ASUS has made a notable entry into the laptop market with the launch of its Zenbook A16 on April 7, showcasing the innovative Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme processor from Qualcomm. This chip represents a significant shift within the Windows on ARM ecosystem, diverging from the traditional x86-64 architecture typically associated with Intel and AMD. The Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme is a robust System-on-Chip (SoC) that combines a high-performance “Oryon” CPU with ample on-package memory, making it a formidable contender in the realm of portable computing.
Equipped with a “Hexagon” NPU designed for local AI tasks, capable of achieving up to 80 TOPS, and an “Adreno” GPU for graphics, the Zenbook A16 raises an intriguing question: Can it handle gaming? The answer is a resounding yes, although the experience may vary depending on the game and its compatibility with the ARM architecture.
1. World of Warcraft: Midnight
- Verdict: ✅ Perfect
Starting with World of Warcraft, a game that has supported Windows on ARM since 2021, the Zenbook A16 performed admirably. Even in bustling city environments, the game maintained a solid 60 FPS while running on battery power. Utilizing the native 2880 x 1800 resolution without any need for scaling, the results were impressive, showcasing the laptop’s capability to handle demanding scenarios with minimal fan noise.
2. Cyberpunk 2077
- Verdict: 🟠 Playable
In contrast, my experience with Cyberpunk 2077 was less favorable. Despite keeping the settings on “low” and employing upscaling techniques, the performance hovered around 30–40 FPS, making it less than ideal for casual gameplay. While technically playable, the experience was not compelling enough to recommend it over more gaming-centric devices.
4. Minecraft: Bedrock Edition
- Verdict: ✅ Great
On a more positive note, Minecraft: Bedrock Edition ran smoothly on the Zenbook A16, maintaining a consistent 55–60 FPS at the default render distance. While ray tracing features were unavailable, the game still delivered a satisfying experience, proving that the device can handle less demanding titles with ease.
5. Kingdom Come: Deliverance II
- Verdict: ❓ TBD
However, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II presented a challenge, as it lacked an ARM64 build on the Xbox PC app, reverting to x64 code instead. Given the struggles observed with Cyberpunk 2077, attempting to run this title through emulation seems unwise. The absence of a native version is disappointing, especially for gamers eager to explore new offerings.
A far cry from Valve’s Proton efforts on Linux, but native support is inspiring
These findings align with expectations for an integrated GPU operating on the fringes of mainstream gaming. The demand for developers to create native ARM64 versions of their games is substantial, and while Microsoft’s Prism translation layer offers some assistance, it does not replicate the seamless experience provided by Valve’s Proton for Linux. The potential for growth in the Windows on ARM sector is promising, especially in the portable gaming space.
As I continue to explore the capabilities of the Zenbook A16, I remain optimistic about its performance and the future of ARM-based gaming laptops. The journey of integrating software and hardware in this evolving landscape is one that will require patience and innovation.