Asus Zenbook A16 (2026) Review: Savor the Power, Ignore the Beige
.jpg&w=800)
The Asus Zenbook A16 (2026) delivers exceptional performance powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip, excelling in benchmark tests and graphics improvements over its predecessor. Despite its power and portability, the laptop suffers from reduced battery life, a subpar keyboard, and an oversized touchpad. Its dated, beige design contrasts with its high-end specs, resulting in a mixed overall experience.
- ▪The Asus Zenbook A16 (2026) is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme chip, offering significant performance gains in benchmarks and graphics.
- ▪It features 48 GB of RAM, a 1-TB SSD, and a bright 16-inch 2880 x 1800 OLED touchscreen, weighing 2.9 pounds.
- ▪Battery life has declined compared to earlier Snapdragon X models, and the keyboard and touchpad receive criticism for poor usability.
- ▪The laptop scores 50 to 100 percent higher than Intel and AMD rivals in Geekbench 6, and performs close to the Apple MacBook M4 Pro in Cinebench 2024.
- ▪Graphics performance has improved dramatically, with average frame rates quadrupling over the previous generation.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Christopher NullGearMay 3, 2026 7:30 AMReview: Asus Zenbook A16 (2026)This $2,000 Asus laptop delivers breathtaking performance thanks to Qualcomm's Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme, but at the cost of nearly everything else.Courtesy of AsusTriangleUpBuy NowMultiple Buying Options Available$1,999 at Asus$1,700 at Best BuyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyRating:7/10Open rating explainerInformationWIREDBreathtaking performance. Light and amply portable. Outstanding OLED display. Better compatibility than before.TIREDDated styling, with a generally cheap feel. Battery life has taken a huge hit. Keyboard is very weak.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at WIRED.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from WIRED
