ASUS vs. Lenovo: Which Brand Should You Buy in 2025?
Key Points
- When it comes to ASUS vs. Lenovo, it can be tough to pick. ASUS is known for its quality gaming laptops and Lenovo is known for its reliable business laptops.
- ASUS laptops have better overall battery life and offer desktop performance in their gaming laptops. In contrast, Lenovo laptops are well-suited for business use and have been a top choice for decades.
- ASUS’s business and gaming laptops have superior performance compared to Lenovo’s laptops, thanks to their use of high-end Intel chipsets and powerful processors.
- ASUS laptops generally have better build quality across the board, while Lenovo’s higher-end products have exemplary build quality but their budget laptops may suffer in terms of overall quality.
Which laptop brand comes out on top: ASUS vs. Lenovo? It is a highly competitive market for laptops and choosing can be quite a tricky task when shopping. ASUS has been held in high esteem for a number of years when it comes to its quality gaming laptops. Lenovo is the progenitor of the ThinkPad line of laptops, a well-respected enterprise line for business users.
Now, we can pay lip service to their reputations, but that does little to address the actual function of these laptop brands. So, with that in mind, it is time for a deeper dive into these two brands and what they have to offer.
If you’re looking for a dependable Windows laptop, either could be a safe pick. However, it helps to be armed with the facts before you make your next purchase. So, grab a cool drink and tuck in; it is time to pit these two tech giants head-to-head.
Lenovo vs. ASUS: Side-by-Side Comparison
| ASUS | Lenovo | |
|---|---|---|
| Build Quality | Rock solid build quality, regardless of the entry point | ThinkPad line and gaming lines are well built, but lower-cost laptops may have quality issues |
| Battery Life | Better overall battery life thanks to different battery pack constructions | Great battery life, but less than ideal for gaming purposes |
| Gaming Laptops | ROG line offers desktop performance in laptop sizes | Some gaming selections, but these can suffer from poor battery life |
| Business Laptops | Multiple options that are suitable for business use | The ThinkPad line has been one of the top business lines for decades now |
| Operating System Used | Windows 10 and 11 for laptops | Windows 10 and 11 |
| Thermal Cooling | Adequate cooling, but may need a cooling pad for more demanding usage | Adequate cooling, but may need a cooling pad for more demanding usage |
| Screen Resolution | Crisp IPS panels are available for use | Lenovo also uses IPS panels on higher-end laptops |
ASUS vs. Lenovo: What’s the Difference?
Lenovo and ASUS are both respected brands in the laptop space. Lenovo has been very keen to keep things safe, building reliable performers. ASUS, on the other hand, has been more likely to experiment with its product lines. Either way, it’s hard to go wrong with either brand, but there are some differences.
Performance
In the laptop space, provided you aren’t using Apple, the Intel i9-13980HX is king. ASUS’s ROG Strix Scar 16 comes fully loaded with the Intel i9 processor, DDR5 RAM, and an NVIDIA RTX 4090. When it comes to overall performance, the ASUS line of gaming laptops is going to be hard to beat. This dates back as far as five or six years ago when a new 2018 ASUS laptop could dust the competition.
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 Gaming Laptop (2023)
- 16-inch Nebula HDR QHD display
- 240Hz refresh rate with 3ms response rate
- Intel Core i9-13980HX
- GeForce RTX 4090
- 32GB DDR5
- 2TB PCIe
- Supports Wi-Fi 6E
Now, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with the Intel processors that Lenovo seems to favor for its laptop lines. They are energy efficient and perform well for typical tasks. You will notice performance is less than adequate when gaming, but that is to be expected. However, when it comes down to the raw power expected of a modern laptop, ASUS’s business and gaming laptops come out on top.
Business Use
Business use depends on a variety of factors for a laptop to truly be exemplary. You’ll want something lightweight with great battery life, but also with a large enough screen resolution to make working easy.
ASUS offers up the ExpertBook B9450, an extremely lightweight laptop that weighs only two pounds. You get 24 hours of battery life, an Intel i7 processor, and 16GB of RAM. It is part of the ExpertBook line of enterprise-grade laptops. Screen resolution is great on the ExpertBook, boasting a full high-definition display at 1080p. The only complaint you could level at it is the minimal storage, with only 512GB on an NVMe drive.
- i7 processor with full HD display
- 14-inch Full HD display with a narrow bezel design
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 512GB hard disk size
- ErgoLift Hinge backlit spill-resistant keyboard
- Military Grade 810G durability
We can’t mention Lenovo without taking a closer look at the ThinkPad X1 Carbon. The latest ThinkPad comes with a familiar form factor but is built for the modern era. You get up to 19 hours of battery life on a single charge, Wi-Fi 6 compatibility, and a full complement of ports for connectivity. The ThinkPad X1 may lack the battery life of the ExpertBook, but it is built to last and weather any sort of extreme conditions.
Lenovo Gen 11 ThinkPad X1 Carbon Laptop
- 14-inch WUXGA touchscreen
- Intel Core i7-1355U CPU
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, and HDMI ports
- Backlit keyboard and full HD webcam
- Windows 11 Pro
Gaming Use
ASUS has been synonymous with gaming since the introduction of its Republic of Gamers (ROG) line of laptops and desktops. Current offerings are no slouch in this regard, boasting desktop GPUs and high-performance processors.
The ROG Zephyrus M16 is one such laptop, offering a full-bore RTX 3070 Ti with 16GB of DDR5 RAM. You’ve also got an i9 processor on tap, ready for those marathon gaming sessions. Battery life is a little poorer, as you would expect from a gaming laptop. However, if you’re on the hunt for something that works and plays, it is a great choice.
- 16-inch WUXGA display with165Hz refresh rate
- Intel Core i7-12700H processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GPU
- Windows 11
Lenovo isn’t far behind with the Legion Pro 7i, which also comes with an i9 processor. However, you aren’t sparing any expense here, as you get access to a full-blown RTX 4080. It also comes packaged with 64GB of RAM and a 4TB hard disk. You’ll be set for years, provided you can stomach the price.
- Intel Core i9 13900HX processor up to 5.40GHz
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6 GPU
- 64GB of DDR5 RAM
- 2TB + 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- 16-inch WQHD IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth
- Backlit per-key RGB keyboard
Battery Life
In most metrics, Lenovo falls behind in terms of overall battery life when looking at an equivalent ASUS laptop. This is evident when comparing the ASUS ExpertBook to the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 at 24 hours and 19 hours, respectively.
This extra five hours of battery life is quite substantial when you really get to the heart of the matter. That isn’t to say Lenovo is skimping regarding the battery packs included in its laptops, but ASUS is the clear winner in this category.
Build Quality
Build quality is one of those considerations that is seldom thought of when looking at laptops. However, if you’re looking for a daily driver that handles both work and play, it helps if it is built to stand daily wear and tear.
For the most part, Lenovo has fairly exemplary build quality across its higher-end product line. If you’re looking at budget laptops, that is where you start to see things begin to suffer in terms of overall quality.
The $700 range of laptops can suffer from poor hinge construction and a host of other issues. ASUS generally has better build quality across the board, but you’re definitely getting what you pay for. The overall construction of its lower-end laptops can suffer, but that is true for most manufacturers.
ASUS vs. Lenovo: 6 Must-Know Facts
- ASUS is renowned for ROG, its gaming line of laptops and desktops.
- ASUS’s ExpertBook series of business laptops has better battery life.
- ASUS is more prone to experimenting when adding features to its laptops.
- Lenovo is a well-regarded name for business laptops like the ThinkPad.
- Lenovo has a fairly solid gaming lineup, but they are fairly inefficient in terms of battery life.
- Lenovo’s lower-end laptops can suffer from breakages if not treated gingerly.
ASUS vs. Lenovo: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Choose?
So, after such a massive showdown, which brand comes out on top? The tip of the hat really has to go to ASUS, which stands toe-to-toe quite ably when compared to Lenovo. Lenovo certainly isn’t slacking when it comes to making high-quality laptops, but a few criteria are holding them back.
Gamers have attributed quality to ASUS for quite some time, but it might come as a surprise for business users to see the ExpertBook line. If you’re in the market for a new laptop, ASUS might be the way to go.
- 16-inch Nebula HDR QHD display
- 240Hz refresh rate with 3ms response rate
- Intel Core i9-13980HX
- GeForce RTX 4090
- 32GB DDR5
- 2TB PCIe
- Supports Wi-Fi 6E
- i7 processor with full HD display
- 14-inch Full HD display with a narrow bezel design
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
- 512GB hard disk size
- ErgoLift Hinge backlit spill-resistant keyboard
- Military Grade 810G durability
- 14-inch WUXGA touchscreen
- Intel Core i7-1355U CPU
- 16GB LPDDR5 RAM
- 512GB SSD
- Thunderbolt 4, USB 3.2, and HDMI ports
- Backlit keyboard and full HD webcam
- Windows 11 Pro
- 16-inch WUXGA display with165Hz refresh rate
- Intel Core i7-12700H processor
- 16GB RAM
- 512GB PCIe NVMe SSD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 6GB GPU
- Windows 11
- Intel Core i9 13900HX processor up to 5.40GHz
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 12GB GDDR6 GPU
- 64GB of DDR5 RAM
- 2TB + 2TB PCIe NVMe M.2 SSD
- 16-inch WQHD IPS display with 240Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth
- Backlit per-key RGB keyboard
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lenovo an inferior brand?
Not at all. Really, it comes down to differences in overall performance. While Lenovo has a lesser battery life, if you’ve been issued a ThinkPad for work, it will be a dependable computer for daily use.
Can ASUS laptops support external GPUs?
Some ASUS laptops from the ROG line can certainly take an external GPU. You will need to spend quite a bit extra for the dock and GPU, however.
Why do gaming laptops have such poor battery life?
You’re coaxing desktop performance out of a laptop with a limited battery pack. Now, with a desktop, the power consumption isn’t a huge deal because it gets power from the wall.
Laptops don’t have these considerations, however. Instead, you can expect performance loss or throttling once the battery gets low.
Can you hook up a laptop to external monitors?
Yes, provided you have a compatible display. Most Windows laptops can use DisplayPort, HDMI, or some other connector to drive an external display.
Can you upgrade the components of a laptop?
You can generally upgrade the RAM and storage if needed, depending on the manufacturer. However, components like the GPU, CPU, and motherboard are only intended for that particular laptop.
