Asus TUF Dash F15: Review
- 1 Asus TUF Dash F15 Specs
- 1.1 Pros
- 1.2 Cons
- 1.3 Build Quality
- 1.4 Performance
- 1.5 Energy Retention
- 1.6 Price and Availability
- 1.7 Keyboard and Trackpad
- 1.8 Connectivity
- 1.9 Conclusion
As of this 2022 refresh, Asus’s TUF Dash is the most reasonably priced all-purpose/gaming laptop series it offers. It’s still not as thick or heavy as the standard TUF Gaming versions, and it’s still an Intel-exclusive design, but it offers a good mix of performance and portability at a price competitive in most markets. Be wary of the Full HD 144Hz screen choice; if possible, go for the Full HD 300Hz configuration instead.
Asus TUF Dash F15 Specs
| Display | 15.6-inch, 16:9, non-touch, matte |
| Processor | Intel Alder Lake Core i7-12650H |
| Storage | 1 TB SSD |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR5-4800 RAM |
| Connectivity | WiFi 6 |
| Weight | 1.95 kg (4.3 lbs) |
| Battery | 76Wh |
| OS | Windows 10 Home |
| Screen Refresh Rate | 240 Hz |
| Price | $1,699 |
Pros
- Lightweight and structurally sound for the group
- Helpful data, IO
- Excellent selection of FHD 300Hz and QHD displays
- Notably more potent than the generation of 2021
- USB Type-C port for charging, a respectable battery life for an Intel platform, and a 76Wh cell
- Economically viable
Cons
- Some oddities influence typical ergonomics.
- A cluster of ports on the left side is typical.
- Watch out for the FHD 144hz panel.
Build Quality
The TUF Dash series is a more elegant and refined version of TUF’s regular gaming laptops. The inside is the same smooth matte plastic as the regular TUFs, and the lid is made of aluminum. Even though both surfaces are nice, they show fingerprints and dust quickly and need to be cleaned often. The laptop is solid and well-made. When I’ve used it, it hasn’t made any strange noises or creaks. In this tested setup, it is smaller and weighs less than the average mid-range 15-inch laptop, which weighs just under 2 kilograms.
The style is sometimes useful and sometimes not. I like how stable the screen is once it’s set up, thanks to the solid hinges and non-shaking rubber feet on the frame. But the laptop’s front lip and corners are too sharp for me, and the status LEDs under the screen are even brighter and more annoying to use in the dark than in older models. The screen only folds back about 150 degrees, which isn’t as flat as I’d like on a device that tries to be portable.
Performance
Even though it has the latest parts from Intel and Nvidia, the hardware is set up in a way that keeps it from getting too hot in the small case. So you shouldn’t expect to get the fastest laptop on the market. Even so, AAA games are no match for the Asus TUF Dash F15.
Energy Retention
The 9-hour battery life of the Dash F15 shows that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to choose between speed and portability. That’s amazing, but playing games will make the battery life go down a lot.
Price and Availability
The Core i7 + RTX 3060 F15 FX517ZM model we tested can be purchased for less than $1199 USD in the United States, 1250 EUR in Europe, and 1300 GBP in the United Kingdom. The Full HD 300 Hz screen option is also available in this area, and it costs only about 100 euros more than the Full HD 144 Hz options.
The Dash F15 FX517ZE (i7 + 3050Ti + FHD 144HZ display) was available for roughly 1200 EUR, while the Dash F15 FX517ZR (i7 + 3070Ti + FHD 300Hz display) was available for around 1700 EUR. The ZR has the same 144Hz display as the Pro and can be purchased for $1499 at Best Buy in the United States. Although the i7 + RTX 3060 versions are still the best overall, I would prioritize finding a system with a 300Hz FHD or 165Hz QHD display if at all feasible. In addition, I anticipate further discounts as time progresses.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The 2022 Dash F15 has an identical keyboard to the TUF Gaming models, except its backlighting is white rather than RGB. The layout is adequate, with a dedicated NumPad and an additional group of media controls in the top left corner. The keycaps are pleasant to the touch, if a little smudgy, and the overall response is firmer than on earlier generations of TUF, making this a decent typer that should suit most people’s needs.
Connectivity
The TUF Dash F15’s left-side Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port elevates its port selection above par. The connector can charge the notebook; however, an Asus-branded AC adapter should be plugged in for optimal operation. The port for the latter is in the middle of the laptop’s left edge, which is inconvenient.
The TUF Dash F15’s left-side Thunderbolt 4/USB-C port elevates its port selection above par. The connector can charge the notebook; however, an Asus-branded AC adapter should be plugged in for optimal operation. The port for the latter is in the middle of the laptop’s left edge, which is inconvenient.
Conclusion
The Asus TUF Dash F15 has the right amount of strength, is easy to use, and is affordable. Even though the Intel “Tiger Lake” Core i7 only has four cores, when paired with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 mobile GPU, it has more than enough power for today’s most challenging games. This laptop is great for daily use because it has a long battery life and a nice keyboard. But because its GPU is limited to a low power level, the TUF Dash F15’s gaming performance is about the same as that of gaming laptops from the last generation. Early signs show that not all laptops with an RTX 3070 are made the same.
It keeps running quietly and stays at about the same temperature. The white version of our test unit costs $1,699 and looks great, but at Best Buy, it costs $1,449 and offers about the same value as our dark grey unit which costs $1,699. The base model, which sells at Best Buy for $1,099, looks like an even better deal. Putting money into TUF is a good idea, but don’t forget to save up for a separate monitor.
