Gaming laptops are all the time a stability between worth, efficiency, and portability. Asus ROG Strix G16 manages to seek out the best stability between all three. Just a few extra design updates can be welcome, however the RTX 50-series graphics and Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor kind a robust mixture that delivers nice gaming efficiency for the worth.
Asus ROG Strix G16 – Design and options
Should you have been to ask me to think about a “gaming laptop computer,” you’d in all probability consider one thing just like the Asus ROG Strix G16. Lots of its designs are stereotypical, however they fall someplace within the center when it comes to how stereotypical they’re. It is neither skinny nor mild, measuring 13.94 x 10.39 x 1.2 inches and weighing 5.51 kilos. It incorporates a vibrant RGB keyboard and entrance LED strip to light up your desk with coloured mild. The styling is aggressive, with massive ROG eyes on the lid, a number of laborious angles, and “Republic of Players” debossed on the hinge.
The system is gorgeous, however a little bit too much like final 12 months’s model. Whereas there are few main design modifications required for a superb gaming laptop computer, the Intel model of the 2025 Strix G16 has some vital upgrades that will have an effect on which one is finest for you. Actually not shabby, this model provides a number of ports (Thunderbolt 5 and extra USB Kind-A), upgraded WiFi 7 compatibility, wraparound RGB lighting, and features a bigger trackpad.
The AMD system I am reviewing comes with two USB 3.2 Kind-A ports, two Kind-C USB 4 ports, a full-size HDMI 2.1 video output, an RJ45 Ethernet jack, and a 3.5mm audio combo port. Not like the Intel model, just one USB 4 port can be utilized for charging. Additionally, the Kind-A ports are each on the best facet, so wiring or massive dongles can get in the best way of your mouse.
The AMD model isn’t any slouch both. Powered by a Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, it has each the brains and the brawn to run the newest AAA video games at excessive body charges. Outfitted with 32GB DDR5 RAM and 2TB NVMe SSD for quick loading instances and speedy multitasking. Each reminiscence and storage will be upgraded and simply accessed by unscrewing and eradicating the again panel.
The processor’s ‘X3D’ is important and signifies the potential for improved gaming efficiency due to the 3D V-cache design. Broadly talking, you possibly can consider a processor’s cache as its personal private supply of RAM that holds your most vital data information for fast entry. Usually, these reminiscence dies are positioned on a flat floor, however the G16’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D is vertically stacked to decrease latency and enhance efficiency. In comparison with the usual Ryzen 9 9955HX, the 9955X3D additionally doubles the overall quantity of L3 cache, totaling 128MB. Which means this variant can entry extra shortly, which immediately interprets into improved recreation efficiency.
Conserving your {hardware} cool is without doubt one of the most vital components for efficiency. Not like the Intel mannequin, which has a brand new vapor chamber cooler this era, the AMD model options the identical three-fan heatpipe design as final 12 months. It additionally makes use of liquid metallic on the graphics card to maintain temperatures low. Air is drawn in by means of the underside vents and keyboard, and expelled by means of the again and sides. You’ll be able to undoubtedly really feel the warmth in your mouse hand when the fan reaches full pace, nevertheless it did not really feel uncomfortable.
It will have been good to have the identical upgrades that Workforce Blue acquired, however the current system works properly sufficient to keep away from thermal throttling. After working a number of benchmarks, we recorded a peak CPU temperature of 85 levels Celsius and a peak GPU temperature of 87 levels Celsius in Turbo mode. This method can run quietly when idle, however when gaming it undoubtedly will get loud sufficient that it may be a nuisance to individuals sitting close by.
The G16 would not have an OLED display screen, which is a bit shocking on condition that a lot of its opponents have OLED screens ( gigabyte aorus grasp 16 and Razer Blade 16). There’s additionally no mini-LED, so HDR is not an choice. It is vibrant sufficient at round 500 nits and provides vibrant and comparatively correct shade copy, so every thing from gaming to enhancing YouTube movies is certain to look nice. Should you’re not enthusiastic about gaming in HDR or need to keep away from the chance of burn-in, it is a strong choice and may stay inexpensive.
As an alternative of OLED, the show provides 1600p decision and a quick 240Hz refresh charge. This decision gives a center floor between readability and efficiency. At 16 inches, this equates to 189 pixels per inch (PPI), making each nonetheless photos and video games look crisp and detailed. Additionally, Settings beneath RTX 5090 will mean you can obtain 60 FPS or increased in most video games. Whereas it will possibly’t match OLED in responsiveness, the 240Hz refresh charge is actually sufficient for aggressive play, decreasing movement blur and enter lag that can provide a bonus to your opponents.
Keyboard and trackpad are simply Are you okay. The keys really feel good and are not squishy, ββhowever they lack the crispness of competing merchandise just like the HP Omen Max 16 and Asus’ personal ROG Zephyrus G16. Nonetheless, it does supply programmable lighting and customizable macro buttons alongside the highest row.
The trackpad is smaller at 3.4 x 5.1 inches, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a cushty dimension and eliminates the necessity to activate it in your palm. The trackpad additionally has a built-in quantity pad choice which you could activate by clicking within the prime proper nook. When pressed, the numeric keypad lights up and you’ll press numbers as a substitute of transferring the cursor. That is helpful, however there have been many instances after I’ve by chance activated it and needed to press it a number of instances to show it off.
The audio system get comparatively loud and keep away from distortion in any respect however the highest ranges. It additionally provides a shocking quantity of bass, so your video games and films will sound fuller and fuller than your common laptop computer. Gaming headsets present a fantastic expertise, particularly if you wish to hear your enemy’s footsteps, however you may as well use the built-in audio system to have enjoyable exterior of aggressive video games.
The system comes with a 1080p webcam, nevertheless it’s nothing particular and would not help Home windows Hey facial recognition. This is not a make-or-break function, nevertheless it’s a helpful one, and it is a disgrace that it is omitted right here.
Lastly, let’s discuss battery life. The G16 has a 90 WHr battery capability, so you will not have any issues taking it on a airplane. To check uptime, we ran Procyon’s battery life take a look at, which simulates combined use for productiveness. This take a look at takes 5 hours and 12 minutes. Sport time utilizing the battery is way shorter, and you’ll anticipate it to common round 1 hour and 10 minutes. The system comes with a 220W energy brick, which provides one other pound or so to the overall weight of the system, however in the event you plan on gaming, you will undoubtedly need to take it with you.
You can even cost the system by means of one of many USB-C ports at as much as 100 watts. However this seems to be very contradictory. Even when the RTX 5070 Ti is totally disabled, the system is about to Silent and Eco GPU modes in Armory Crate, and Home windows is about to prioritize battery life. nonetheless Unable to cost stably. After troubleshooting numerous chargers and cables, it looks as if it could be a bug associated to the battery care settings within the MyAsus utility, however I am unsure. Nonetheless, I am certain the system should not have been drained working the potato setting with brightness set to minimal.
Asus ROG Strix G16 – Software program
The G16 depends on a mix of Armory Crate and MyAsus to customise numerous settings. Past gaming, MyAsus is an utility included on just about all fashionable Asus laptops and is designed to be simple to make use of, even for freshmen. It gives an outline of the system’s key statistics and gives quite a few diagnostics to determine the foundation trigger of assorted issues that will happen. The software program additionally provides a wide range of choices which might be considerably doubled in Armory Crate, however toggling issues like battery care and film mode is easier.
The Armory Crate is the place nearly all of the G16’s settings reside, and a fast have a look at the app reveals that it is far more complicated and feature-rich. Below the hood you will see the identical diagnostics, however they have been considerably expanded to incorporate clock pace and temperature. This residence web page shows all the most typical settings, together with the present efficiency mode (Home windows, Silent, Efficiency, Turbo, Guide) and a few shortcuts, corresponding to disabling Home windows Preserve to hurry up gaming. You’ll be able to dial in your personal overclock by clicking on (Guide mode), however like most laptops there is not actually a lot headroom exterior of preset modes.
Nonetheless, clicking on the tabs on the left reveals settings corresponding to lighting, remapping keys, configuring GPU efficiency modes, and altering picture presets. There’s additionally a wallpaper instrument, recreation launcher, and replace instrument so you possibly can be sure you’re all the time working the newest drivers.
There’s loads right here, and whereas it isn’t the perfect offered, it is also precisely what we have seen on ROG laptops over the previous few years. Should you’ve used it earlier than, you will know what to anticipate. If not, be ready to take your time and discover every tab intimately.
Asus ROG Strix G16 – Efficiency
The Strix G16 has the specs on paper to ship nice gaming efficiency, however like several laptop computer, there’s extra to it than simply the specs. Temperature, wattage, clock pace, and the way lengthy you possibly can keep all of them come into play.
To get an thought of ββwhat sort of efficiency you possibly can anticipate in the actual world, we ran the system by means of a sequence of artificial and real-world gaming exams. These exams are run on all gaming laptops and are designed to guage particular qualities, corresponding to ray tracing efficiency with and with out DLSS. All exams are run at Extremely settings and at each native decision and 1080p or equal side ratio until in any other case famous.
Beginning with compositing, the G16 delivers wonderful efficiency, which is not shocking given its highly effective processor. The RTX 5070 Ti graphics are not any slouch both, and it exhibits right here. Clearly, there are some advantages to investing in a system with a higher-tier graphics card, however the G16 hits the candy spot between worth and efficiency.
actual gaming benchmarks, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D packs a little bit extra punch. The most important advantages are seen at 1200p, however the G16 additionally sees efficiency advantages at 1600p. As we have been testing the system over the previous few weeks, we have been capable of do some anecdotal testing with Prepared or Not, Baldur’s Gate 3, and Battlefield 6. Though we do not have a normal Ryzen 9 9955HX to check with, the G16 averaged 7-16% extra FPS than the ROG Zephyrus G16 and G14 with the identical GPU when examined on the identical decision. these video games.
Given the charging points I skilled, I needed to carry an influence brick with me each time I wanted the system for various hours with out having to fret about utilizing power-saving choices that might scale back efficiency. The burden of the system has already reached its cumbersome restrict, making it unreasonable to hold round day-after-day.
That apart, the system itself is dependable apart from the middling battery life. The chassis is strong and the hinges are secure. The keyboard is first rate sufficient with nothing that stands out as a destructive, and the trackpad is small however works properly. The display screen and audio system are clearly excellent, and there is not a lot you possibly can’t do given the extent the {hardware} provides. In some methods it is unremarkable, however in different instances. want With options like best-in-class battery life and extra ports, it is good for maximizing in-game body charges.
Christopher Coke has been a daily contributor to videogameaddicted since 2019, protecting video games and expertise since 2013. He has coated expertise from recreation controllers to graphics playing cards, gaming chairs and displays, headphones, and IEMs for websites corresponding to MMORPG.com, Tom’s {Hardware}, Fashionable Science, USA Right now’s Reviewed, and Fashionable Mechanics. Discover Chris on Twitter @gamebynight.