ASUS recently launched the ASUS Gaming X16 in the Philippines, a new laptop that, despite its low-profile looks, promises to be a capable gaming partner.
When it comes to new gaming laptops, chances are that if you look at many newer models, you’ll see that their price tags are nearing (or even over ) the six-figure Peso mark. As such, you might think that it’s no longer easy to get a gaming machine at PHP 50k, as was the case some years ago.
Thankfully, that’s not the case as there are still gaming laptops at this price point, with the ASUS Gaming X16 being one of them. Even though this laptop is priced at PHP 49,995, it should still offer a good gaming experience for popular MOBAs and first-person shooters, as well as gacha games like Genshin Impact.
So, if you’re in the market for a new gaming partner, here’s a rundown of the Gaming X16’s capabilities and why it’s a solid laptop option if you’re on a budget.
The ASUS Gaming X16 Sports a Capable CPU and GPU Combo
Powering the Gaming X16 is an Intel Core i5-13420H CPU, along with an NVIDIA RTX 3050 GPU. For those unfamiliar, this Intel Core i5 is a 13th-gen processor, and it’s the higher-performance H variant (entry-level laptops often have U series CPUs, which are not as good for gaming). Given this, the CPU should have enough processing power for mainstream titles.
As for its graphics card, the RTX 3050 might not be the newest, but it’s still fairly reliable for games like Dota 2 and Overwatch 2.
For starters, Dota 2 runs at over 60 FPS on average, even at the highest graphics settings and at the laptop’s native 1920 x 1200 resolution. This holds steady throughout a match. If you turn down the settings a bit, you should get extra frames – a good option if you want to take advantage of the 144Hz refresh rate screen.
Next, we also tried Overwatch 2, and this game ran at a smooth 80 FPS on average, and that’s on the Ultra graphics preset. It’s also good to know that the game does not have major framerate dips in Overwatch 2, meaning you get a smooth experience.
While it was released nearly five years ago, Genshin Impact remains one of today’s most popular gacha games. If you’re one of the many Genshin Impact players, you’ll be happy to know that the ASUS Gaming X16 can run the game on the Medium preset with an average FPS of nearly 60, with only some dips when exploring the open world. As such, the gameplay experience is pretty good overall in this game, and you should also get similar performance with other HoYoverse titles (and other gacha games for that matter).
For extra reference, here’s a rundown of the synthetic benchmark numbers:
As you can see, the numbers are quite good on both 3Dmark Time Spy and PC Mark 10, meaning you get not only solid gameplay performance, but also enough power for productivity and even some lighter content creation workloads.
Along with the good performance, the Gaming X16 has a MUX Switch. For those unfamiliar, a MUX switch enables a laptop’s graphics card to connect directly to the screen, bypassing the integrated GPU, which can then be turned off while gaming. This results in lower latency and more efficient performance.
One thing worth noting is that this laptop has 8GB of RAM by default. While that’s enough for the games we tried, we definitely recommend upgrading if you’re planning to play more demanding games (and for better multitasking in general).
Nice Design with Great Connectivity
Performance aside, the Gaming X16 also has a nice design. Sure, it has what is essentially a Vivobook chassis, but the laptop runs well enough that excessive heating is not an option.
It also helps that the laptop’s look is quite sleek; great news if you prefer more subdued laptops given that many gaming notebooks have aggressive “gamer” design elements. This also means the Gaming X16 won’t stick out like a sore thumb if you need to use it for work in the office or in a café.
Along with its looks, the laptop has great connectivity options, including 2 USB Type-A ports, 1 Type-C port, an HDMI port, a headphone/mic combo jack, and a full-size SD card reader. The SD card reader is a nice touch, especially if you’re a content creator.
RTX Studio Driver Option Makes it a Capable Content Creation Partner
Speaking of content creation, another thing worth mentioning about the Gaming X16 is its RTX Studio Driver option.
If you’re planning to use this laptop heavily for gaming, you can download the Game Ready drivers from NVIDIA, though with this laptop, you also have the option of installing NVIDIA’s Studio Driver instead.
Essentially, this driver option optimizes the graphics card more for workloads like video editing. Given this, for users who need a notebook primarily for creative work, but still want something more affordable and capable for gaming, the Gaming X16 is a surprisingly nice option.
More Portable Than You Think
As we mentioned above, the Gaming X16 has a 144Hz screen. It’s not just for gaming though as the 16-inch WUXGA display is also a solid match for binge-watching, not to mention that the 16:10 aspect ratio makes it an excellent work partner. After all, it has more screen real estate than a 16:9 display (so you see more of your Word or Excel files on the screen).
Even though it has a large screen, this ASUS laptop is still quite light and portable. Specifically, it weighs just 1.80 kg, meaning it’s easy to bring everywhere. Even with its slim frame, the laptop meets the US MIL-STD-810H military-grade standard, meaning you won’t have to worry about accidental damage when you’re using it every day.
To top it all off, the portability of the Gaming X16 is complemented by its security features, such as a physical webcam shutter.
ASUS Gaming X16: Price and Availability in the Philippines
Given its capabilities, coupled with its PHP 49,995 price tag, the ASUS Gaming X16 might just be a worthy gaming laptop for you, especially if you love playing popular gacha games like Genshin Impact as well as well-known competitive multiplayer titles.
Convinced by this new ASUS laptop? The Gaming X16 is available now in the Philippines, the ASUS Gaming X16 along with its older sibling, the ASUS Gaming V16, in ASUS and ROG concept stores, partner retailers, and on ASUS PH’s and ROG PH’s official online stores.
Each purchase comes with a 3-month PC Game Pass and ASUS’ award-winning after-sales service, which features a 2-year International Warranty and 1-year Accidental Warranty.
Finally, if you want to try a hands-on experience, you can do so in ASUS concept stores as the brand’s latest gaming laptops are on display. There, you can try playing maxed-out Genshin Impact characters while there.