Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE vs ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024)
The Verdict
Acer's Chromebook Plus 516 GE and ASUS TUF Gaming A15 target different user bases entirely. The Acer excels with its larger 16-inch 2560 x 1600 display running at 120Hz, making it superior for content consumption and productivity tasks on ChromeOS. Its Intel Core i5-1340P handles everyday tasks smoothly, though it maxes out at 8GB RAM and 256GB storage without expansion options. Battery life reaches 9 hours, adequate for a full workday. The ASUS TUF Gaming A15 positions itself as a gaming and performance machine, wielding an AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS processor, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and 512GB expandable storage, all running Windows 11. Its 15.6-inch 1920 x 1080 display delivers 144Hz refresh rates ideal for gaming, though pixel density is lower than the Acer's. At 10 hours, battery life edges ahead slightly, but the extra 320 grams of weight and thicker profile (22.9mm vs 20.4mm) reflect its gaming-focused construction. Choose the Acer for ultraportability and productivity at $649; select the ASUS if you need gaming performance and Windows software at $1099.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE if…
- →120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- →Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- →i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) if…
- →RTX 4060 with Ryzen 7 8845HS is great value for 1080p gaming
- →90 Wh battery surprisingly good for a gaming laptop
- →MIL-STD-810H certified for durability
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE
Pros
- 120Hz QHD+ display is best-in-class for any Chromebook
- Cloud gaming optimized with NVIDIA GeForce NOW and Xbox Cloud Gaming
- i5-1340P delivers strong performance for ChromeOS
- Ethernet port is rare and valuable for cloud gaming stability
- ChromeOS is fast, secure, and low-maintenance
Cons
- ChromeOS cannot run native Windows games or Steam natively
- 256 GB storage fills quickly for offline content
- 8 GB RAM is not upgradeable
- 1.88 kg is heavy for a Chromebook
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Windows
ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4060 with Ryzen 7 8845HS is great value for 1080p gaming
- 90 Wh battery surprisingly good for a gaming laptop
- MIL-STD-810H certified for durability
- Upgradeable RAM and dual SSD slots
- Quiet under light workloads
Cons
- 1080p FHD display looks soft on a 15.6-inch screen
- 300-nit brightness is poor for well-lit rooms
- Plastic chassis lacks a premium feel
- No Thunderbolt support
- Fan noise escalates quickly under load
Full Specifications
| Spec | Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE | ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | ChromeOS | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.88 kg | 2.20 kg |
| Material | Aluminum lid, plastic body | Plastic with metal reinforcement |
| Dimensions | 357 x 254 x 20.4 mm | 354.9 x 251.9 x 22.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | 1 | 3 |
| USB-C ports | 2 | 1 |
| Ethernet | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| SD card | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | — | 0 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 9 hours | Up to 10 hours light use |
| Capacity | 65 Wh | 90 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | IPS LCD | FHD IPS 144Hz |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz | 144Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 350 | 300 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 256 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe | 512 GB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB LPDDR5 | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 12-core (4P + 8E) | 8-core / 16-thread |
| Chipset | 13th Gen Intel Core i5-1340P | AMD Ryzen 7 8845HS |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in laptops, see all Acer products or all ASUS products. View full details for the Acer Chromebook Plus 516 GE or the ASUS TUF Gaming A15 (2024).