Asus rog strix g16 reviews
The ROG Strix G16 sits in ASUS’s mid-to-high gaming laptop line: it delivers a lot of performance for the money by trimming some of the extra bells and whistles of the higher-end Scar line. Reviewers generally agree it’s one of the better value 16-inch gaming laptops in 2025, offering strong gaming and productivity performance, decent thermals (for its class), and a solid display.
However, it has trade-offs: the bottom cover is harder to open, the speakers are just okay, the webcam is average, and under heavy loads it can run hot.
If you can live with its compromises (especially if you use a headset, external webcam, or don’t care about ultimate portability), the Strix G16 is a strong all-rounder.
Models, Variants & Specs
First, a quick look at how the G16 is offered nowadays (2024–2025 era), and what you should watch out for:
- There are multiple internal variants: Intel‐based (Ultra HX series) and AMD (HX / HX3D) in some regions.
- GPU options include NVIDIA RTX 5070 Ti, RTX 5080 (in higher-end configs), and sometimes lower models (depending on region).
- Display: 16-inch IPS, 2560×1600 (WQXGA, 16:10) with up to 240 Hz refresh.
- Memory & Storage: Dual SO-DIMM slots (configurable), two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots.
- Battery: 90 Wh typical.
- Cooling & chassis: Triple fans, vapor chamber in some units.
- Ports: USB-A, USB-C (some with Thunderbolt / USB4 / DisplayPort), HDMI 2.1, audio jack, Ethernet (Gigabit), etc.
In-Depth Review
Below is a breakdown of its performance, behavior, pros & cons, and real-world usage.
Design, Build & Ergonomics
Pros
- RGB lighting is still present (keyboard, lightbars), though more toned down than in the Scar series.
- Good rigidity, solid lid, and decent build materials (aluminum lid, plastic base) in line with its price tier.
- The chassis has a clean, less “gamer-y” look compared to scar models, which some users will prefer.
Cons
- It’s not extremely thin or light for its class — reasonable for a powerful 16″ gaming laptop, but not ultra-portable.
- The edges and corners are somewhat sharp in places, which may feel less comfortable during long use.
- The bottom panel is screwed on (11 Philips screws in some units) instead of a tool-less design. That makes upgrades or repairs more tedious.
Display & Visuals
This is one of the stronger aspects:
- The 2560×1600 (WQXGA) IPS panel with 240 Hz is a good balance between sharpness and refresh rate.
- Brightness measured around ~ 449 nits in tests — bright enough for most indoor use.
- Color coverage: ~112.5% sRGB and ~79.7% DCI-P3 volume reported in one review.
- Good color accuracy (measured ~0.4 ΔE) in one review.
- Response time / motion performance is good, and frame times are smooth, which is important for gaming.
Limitations:
- It’s an IPS, not OLED or MiniLED. So contrast, black levels, and HDR performance won’t match top-tier alternatives.
- Some trade-offs may exist in lower-tier models (refresh rate, brightness) depending on configuration.
Performance & Benchmarks
Depending on your variant, performance will vary. Using mid-to-high configurations (e.g. Ryzen / Ultra HX + RTX 5070 Ti / 5080), here’s what reviewers found:
Gaming Performance
- In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest settings): ~ 151 fps at 1080p, ~ 92 fps at 1600p (in one test)
- In Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra RT): ~ 54 fps at 1080p, ~ 29 fps at 1600p in that test.
- In Far Cry 6 (Ultra settings): 143 fps at 1080p, 102 fps at 1600p in one configuration.
- Borderlands 3 (Badass settings): ~ 143 fps @1080p, ~ 97 fps @1600p in one test.
- These results show it can handle competitive gaming well at 1080p and is viable at 1600p in many titles, though really demanding games (especially with ray tracing) might push it.
Productivity & Synthetic Tests
- In Geekbench 6, one review unit scored ~ 20,113 (multi) and ~ 3,205 (single) in a Ryzen 9955HX3D variant.
- File transfer (25 GB mixed files) hit ~ 1,904 MB/s in SSD tests.
- HandBrake 4K → 1080p transcode: took ~ 2:17 in one test.
These show that besides gaming, the laptop is solid for content creation, coding, media work, and general multitasking.
Thermals, Noise & Power
- Under load, the laptop can get fairly warm, especially in the CPU zone — reviewers observed temperatures in the ~ 70–85 °C range under certain loads.
- Fan noise is noticeable under load, but many found it tolerable (not overly aggressive) for a gaming laptop.
- In a 3DMark or stress test, it held stable performance without obvious throttling in most cases for extended periods.
- The triple-fan + vapor chamber setup helps, especially in lower-GPU variants.
Battery Life & Portability
- In one review’s web / video + OpenGL loop test (150 nits brightness), it lasted ~ 5 hours and 21 minutes.
- Another review (AMD variant) saw ~ 5:22 for general usage.
- In gaming, unplugged performance is limited (often capped). E.g., in one test, when unplugged, frame rate capped ~ 60 fps.
- It’s not a “battery champion” — for long battery-only use expect mid-range endurance in this class.
Keyboard, Touchpad & I/O
- The keyboard is “bouncy,” responsive, with per-key RGB lighting (in many versions), and it includes extra programmable keys (M1–M5).
- Touchpad is large, smooth, with good click feel.
- Virtual NumberPad: instead of a physical numpad, ASUS uses a touchpad-based NumPad mode. This is a clever compromise, though some may prefer a dedicated numpad.
- I/O: plenty of ports (USB-A, USB-C / USB4 / Thunderbolt depending on region, HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, audio jack).
Webcam, Audio & Misc
- Webcam: 1080p in many models, but image quality is average (grainy, washed tones).
- Speakers: just two speakers, passable volume but lack depth and clarity in mids/highs are criticized by multiple reviews.
- Software: Comes with Armoury Crate (for performance / fan / RGB control), MyASUS, Aura Creator. Some bloat (e.g. McAfee) that many remove.
- Warranty: typically one-year manufacturer warranty.
Strengths & Weaknesses (Recap)
| Strengths | Weaknesses / Trade-offs |
|---|---|
| Excellent performance per dollar in many configurations | Speakers are middling in quality |
| Strong display (240 Hz IPS, good brightness) | Hot surfaces and high internal temps under load |
| Good upgradeability (dual SSD, dual RAM slots) | Bottom panel is harder to remove (screws) |
| Solid keyboard and input layout | Webcam is just average |
| Balanced design aesthetics (less “gamer over the top”) | Battery life only average for non-gaming use |
| Stable performance under sustained loads (in many tests) | In very heavy tasks, will run loud and warm |
What It’s Good For — And Not
Best for:
- Gaming at 1080p / 1600p in most modern titles (especially without ultra ray tracing)
- Mixed use: gaming + productivity, creative tasks (video editing, rendering, etc.)
- Users who want a 16-inch form without going to 18″, but still want performance
- People who will use a headset / external audio for better sound
- Those who might upgrade storage / RAM later
Less ideal for:
- Long sessions on battery power away from outlet
- Users needing ultra-quiet operation under load (fans will be active)
- People who rely heavily on laptop speakers or need a top-tier webcam
- Very heavy workloads where extreme cooling or thermal headroom is needed
How It Compares (Competition)
Compared to higher-tier ASUS models (e.g. Strix Scar) or competitor laptops:
- You lose some premium features (AniMeVision LED cover, tool-less access, more RGB, perhaps OLED / MiniLED displays) in exchange for lower cost.
- Against similarly priced offerings from Alienware, Razer, MSI, Lenovo Legion etc., the Strix G16 often offers competitive performance, though cooling, sound, or design might tilt the balance depending on the model. (Reviews compare directly in benchmarks)
Buying Tips & What to Choose / Avoid
- Try to get the 240 Hz / WQXGA display variant if possible (better visual experience)
- If your usage involves heavy workloads, prioritize a higher-tier CPU + GPU combo
- For everyday portability / extended battery life, a lower power variant may trade some performance for better thermals / battery
- Be ready to possibly supplement with external audio or webcam if those are important to you
- Check the thermal / fan profile settings in Armoury Crate; you might be able to tune for quieter vs performance modes
- If you buy a unit with screws, make sure you have good tools for upgrades or service
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Hi, this is Masab, the owner and founder of the PC Wire. I’m a PC enthusiast who loves to talk about computers. I have been testing PC hardware for several years now, and I hope my knowledge would answer your queries thoroughly.