ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) review: Not just for gamers

ASUS’ newest 14-inch gaming laptop computer is an extremely versatile and trendy all-rounder. However for individuals who need one thing even beefier, there’s the ROG Zephyrus G16. Not solely does it function a extra highly effective Intel Core Extremely 9 CPU, it helps as much as NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics playing cards. That’s not all. Its OLED show refreshes twice as quick at 240Hz and it has surprisingly good audio system in addition to a full-size SD card reader for shortly transferring recordsdata from a digicam. So regardless of being aimed toward players, the G16 is best geared up to function a conveyable enhancing rig, which makes this a fantastic system even for individuals who don’t care about bunny-hopping and fragging.

Design

The G16’s new all-aluminum chassis is solely unbelievable. That’s as a result of along with being a contact lighter (about 0.1 kilos) and thinner (about 0.2 inches) than the earlier mannequin, it feels even sturdier. For 2024, ASUS ditched the dot matrix show on its lid for a single diagonal slash with white (not RGB) LEDs working down the middle, which provides the laptop computer a way more subtle look with out turning into boring. It’s like an adolescent who grew up and discovered to decorate correctly with out dropping contact with their gamer roots. On the within, there’s a backlit keyboard with rainbow lighting (although it’s single-zone and never per-key) flanked by some surprisingly punchy audio system with a fully large touchpad under. All informed, it’s a fantastically designed system that appears pretty much as good because it feels.

ASUS has additionally included the fitting mix of connectivity choices. The G16 options two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A slots, two USB-C ports (certainly one of which helps Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, a full-size SD card reader and a 3.5mm audio jack. That is the type of association that permits you to journey freely without having to fret about further dongles or adapters. Plus, because of ASUS’ new Slim Energy Jack, you don’t should hog every other ports whereas charging. And in a pinch, it’s also possible to juice up the G16 by way of USB-C, albeit at slower speeds (as much as round 100 watts) than with the included 240-watt brick.

Show

The G16’s 2.5K (2,560 x 1,600) OLED display could be the most effective element right here. It’s vivid and helps an enormous shade gamut (one hundred pc of DCI-P3), whereas its 240Hz refresh price makes it nice even for players seeking to squeeze out each final aggressive benefit. Although brightness is simply common at round 400 nits in customary definition mode or 450 nits in HDR, I didn’t actually have any bother seeing the display until the G16 was in direct daylight. One final bonus for photograph and video editors is that ASUS does embody just a few calibrated viewing modes in its Armoy Crate app for sRGB, D65 P3 and DCI-P3 so you may extra precisely alter hues or shade grade footage.

Efficiency

The G16’s efficiency is fairly stable because of an Intel Core extremely 9 195H CPU, as much as 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage and NVIDIA RTX 4090 graphics. Nonetheless, right here’s the place some trade-offs for the G16’s slim chassis think about. In comparison with similarly-sized rivals just like the Razer Blade 16, the G16 incorporates a decrease total TDP (whole system energy), which suggests even when they seem to have the identical listed parts, there’s nonetheless a distinction in capabilities. For instance, on our overview unit with an RTX 4080, the quantity of energy despatched to the GPU caps out at 115 watts versus 175 watts for the Razer. The G16’s RAM can also be soldered in, so you may’t add extra post-purchase.

In Cyberpunk 2077 at 1440p and extremely graphics with ray-tracing on, the G16 hit 68 fps, which is simply barely forward of what we noticed from a smaller Razer Blade 14 (66 fps), regardless of the latter having a decrease tier RTX 4070 however with an identical wattage. That mentioned, these figures are greater than enough to maintain AAA video games working easily. And let’s not overlook that the Blade 14 mannequin I referenced prices $2,700, which is identical worth as our G16 overview unit. This makes it an apt comparability even when Razer’s laptop computer has a smaller footprint.

Battery life

One of many essential benefits of a bigger system is having further room for a much bigger battery. On PCMark 10’s Open Workplace rundown check, the G16 lasted 9 hours and 17 minutes versus simply 5:12 for the smaller G14. That’s a stable mark contemplating it’s additionally higher than an XPS 16 (8:31) we reviewed. Nonetheless, total longevity is determined by your workload, as a result of after I ran the battery check a second time solely utilizing the GPU as a substitute of counting on NVIDIA’s Optimus graphic switching function, that point dropped to simply 3:08. Which means the system will final all day for those who’re utilizing fundamental productiveness app, however for extra demanding duties like gaming or video enhancing, you’ll need to preserve ASUS’ 240-watt energy brick shut by.

Wrap-up

Similar to its smaller sibling, ASUS’ ROG Zephyrus G16 is an nearly supreme thin-and-light gaming laptop computer. It’s acquired a glossy all-aluminum construct, a beautiful 240Hz OLED show and longer battery life. Granted, it won’t be fairly as highly effective as a few of its rivals because of lower-wattage parts, but it surely’s nonetheless acquired sufficient oomph to deal with virtually something you may throw at it. And because of a full-size SD card reader, it makes for a fair higher moveable enhancing workstation. However most significantly, with a beginning worth of $1,750, the G16 is extra approachable than lots of its high-end (and bulkier) opponents, which makes it a fantastic choose for individuals who need a bigger system that gained’t weigh them down.