I tested the Asus V16 and it’s as portable as large gaming laptops get — but this isn’t the only aspect that impressed me

30 Jan 2026, 09:13 · TechRadar

TechRadar Verdict

The Asus V16 is one of the most portable large gaming laptops around. Its light and thin body is mightily impressive for this class, and the overall build quality is reasonable as well. With an RTX 4050 equipped, my review unit performed well enough to meet the demands of modern titles, and the relatively quiet operation and excellent keyboard are further feathers in its cap. It’s not the cheapest gaming laptop around, and it faces strong competition at this price point, but the V16 is a solid pick nonetheless.

Pros

+Remarkably light and thin
+Reasonably quiet
+Very tactile keyboard

Cons

-Some heat on keyboard
-Display can be washed out and reflective
-Stronger value rivals

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Asus V16: Two-minute review

The V16 is a large gaming laptop with a strong spec at an appealing price point. It looks understated yet elegant, thanks to the smooth finish and lack of gaming-related embellishments. The rounded edges and smooth planes further add to its minimalist appeal.

What’s more, the V16 is remarkably sleek by the standards of its class. Despite the large 16-inch size display, its body is very thin and light, making it a contender for the best gaming laptop you can realistically carry around with you.

The build quality of the V16 is also commendable, featuring materials that feel premium and well put-together. It’s more solid than some of its rivals, although it’s perhaps not the sturdiest gaming laptop in existence.

There are enough connectivity options to satisfy most gamers, although the lack of an RJ-45 port might disappoint keen online players. The fact that all but one of the V16’s interfaces are located on the left – and none on the rear – might also be a pain point for some.

(Image credit: Future)

MyAsus is the utility software bundled with the V16, used to view system information and make performance tweaks. It gets the job done, although the interface and odd loading times make it less polished than rival software.

Thanks to the RTX 4050 in my review unit, the V16 managed to hold its own when contending with today’s AAA titles. I didn’t manage to achieve 60fps at full resolution when playing Cyberpunk 2077, but I still had a smooth and enjoyable experience at around 50fps with Ray Tracing enabled.

Heat made its way onto the keyboard while playing, with the space bar experiencing the most intense temperatures. It was still comfortable to use, though, and more impressively, the fans were relatively hushed.

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