Asus ROG Strix G16 review: A powerful laptop with cyberpunk styling
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 carries specifications that are almost the definition of overkill. Let’s see if the gaming laptop can deliver on its promises.
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The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 was first announced in January at CES 2023. The gaming laptop will be available in India in March 2023. It debuted alongside the Strix Scar 17 and 18, the Zephyrus M16, and the Zephyrus Duo 16.
Unlike the AMD-powered Scar 17, the Scar 16 is powered by an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor. With two models on the market, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2023 G634 model packs a punch. While the CPU is the same in both, one variation has an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU while the other has an RTX 4090 GPU.
For this evaluation, we had the opportunity to put the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) with RTX 4080 GPU through its paces. Let's get started and see what this gaming laptop has to offer in the real world.
Specifications for the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023).
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13980HX, 13th Gen, 2.2 GHz (up to 5.6 GHz), 24 cores (8 P-cores, 16 E-cores) |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile, 175W (150W+25W Dynamic Boost), 12GB GDDR6 VRAM |
| Memory | 32GB DDR5 (4800 MT/s) memory |
| Display | 16-inch ROG Nebula HDR Display, QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600 pixels), Mini LED, 240Hz, G-Sync |
| Storage | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (RAID 0), 2TB + 2TB |
| Webcam | 720P HD webcam camera |
| Ports | 1x 3.5mm Audio, 1x HDMI 2.1, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x Thunderbolt 4 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) with Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery & Weight | 90 WHr, 2.60 kg |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Professional |
| Note from Editor | Limited access for evaluation |
Windows 11 Professional
Note from the Editor: For a limited time, Asus India granted IGN India access to the ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) for evaluation.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) gaming performance benchmarks
We ran 8 AAA titles using the ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) to assess its gaming performance. Cyberpunk 2077, Hitman 3, Borderlands 3, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Control, Forza Horizon 5, Grand Theft Auto V, and Doom Eternal are among the games on the list.
The performance benchmark below shows that the laptop easily achieves 80+ frames per second in most games at maximum graphics settings when set to 1080p resolution. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2023 gaming laptop's performance and gaming benchmark results are shown below.
As previously stated, the laptop packs a punch, which is understandable given the price. The performance benchmarks of the laptop indicate its capacity to resist and deliver whatever you throw at it. It also allows you to compare the relative performance of Strix Scar 16 (2023) to the rivals on the market.
Naturally, the Intel 13th-Gen i9 processor and RTX 4000 series gave results that were out of this world when compared against the competition.
Thermals and batteries
The Asus Strix Scar 16 handled the benchmark overloads and demanding AAA games admirably while keeping the laptop's heat under control.
Throughout the tests, gaming sessions, and benchmarks, the laptop maintained a temperature of roughly 96° Celsius.
In terms of battery life, the gaming laptop promises 90WHrs, which seems excellent on paper, but I didn't see it hold up during my use of the laptop.
For routine day-to-day use, such as browsing the internet, social media, viewing YouTube clips, movies, and so on, the gaming laptop lasted no more than three hours. Though this is hardly surprising given that most gaming laptops perform similarly. But, while doing non-gaming duties, I was hoping for something better.
The current battery performance places a greater emphasis on having the laptop plugged in even when not gaming. The weight of the laptop combined with a large charger might be uncomfortable for some when travelling with the laptop and hinders portability.
ROG Strix Scar 16 Design and Display
The 16-inch QHD+ Mini LED Nebula HDR display on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 has a 16:10 aspect ratio (2560 x 1600 pixels). Scar 16 provides an excellent and seamless gaming experience because to its 240Hz support and combination of top-tier CPU and GPU. Strix Scar 16 2023 also supports Dolby Vision HDR, which improves visual quality.
During the review period, I watched various films and played AAA games on my laptop. In the real world, this display lives up to the rest of the laptop's specifications.
With minor differences, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 looks identical to previous Scar models. There is a clear effort to give the laptop a raw appearance while still ensuring that it has enough RGB lights to keep gamers pleased.
The material selected by Asus for the body looks nice, but it won't last long if it isn't cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. The material is fingerprint-prone, however it is readily cleaned.
