup Proper cabling is nice, but maybe you're playing a game on your phone, tablet or another device that can't easily benefit from a wired connection. In that case, upgrading to a better router might be the right play -- but you'll want to make sure that you're getting the most out of your current setup first. To bring our metaphorical data courier back into it, stronger signal strength in your home makes the first and last leg of his journey easier and faster, which can help bring your ping down. To do so, follow the basic best practices for optimizing your network's signal strength. Start by making sure you've got the router in a good, open spot that's free from immediate obstructions. Wi-Fi signals tend to angle downward, so the higher you can get it up off of the floor, the better. The angle of the antennas can make a difference, too. If you can, try staggering them at 45-degree intervals: one straight up, the next diagonal, the next straight back. It might take some experimentation, but you might be able to find a much steadier connection with just a few quick tweaks. Once you've done everything you can to optimize your router's performance, you'll want to run some final speed tests to see how much of a difference your efforts made. If you aren't able to get your ping below 50ms or so for a routine speed check to a server that's within a few hundred miles of you, then it's probably time to upgrade your equipment or internet provider. Is might be time for an equipment upgrade Upgrading to a good gaming router can definitely help, too. Along with fast speeds and powerful processors, most high-end options can prioritize gaming traffic above everything else to help keep your roommate's Netflix binge from slowing you down. Others promise to route your signal on the fastest possible path to whatever server your game is hosted on. That said, you'll want to be sure to understand the other factors in your home that might be affecting things before you spend hundreds on new networking hardware. Final option: Splurge on a new router Like I said, a fancy gaming router can help guarantee that your home's connection is optimized for gaming. If you're thinking about upgrading, start by looking for a feature called Quality of Service. It'll let you tell the router to prioritize gaming traffic above everything else, which comes in handy if you're sharing bandwidth with roommates or family members. CNET recommends the Linksys Velop Pro 6E. It performed the best in terms of overall jitter scores out of all the routers we've tested. Spending hundreds on a high-end gaming router is probably overkill for most people. However, some features could be worth it. Gianmarco Chumbe/James Martin/CNET Most gaming routers are aimed at die-hard gamers willing to spend big on their setups, so they aren't casual investments. Prices for current-gen models typically range from around $150 to as high as $500 or even more. That's a lot to pay for a bit less ping. That's why I'd rather try to improve my home's network conditions with a powerline adapter or, if I'm struggling with something that's at least 5 years old, with a more modest router upgrade.
Forbes
a day ago
- Forbes
Razer Is Keeping The eGPU Dream Alive
Core X V2 Thunderbolt 5 connectivity is continually bringing advanced transfer speeds and better charging to the latest PC hardware, namely with its impressive 80Gbps bandwidth capabilities, and companies like ASUS and Gigabyte have already announced brand new eGPUs (external graphics processing units) to take advantage of this blazing fast throughput. Razer is the latest corporate entity to jump on the refreshed eGPU bandwagon with its Core X V2, a sturdy non-RGB box priced at $349.99 which advertises a promising 'coming soon' status but no firm release date. While eGPUs admittedly remain a rather niche product category—most gamers undoubtedly opt for dedicated gaming laptops instead of this sort of Frankenstein hybrid setup—I still find the concept irresistibly compelling. I reviewed Razer's 2018 eGPU, the Core V2, alongside the Stealth Blade, way back when both products initially launched, and I found the experience interesting. What is the purpose of an eGPU, anyway? Essentially, it's a separate housing that contains a (hopefully) powerful graphics card, and when you connect a compatible laptop to the unit, the necessary horsepower is outsourced to the chassis and your modest mobile hardware can now achieve desktop-quality visuals. That's the theory, anyway. Core X V2 with Thunderbolt 5 dock In other words, you don't have to sacrifice your thin, sleek, highly portable laptop with great battery life to play AAA games at home on the highest settings and with killer performance. Using an eGPU, you likely won't ever achieve the kind of peak results you'll get on a dedicated gaming desktop, but it's close enough to matter. I suppose you could view the Switch and Switch 2 as having primitive eGPUs of sorts, because when the consoles are docked, you're getting a performance boost, one you wouldn't enjoy in the consoles' respective portable modes. However, the real guts are actually inside the Switch machines themselves, instead of the TV docks like it would be with an eGPU case. We've come a long way since the original Core V2, because Razer's upcoming Core X V2 can support up to a 4-slot, full-length GPU, and that includes something nuts like a GeForce RTX 5090. Whether or not you'll be able to squeeze all the raw performance out of that 5090 over Thunderbolt 5 remains to be seen, but I'd wager there will still be a bottleneck of sorts, even if it's a small one. Using an external display helps, apparently, and I'd think PCIe 5.0 would also go a long way in this department as well. Unfortunately, the Core X V2 contains tech for the lesser PCIe 4.0 standard, but I'd love to test it out at some point to see how a 5090 fares over the lower bandwidth hardware. Thunderbolt 5 dock As The Verge points out, the device only comes packed with a single Thunderbolt 5 cable, and no included PSU (power supply unit) like previous Razer eGPU models. Plus, there are no additional ports on the Core X V2, so on top of needing to provide your own expensive GPU, ATX PSU, and laptop, you'll need to buy a separate dock for plugging in any extra devices. Not surprisingly, Razer is launching a new branded Thunderbolt 5 dock ($400) alongside the port-lacking Core X V2. How convenient. Looking at all the cost involved with traveling the eGPU hybrid computing route, the whole ordeal seems way overpriced and blatantly inefficient, because at that point, why not either buy a completely spec'd out (but slightly heavier) gaming laptop, or really, simply stick with a proper gaming desktop and purchase a separate, cheap, low-powered laptop for travel purposes. But like I said earlier, I do somehow (against all odds) find the idea of owning a sleek, feathery-light laptop that I can easily carry around town for writing and email, paired with a standalone, stationary 5090 base-station for high-end gaming… strangely appealing. It's not practical, it probably costs too much, but it's cool, man. The Thunderbolt 5 dock seems to be available now, while the Core X V2's availability is still up in the air. Regardless, I hope I can get my hands on both for testing relatively soon.
