ASUS TUF Dash 15 2022 Review
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 delivers decent 1080p gaming for under $1,000, but its aging specs and mediocre screen make it hard to recommend over slightly more expensive rivals.
Overview
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 is a solid mid-tier gaming laptop that gets the basics right, but it's starting to show its age. The one thing you need to know? For $950, you're getting a capable 1080p gaming machine that's been passed by newer, more efficient models. It's a decent deal if you're on a strict budget and don't mind some compromises.
Performance
The RTX 3060 is still a perfectly good 1080p GPU, landing in the 77th percentile. It'll handle most games at high settings on that 144Hz screen. The surprise is the CPU. That 10-core Intel 12650H only scores in the 62nd percentile, which means it's fine for gaming but could be a bottleneck in heavy multi-tasking or creative work. Don't expect to stream and game at the same time without some hiccups.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Solid 1080p gaming performance for the price. 79th
- 16GB of DDR5 RAM is a good starting point. 72th
- Thunderbolt support is a nice bonus for expansion.
- The 144Hz screen is smooth for fast-paced games.
Cons
- The screen quality is mediocre (40th percentile). Expect dull colors. 35th
- Storage is stingy at 512GB. You'll need to upgrade fast.
- It's not particularly portable or well-built (46th percentile for compact).
- The CPU is the weak link for anything beyond pure gaming.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i7 12650H |
| Cores | 10 |
| Frequency | 2.3 GHz |
| L3 Cache | 24 MB |
Graphics
| GPU | RTX 3060 |
| Type | discrete |
| VRAM | 6 GB |
| VRAM Type | GDDR6 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 16 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR5 |
| Storage | 512 GB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 15.6" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz |
Connectivity
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 |
Physical
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
Value & Pricing
At $950, it's a fair price for the hardware, but it's not a steal. You're buying last-gen tech. If your budget is locked at a grand, it's a viable option. If you can stretch another $200-$300, you'll find much better laptops.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to a Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, the TUF Dash feels like a toy. The Legion has a far better screen, a much more powerful CPU and GPU, and better build quality, but it costs almost twice as much. A more direct rival is the MSI Vector 16 HX. For a few hundred more, you get a much faster, more modern machine with a better screen. The TUF Dash only wins if price is your absolute top priority.
| Spec | ASUS TUF Dash 15 | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5, Nano-Texture Glass, | Lenovo Yoga Lenovo - Yoga Slim 9i - Copilot+ PC - 14" 4K 120Hz | Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Samsung - Galaxy Book5 Pro - Copilot+ PC - 14" 3K | MSI Prestige MSI - Prestige 13”AI+ - Ukiyoe Edition 13.3"OLED | Microsoft Surface Laptop Microsoft - Surface Laptop - 13.8" 2K Touchscreen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i7 12650H | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Intel Core Ultra 7 Series 2 | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus X1P-64-100 |
| RAM (GB) | 16 | 24 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 2048 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 | 1000 |
| Screen | 15.6" 1920x1080 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 14" 3840x2400 | 14" 2880x1800 | 13.3" 2880x1800 | 13.8" 2304x1536 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 | Apple (10-Core) | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | Intel Arc Graphics | Qualcomm X1 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | - | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1 | 1.3 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | 75 | - | - | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Cpu | Gpu | Ram | Port | Screen | Compact | Storage | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASUS TUF Dash 15 | 71.8 | 79.3 | 61 | 34.7 | 55.3 | 37.7 | 49.1 | 55.8 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14" Compare | 82.9 | 20.6 | 68.5 | 90.7 | 96.9 | 73.4 | 95.2 | 94.8 |
| Lenovo Yoga Slim 9i 14" Compare | 65.7 | 66.6 | 94.6 | 90.7 | 99.9 | 84.7 | 72.3 | 75.6 |
| Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro Galaxy Book5 Pro 14" 3K Compare | 69 | 66.6 | 86.9 | 90.7 | 93.5 | 84.9 | 72.3 | 75.6 |
| MSI Prestige 13”AI+ Ukiyoe Edition 13.3"OLED Compare | 65.7 | 66.6 | 86.9 | 98.4 | 90.6 | 95.5 | 72.3 | 55.8 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 13.8" 2K Touchscreen Compare | 95 | 42 | 86.9 | 94.8 | 81.2 | 87 | 72.3 | 75.6 |
Verdict
This is a 'buy it and forget it' laptop for a very specific person: someone who wants to play games at 1080p, has a tight budget, and doesn't care about screen quality or future-proofing. For everyone else, save up a bit more. The competition has moved on, and so should you.