ASUS V16 (V3607) review – A Budget Gamer Disguised as a Vivobook
The ASUS V16 (V3607) is a master of disguise. At first glance, it looks like a sleek, professional Vivobook designed for spreadsheets and meetings. But peel back the modest exterior, and you’ll find a machine with a secret: it’s packing genuine gaming hardware. This is a laptop built for the user who needs a versatile daily driver for school or work but wants to jump into a game of Call of Duty or Elden Ring the moment the clock strikes five. It promises the best of both worlds on a budget, but can a machine that tries to be everything to everyone truly excel at anything?
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-v16-v3607/
Contents
Specs, Drivers, What’s in the box
ASUS V16 (V3607) - Specs
- HDD/SSD
- up to 8000GB SSD
- M.2 Slot
- 1x 2280 M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 x4 See photo
- RAM
- up to 128GB
- OS
- Windows 11 Home, Windows 11 Pro, No OS, Chrome OS, DOS
- Battery
- 63Wh
- Body material
- Plastic / Polycarbonate
- Dimensions
- 357.0 x 250.7 x 18.0 ~ 22.0 mm (14.06" x 9.87" x 0.71")
- Weight
- 1.93 kg (4.3 lbs)
- Ports and connectivity
- 2x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps)
- 1x USB Type-A
- 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps), Power Delivery (PD), DisplayPort
- HDMI
- 2.1
- Card reader
- Ethernet LAN
- Wi-Fi
- Wi-Fi 6E
- Bluetooth
- 5.3
- Audio jack
- 3.5mm Combo Jack
- Features
- Fingerprint reader
- Web camera
- FHD with privacy shutter
- Backlit keyboard
- Microphone
- Microphone with Two-Way AI Noise Cancelation
- Speakers
- Speakers by SonicMaster
- Security Lock slot
All ASUS V16 (V3607) configurations
Drivers
All drivers and utilities for this notebook can be found here: https://www.asus.com/laptops/for-gaming/all-series/asus-v16-v3607/helpdesk_knowledge/
What’s in the box?
Unboxing the ASUS V16 is focused on the essentials – manuals + the 150W charger (for RTX 5060 variants like ours), though there’s a chance for some welcome regional extras.
Depending on your country and territory, ASUS may bundle in a useful wired optical mouse or even a protective backpack to enhance the value. We (in Europe) scored a backpack!
Design and construction
The ASUS V16 (V3607) sports a clean, minimalist design that feels very much in line with the Vivobook family.
It sprinkles in just enough “gaming” flair through its backlight and subtle details, to hint at its capabilities without going full-on aggressive like the ROG or TUF series. ASUS officially calls the colour “Matte Black,” though in person it reads more as a sophisticated dark grey.
The chassis is constructed entirely from plastic, but ASUS keeps things interesting by varying the textures: the lid has a glossy finish, the palm rest is smooth matte, and the bottom is textured matte. While it has officially passed US MIL-STD 810H military-grade standards, the budget nature of the machine is revealed by some noticeable flex when pressed, though it’s nothing severe enough to cause real concern. The glossy lid does tend to pick up some smudges that are visible at certain angles.
For a 16-inch laptop, the V16 maintains decent portability, measuring 35.70 x 25.07 x 1.80 ~ 2.20 cm (14.06″ x 9.87″ x 0.71″ ~ 0.87″) and weighing in at 1.95 kg (4.30 lbs). The hinges are well-balanced, providing good stability while still allowing for a smooth, one-handed open. A nice feature is the hinge’s ability to open the screen a full 180 degrees to lay flat, adding flexibility even without a touchscreen.
The display is framed by fairly thin bezels – 6 mm (approximately 0.24 inches) on the sides and 10 mm (approximately 0.39 inches) at the top. This top bezel houses a 1080p FHD camera and dual-array microphone, complete with a physical privacy shutter for peace of mind.
The keyboard deck includes a NumPad with slightly reduced key sizes. The keys feature a distinct blue backlight, with the WASD and arrow keys sporting translucent keycaps to make them pop – a nice nod to gamers. The arrow keys themselves are half-height, but thankfully there’s a bit of extra spacing above the left and right keys to help prevent accidental presses.
Unfortunately, there are no biometric login options available; we found no configurations with a fingerprint reader or an IR camera. Below the keyboard sits a massive trackpad measuring 150 x 100 mm (5.91 x 3.94 inches). While its large size is great for gestures and tapping, the physical click mechanism leaves something to be desired; the travel is indistinct, sometimes leading to “half-presses” that don’t register as a click, so tap-to-click is definitely the way to go here.
Ports and Connectivity
The ASUS V16 (V3607) maintains a clean and straightforward port selection, distributing all connectivity along the side edges. The left flank is the primary hub, housing the dedicated DC-in power jack and an HDMI 2.1 port specified with Full Rate Link (FRL) support for high-bandwidth video output. Alongside these is a versatile USB-C 3.2 Gen 1 port (5Gbps), which conveniently supports both DisplayPort for external monitors and Power Delivery for charging. A standard USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5Gbps) and a 3.5mm combo audio jack complete the left-side layout.
The right side is kept very minimal, featuring only a single additional USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 port (5Gbps) and status LED indicators. The rear of the chassis is entirely free of ports, reserved instead for the cooling exhaust. Users should be aware of a few notable omissions: the laptop lacks both an SD card reader and a dedicated Ethernet (LAN) port, so those requiring wired networking or direct photo transfers will need to rely on USB adapters.
Wireless connectivity is handled by a Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) module, offering dual-band support with a 2×2 antenna configuration for reliable performance on modern networks. This is paired with Bluetooth 5.3 for connecting wireless peripherals such as mice, headphones, and keyboards.
Display and Sound Quality, Display Profiles
We ordered the ASUS V16 (V3607) with its most budget-friendly 16-inch WUXGA (1920 × 1200) 144 Hz IPS panel with a 45% NTSC gamut (CSOT MNG007QX2-2 / CSW164D). If you need wider color coverage, there’s also a 1200p 144 Hz option listed with a “100% Adobe” gamut, and for the sharpest image, you can step up to the 2.5K (2560 × 1600) 144 Hz panel, which is also rated at 400 nits.
| ASUS V16 (V3607) | 16.0″, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 144 Hz, IPS (45% NTSC) | 16.0″, WUXGA (1920 x 1200), 144 Hz, IPS (Wide-gamut) | 16.0″, 2.5K WQXGA (2560 x 1600), 144 Hz, IPS (Wide-gamut) |
| Panel name | CSOT MNG007QX2-2 (CSW164D) | – | – |
| Diagonal | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) | 16.0 inches (40.6 cm) |
| Panel Type | IPS | IPS | IPS |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1200 pixels | 1920 x 1200 pixels | 2560 x 1600 pixels |
| Max Refresh Rate | 144 Hz | 144 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Pixel Density | 141 PPI | 141 PPI | 189 PPI |
| ‘Retina’ Distance | Greater than or equal to 62 cm | Greater than or equal to 62 cm | Greater than or equal to 46 cm |
The budget WUXGA 1200, 144 Hz, IPS display variant under our microscope
Viewing Angles
Viewing angles are good. We take photos from different angles to evaluate the quality.
Also, a video with locked focus and exposure.
Color Coverage
The whole “sail-shaped” map below (Fig. 1) consists of all the colors we can see, while the black crooked line shows all the colors from real-world scenes and nature around us.
Then, we’ve drawn some of the most important and interesting color spaces, compared to the colors the panel of ASUS V16 (V3607) can show:
Standard/For Web: sRGB – widely used color space for most consumer devices, ideal for Web design and development
For Print: AdobeRGB – used in professional photo editing, graphic design, and print
For Photographers/Video Editors: DCI-P3 – used in high-end film production, post-production, and digital cinema
Premium HDR: Rec.2020 – the widest consumer ITU color standard, covering a massive 75.8% of the visible spectrum, a benchmark for premium HDR content.
ASUS V16 (V3607): the yellow dashed triangle (– – – – – –) represents the range of colors this display can show.
In our tests, we calculated the total color coverage of the display at 52% of the sRGB color gamut and 40% of the DCI-P3 color gamut.
(Fig.1) ASUS V16 (V3607) covers 52% of the sRGB gamut
Brightness and Contrast
The maximum brightness in SDR mode is 315 cd/m² in the center of the screen and 298 cd/m² averaged across the surface with a maximum deviation of 8%.
The Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) on a white screen at maximum brightness is 6440K.
The contrast ratio is 1380:1.
Uniformity: Luminance, Contrast, and Color Deviation
The figure below shows the results from our uniformity test across different sections of the screen. It’s measured at 184 nits (Windows slider = 79%) – a brightness level we consider typical for standard working conditions.
DeltaE values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users. For those working with colors, screens with DeltaE values no higher than 2.0 are recommended.
Color Accuracy
Let’s check the difference between real colors and those you’ll see on the ASUS V16 (V3607). We measure that distance in DeltaE – the higher the number, the more different they look.
Values below 4.0 are acceptable for regular users, while values below 2.0 are suitable for color-sensitive work. A value below 1.0 means the difference is indistinguishable to the naked eye.
For the next graph, we’ve selected 24 common colors, including dark/light skin, blue sky, green grass, etc.
Before our calibration of the ASUS V16 (V3607), the Average color accuracy was 3.9 dE (Fig. 2), and with our Design and Office profile, it lowered to 3.8 dE (Fig. 3).
(Fig. 2) ASUS V16 (V3607) in its factory condition
(Fig. 3) ASUS V16 (V3607) with our display profile
Comparison in the sRGB color space.
Here’s an illustration of what the Design and Office profile aims to deliver:
Left: No Profile | Drag the slider to see the difference | Right: Design & Office Profile
Visibility in dark scenes
Have you ever watched a movie with dark scenes where you could barely see anything? This often happens because many display panels struggle to differentiate the darkest nuances, making them appear the same.
The next figure illustrates how well the display reproduces these dark nuances. The left side of the image shows the display with stock settings, and the right side shows it with our Gaming and movies profile activated.
On the horizontal axis are the grayscale levels, and on the vertical axis – the corresponding display brightness.
You can also check how your display handles the darkest nuances but keep in mind that this also depends on the settings of your current display and the surrounding light conditions.
Response time (Gaming capabilities)
We test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “black-to-white” and “white-to-black” method from 10% to 90% and vice versa.
We recorded Fall Time + Rise Time = 14.4 ms.
After that, we test the reaction time of the pixels with the usual “Gray-to-Gray” method from 50% White to 80% White and vice versa between 10% and 90% of the amplitude.
Health Impact: PWM (Screen flickering)
Some use PWM to regulate their brightness, which means that instead of reducing the light intensity, they pulse or flicker. Our brain merges the image, so it appears darker, but this strains both it and our vision, especially when the frequency of the pulses is low. You can read more about that in our dedicated article on PWM.
In the graph below, you see the intensity of light at different brightness levels—on the vertical axis is the brightness of the emitted light, and on the horizontal axis—time.
The light from the backlight of the ASUS V16 (V3607) display is not pulse-width modulated, providing visual comfort in the discussed aspect.
Health Impact: Blue light emissions
Installing our Health-Guard profile reduces harmful Blue Light emissions while keeping the colors of the screen perceptually accurate.
If you’re not familiar with the Blue light, the TL;DR version is – emissions that negatively affect your eyes, skin, and your whole body. You can find more information about that in our dedicated article on Blue Light.
Health Impact: Screen Reflectance
Glossy-coated displays can cause eye fatigue in high ambient light conditions due to reflections. We measure the level of screen reflection with the display turned off, at a 60° angle.
The reflectance of the ASUS V16 (V3607)’s screen is 47.3 GU. This is a good result.
High Gloss: >70 GU
Medium Gloss: 30 – 70 GU
Low Gloss: <30 GU
Get our profiles
Since our profiles are tailored for each individual display model, this article and its respective profile package are meant for ASUS V16 (V3607) configurations with MNG007QX2-2 (CSW164D), 1920 x 1200, IPS panel.
*Should you have problems with downloading the purchased file, try using a different browser to open the link you’ll receive via e-mail. If the download target is a .php file instead of an archive, change the file extension to .zip or contact us at [email protected].
Read more about the profiles HERE.
In addition to receiving efficient and health-friendly profiles, by buying LaptopMedia's products you also support the development of our labs, where we test devices in order to produce the most objective reviews possible.
Design and Office
The Design and Office profile makes display colors as close to real as possible.Ideal not only for professionals but also for everyday users, it meets sRGB standards (D65 white point, sRGB gamma) with minimal DeltaE for precise color reproduction on your panel.
Gaming and Movies
Have you ever watched a movie where, during dark scenes, you can barely see anything? Many displays fail to distinguish dark tones properly. Our Gaming and Movies profile enhances low-light performance, like HDR tech, using a gamma curve tailored to human perception — ideal for gamers seeking faster reactions and clearer visuals.
Health-Guard
Our Health-Guard profile protects your eyes by eliminating PWM flickering, reducing strain and fatigue, and minimizing harmful Blue light exposure that can disrupt sleep and health. It uses software dimming and a gamma curve tailored to human perception for comfort and safety during screen use.
Get All The Profiles With 33% Discount!
Sound
When we subjectively listen to a sound file through the built-in speakers (2×2 W stereo speakers), the sound quality offered by the ASUS V16 (V3607) is very good. The low, mid, and high frequencies are clear.
Work Performance: CPU, Storage, AI
All performance and temperature tests are conducted with Full-speed mode activated in MyASUS. ArmouryCrate is not supported for the V-series.
CPU and Work Performance
The ASUS V16 (V3607) is available with a variety of Intel processors spanning different performance tiers. At the higher end is the Intel Core Ultra 7 255H, which ranks #38 in our Top Laptop CPU Ranking, offering strong multi-core performance for gaming and productivity. There are also more mainstream options like the Core 7 240H (#90) and Core 5 210H (#104), as well as the Core Ultra 7 256V (#131) for users seeking a balance between efficiency and capability. This range allows the V16 to fit different use cases—from everyday tasks to more demanding workloads.
We ordered and tested a configuration with the Intel Core 7 240H. It has a clear advantage in single-core performance over the AMD Ryzen 7 260 in ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA608 (detailed review) and Acer Nitro V 16 AI ANV16-42 (detailed review), and it even surpasses the Intel Core i9-13900H in Acer Nitro V 15 ANV15-52 (detailed review).
When it comes to multi-core power, the Raptor Lake-HX Refresh processors like Intel Core i7-14650HX and Intel Core i7-14700HX are much faster.
Single-core performance ensures smooth operation and responsiveness in operating systems, providing a better user experience.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Single-Core test (higher is better)
Multi-core performance is essential for handling complex and demanding tasks, such as Video editing, CAD, and Scientific simulations.
Results are from the Geekbench 6 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Here, we evaluate the CPU's performance using a real-world 3D rendering task, assessing its ability to handle complex computations and rendering workloads efficiently.
Results are from the Cinebench 2024 Multi-Core test (higher is better)
Storage Performance
We ordered a 1TB configuration and it arrived with Micron MTFDKBA1T0QGN-1BN1AABGA NVMe SSD, boasting 7.0 GB/sec sequential read and 6.00 GB/sec sequential write speeds:
AI Performance
Here you can see the position of the GPUs and CPUs (NPUs) found within the ASUS V16 (V3607) in our AI Hardware Performance Rankings based on their AI processing power, measured in TOPS (Tera Operations Per Second) - a critical metric indicating the computational throughput, particularly for AI tasks.
The first column shows peak performance for INT8/FP8 precision, which is the most widespread metric for evaluating AI inference capabilities. We exclude Sparsity to provide a more accurate reflection of AI performance in dense computation scenarios where sparsity optimizations may not be applicable. The second and third columns show the performance with Sparsity, and FP4 TFLOPS, when supported.
For SoCs, the results reflect the peak performance of the integrated NPU. Additionally, it’s important to note that, according to Microsoft, a NPU must have at least 40 TOPS of AI computing power for the PC to be considered “AI-capable.”
| # | GPU / CPU (NPU) | TOPS INT8/FP8 No Sparsity | TOPS INT8/FP8 Sparsity | TFLOPS FP4 Sparsity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 849. | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 (Laptop, 8GB GDDR7) | 173 | 346 | 692 |
| 1012. | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (Laptop) | 133 | 266 | 532 |
| 1286. | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 (Laptop) | 97 | 194 | — |
| 1583. | Intel Core Ultra 7 256V | 47 | — | — |
| 1742. | Intel Core Ultra 7 255H | 13 | — | — |
GPU and Gaming Performance
Graphics options for the ASUS V16 cover a broad spectrum of NVIDIA laptop GPUs. You can choose from the RTX 5070 (Laptop) at #27, RTX 5060 at #60, or RTX 5050 at #85 in our Top Laptop Graphics Ranking, as well as the RTX 3050 (Laptop, 6 GB) at #186. There’s also a configuration with the RTX 4050 (Laptop), which provides a mid-range balance of performance and power efficiency. These GPU options give flexibility depending on how much gaming or GPU-accelerated work you plan to do.
We ordered and tested a configuration with the RTX 5060. Unfortunately, it is the slowest RTX 5060 we’ve tested, and it can’t even break the 10k pts barrier in Time Spy. Even the RTX 5050 in Lenovo Legion 5 15″, Gen 10 (detailed review) is faster than the RTX 5060 in ASUS V16.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
The results are from 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. Higher is better.
ASUS V16 (V3607) GPU variants
Here you can see an approximate comparison between the GPUs that can be found in the ASUS V16 (V3607) models on the market. This way you can decide for yourself which ASUS V16 (V3607) model is the best bang for your buck.
Note: The chart shows the cheapest different GPU configurations so you should check what the other specifications of these laptops are by clicking on the laptop’s name / GPU.
The results are from 3DMark Time Spy (Graphics). Higher is better.
Results are from the 3DMark: Wild Life (Graphics) benchmark (higher the score, the better)
Gaming tests
The ASUS V16 is a fantastic choice for esports. In Counter-Strike 2, it hits a blistering 211 FPS at 1200p on Very High settings, fully saturating the 144Hz display for ultra-smooth gameplay.
| Counter Strike 2 | 1200p, Very High (Check settings) |
| RTX 5060 (avg. FPS) | 211 FPS |
In the demanding Black Myth: Wukong, the laptop delivers versatility. You can get super high frame rates on Low settings (153 FPS), or enjoy rich visuals on High settings with a very smooth 78 FPS.
| Black Myth: Wukong | 1200p, Low (Check settings) | 1200p, High (Check settings) |
| RTX 5060 (avg. FPS) | 153 FPS | 78 FPS |
For adventure games, the RTX 5060 performs great. Shadow of the Tomb Raider runs at a fluid 128 FPS on Medium settings at 1200p, ensuring a responsive and immersive experience.
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1200p, Medium (Check settings) |
| RTX 5060 (avg. FPS) | 128 FPS |
Even with the heavy ray-tracing load of Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition, the ASUS V16 holds its own. It achieves a solid 73 FPS on High settings at 1200p, staying comfortably above the 60 FPS threshold.
| Metro Exodus Enhanced Edition | 1200p, High (Check settings) |
| RTX 5060 (avg. FPS) | 73 FPS |
Temperatures and Comfort, Noise, Stability
At idle, the CPU package of the ASUS V16 maintains a temperature of 59ºC, and the notebook remains completely silent.
Office Work, Web Development, Design
Short periods (0:00 – 0:10 s) of 100 % CPU load
This test shows the CPU behavior during short periods of serious load. It’s important for users who are looking for laptops suitable for tasks like Web Design and Programming.
| Intel Core 7 240H | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| ASUS V16 (V3607) | 3862 MHz | 81 °C | 68 W |
| Lenovo V15 Gen 5 | 2673 MHz | 80 °C | 43 W |
The ASUS V16 demonstrates excellent initial clock speeds under heavy short-burst loads, achieving a peak clock of 3957 MHz and maintaining an average of 3862 MHz over the first ten seconds at 68 W. This performance significantly exceeds the comparison model (Lenovo V15), which averaged 2673 MHz. The 10-second average temperature settles to an acceptable 81 °C. The high clock speed indicates strong transient performance, suitable for immediate responsiveness in web design or compiling tasks.
Video editing, Scientific computing, Software compilation, 3D rendering
Long periods (0:00 – 30:00 min) of 100 % CPU load
This test shows the CPU behavior during long periods of serious load. It’s important for users who are looking for laptops suitable for tasks like Video Editing and 3D Rendering.
| Intel Core 7 240H | Avg. P-Core Clock | Avg. CPU Temp. | Avg. CPU Power |
| ASUS V16 (V3607) | 3625 MHz | 84 °C | 56 W |
| Lenovo V15 Gen 5 | 1760 MHz | 65 °C | 23 W |
Under prolonged 30-minute stress testing, the Intel Core 7 240H stabilizes with strong sustained performance, maintaining an average clock speed of 3625 MHz at an average power draw of 56 W. Compared to Lenovo V15 Gen 5’s implementation of this CPU, the V16 delivers superior results; for instance, the Lenovo V15 only managed 1760 MHz sustained. During this long load, the clock speed dropped only 491 MHz from its initial sustained minimum. While the performance is high, the thermal management remains marginal, resulting in an acceptable but elevated average CPU temperature of 84 °C during the run. The V16 successfully harnesses the high-power capabilities of the chip for demanding tasks like 3D rendering and compilation.
Gaming Stability
Continuous gaming (1-hour test)
This test evaluates the laptop’s performance under sustained GPU load and high CPU usage.
| NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | Avg. GPU Clock | Avg. GPU Temp. | Avg. Memory Clock | Avg. GPU Mem Temp. | Avg. GPU Power |
| Lenovo LOQ 17IRX10 | 2742 MHz | 85 °C | 1393 MHz | 77 °C | 113 W |
| ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA608 (2025) | 2708 MHz | 84 °C | 1387 MHz | 78 °C | 111 W |
| Acer Nitro V 16 AI (ANV16-42) | 2575 MHz | 84 °C | 1354 MHz | 79 °C | 93 W |
| ASUS V16 (V3607) | 2120 MHz | 76 °C | 1232 MHz | 79 °C | 68 W |
The gaming stability test reveals that the ASUS V16 maintains exemplary thermal control over its NVIDIA RTX 5060, keeping the average core temperature at 76 °C and memory temperature at 79 °C, both well within the good thermal range. The GPU achieved a peak clock of 2160 MHz but stabilized lower. However, this excellent thermal management is achieved by operating the GPU at a reduced performance level. The V16 averages only 2120 MHz at 68 W, considerably lower than comparable RTX 5060 implementations, which average between 2575 MHz and 2742 MHz. This suggests the laptop prioritizes low operating temperatures over maximizing sustained graphics clock speeds during extended gaming sessions.
Battery Life
The battery of the ASUS V16 (V3607) is a 3-cell Li-ion, model C31N2019-1. Its nominal voltage is 11.6V and stores 63 Wh of electrical energy.
We tested the laptop with Whisper mode activated in MyASUS.
5 hours and 23 minutes on a single charge is an acceptable result. The 63Wh battery is very small, and if you need longer battery life, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 FA608 (detailed review) is the absolute champion here with 14h 29m on a single charge.
Brightness: 180 nits; Display Mode: SDR
Time to Full Discharge: Higher is Better
Disassembly, Upgrade options, and Maintenance
Once you remove the bottom panel, the internal layout is straightforward, with the cooling hardware occupying the upper half and the battery spanning most of the lower section. Access to the key serviceable parts is direct, and you can reach the memory and storage without removing the entire cooling assembly.
Cooling is handled by a dual-fan setup connected by multiple copper heat pipes that spread heat into two fin stacks. The design separates the main hotspots under the heat plates, so routine upgrades don’t require disturbing the thermal solution unless you’re doing deeper maintenance like fan cleaning or a repaste.
The battery is a three-cell pack rated around 63Wh typical (62Wh on the label), and it’s secured with screws, which makes removal simple once you disconnect the battery cable. As always, unplugging the battery first is the safest way to avoid accidental shorts while working inside.
Memory upgradeability is one of the strong points here because ASUS uses two DDR5 SO-DIMM slots. Our configuration ships with two 16GB SK hynix module installed.
Storage is more limited but still user-friendly: there’s a single M.2 2280 slot for an NVMe SSD wired for PCIe 4.0 x4. Official configurations include 512GB and 1TB PCIe 4.0 drives, and our unit came with a Micron NVMe SSD installed, which can be replaced with a larger capacity model if needed.
Wireless connectivity is handled by a removable M.2 Wi-Fi card, the AzureWave AW-XB547NF, which is a Wi-Fi 6 solution with Bluetooth 5.3. Since it’s not soldered, it can be swapped in the future if you need a different module for compatibility or troubleshooting.
Other replaceable components include the fans, speakers, and the battery itself, while the motherboard and the main cooling plates are best left untouched unless you’re doing a full service. Overall, the ASUS V16 offers easy maintenance for routine upgrades, with excellent access to RAM and a simple SSD swap, even though storage expansion is limited to a single slot.
Verdict
The ASUS V16 (V3607) is a textbook example of a budget gaming laptop that knows exactly where to make sacrifices to hit an appealing price point. It masquerades as a professional Vivobook, with a clean, understated design that fits perfectly in any environment, but under the hood, it packs enough punch to handle modern games. It’s a machine built for the user who wants a versatile, do-it-all laptop without the aggressive aesthetics or the premium price tag of dedicated gaming rigs.
However, this affordability comes with clear trade-offs. The V16 is a machine of compromises, balancing solid core features with noticeable cuts in build materials, GPU power limits, and display quality on the base model.
You can check the prices and configurations in our Specs System: https://laptopmedia.com/series/asus-v16-v3607/
✅ The Good
The biggest strength of the V16 is its excellent thermal management. The cooling system keeps the GPU running incredibly cool and stable, ensuring consistent performance without throttling.
There are two accessible RAM slots allowing for future memory expansion. The design is sleek and professional, the keyboard is comfortable with a full NumPad, and the inclusion of a physical privacy shutter for the webcam is a welcome touch. Additionally, the display is completely PWM-free, making it safe for extended use without eye strain.
For gamers on a budget, the RTX 5060 configuration offers a solid entry point into modern gaming, delivering playable frame rates in demanding titles, albeit at lower power settings than premium rivals.
❌ The Bad
To keep the price low and thermals in check, ASUS has severely limited the GPU power. Our RTX 5060 model runs at a much lower wattage than competitors, resulting in performance that is noticeably slower – in fact, it’s the slowest RTX 5060 laptop we’ve tested, even trailing behind some RTX 5050 machines.
The base model display is another weak point, with poor color coverage (52% sRGB) that makes games and content look a bit washed out. We recommend upgrading to the better panel options if you care about this. The battery life is merely average, the trackpad feels a bit cheap with an indistinct click, and the single M.2 slot limits storage expansion.
🆚 The Competitors
When compared to the Acer Nitro V 16 AI (detailed review), the ASUS V16 struggles to justify its performance deficit. The Nitro offers a faster GPU implementation and better battery life for a similar price, making it the better choice for pure gamers. However, the ASUS counters with a more subdued, professional design that may appeal to students or office workers.
Against a budget powerhouse like the Lenovo LOQ 17 (detailed review), the V16 feels underpowered. The LOQ delivers significantly higher frame rates and a better gaming experience overall. The ASUS V16’s niche is for the user who needs a stealthy, professional-looking laptop that can also game on the side, rather than a dedicated gaming machine.
Pros
- Excellent thermal management keeps the system cool and quiet
- Sleek, professional design suitable for work and play
- PWM-free display is great for eye comfort
- Two user-accessible RAM slots for easy upgrades
- Solid CPU performance for the price
- Physical privacy shutter for the webcam
Cons
- Severely power-limited GPU results in subpar gaming performance
- Base model display has poor color coverage (52% sRGB)
- Only one M.2 slot for storage
- Mediocre battery life
- Trackpad feels cheap with indistinct clicking
Author: Simeon NikolovEditor-in-Chief at LaptopMedia.com with 20+ years of experience in testing and analyzing laptops and mobile devices.
Author: eng. Kroum NikolovHead of Engineering at LaptopMedia.com, inventor and innovator with 40+ years of experience in electronics and high technology.
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Not best for gaming AT ALL!!!