Presumably the Finest Laptop computer to Change Your Desktop

The $3,400 laptop computer mannequin Asus despatched me for evaluation included the top-end Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop computer GPU. With 32GB of DDR5 5600 RAM, I didn’t encounter an utility this desktop replacement-sized cell PC couldn’t deal with on the max decision of two,560 x 1,600. Efficiency was precisely what I anticipated from the CPU and GPU combo with the system plugged in. At its urged retail value, it’s a bit of costlier than the HP Omen Max 16 I recently reviewed, which has the identical display decision in its barely smaller body. The refreshed Strix Scar 18 can be costlier than the last-gen mannequin, a change that doubtless got here after Trump slapped his tariffs on imported items earlier this 12 months.

I noticed the refreshed ROG Strix Scar 18 when Asus showed it off at CES earlier this 12 months. Greater than that, I’ve felt it with the ROG Strix 17 laptop computer with an Nvidia RTX 3070 that I exploit at house. Every secret’s acquainted. The chiclet keyboard doesn’t have the texture anyplace near a mechanical typing machine, however there’s sufficient journey to make every press substantial. Even the palm relaxation has that very same satin, smudge-prone texture that’s neither uncomfortable nor notably nice to lean on. If I had one large grievance, it’s the quantity of keyboard flex I might really feel towards the middle of the system, particularly nearest to the trackpad. It makes the system really feel way more brittle than it truly is. Fortunately, the remainder of the chassis makes up for that flaw via good engineering.

What’s most spectacular concerning the laptop computer is its means to remain cool underneath stress. The Strix Scar 18 makes use of three followers and an end-to-end vapor chamber. The air will get pulled in from the underside and sides and is expelled out the rear of the chassis. The keyboard remained at a superbly cheap temperature even when working a number of video games for hours on finish. The one space of the system that would get heat was closest to the display, the place no cheap gamer would stick their fingers. Below load, the Strix Scar 18 will sound like a field fan working on excessive velocity subsequent to your ear. It’s not loud sufficient to completely eclipse the laptop computer’s audio system, however the hum will probably be noticeable sufficient with out a good pair of noise-canceling headphones on the prepared. The position of the I/O ports additionally meant my mouse hand by no means felt toasty. The system comes with simply sufficient I/O to avoid wasting you from instantly leaping for a port dock. There are three USB-A 3.2, a LAN port, and two Thunderbolt 5 ports that assist DisplayPort to accompany the only HDMI 2.1. The one factor lacking is an SD card slot for all of the artistic varieties who—for some cause—need dancing LEDs on the again of their laptop computer lid.

See Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 at Amazon

Most gaming laptops of this dimension demand to be plugged in continually, and the Strix Scar 18 isn’t any exception. Even whereas on silent mode doing informal work, I solely acquired rather less than 4 hours earlier than the laptop computer was begging me for extra juice. Off energy, working the machine on efficiency mode for the sake of gaming, you’d be fortunate to get two hours of battery life, or nearer to 1 hour for video games that demand greater energy draw. The 90Wh battery proved it wasn’t sufficient for a beast of this dimension, and also you’ll have to lug across the 380W energy brick when you plan to take the system from room to room.

Asus spent most of its engineering time growing the Strix Scar 18 refresh, specializing in what was occurring beneath the large keyboard. Asus secretly made the Strix Scar 18 one of many extra simply customizable gaming laptops out there in the present day. The underside panel comes off with a single swap to disclose the battery, RAM, and SSD. The motherboard and different elements are nonetheless hid with a plastic body that’s held on by screws. My mannequin had an simply accessible second slot that might solely require me to plug in one other solid-state drive to doubtlessly double my storage.

I’ve needed to open up earlier ROG Strix laptops after I encountered a fault that wouldn’t boot the laptop computer, and that proved an hour-long chore simply to unseat and reattach the battery. The fast-release swap will make it simpler to wash out mud and preserve your system working higher for longer. Certain, it’s not as customizable as a Framework laptop that allows you to exchange the whole motherboard when you so select. However in comparison with most different gaming laptops, this design is so attractive; I want all different laptops would go this route.

That received’t essentially imply you’ll have the ability to exchange different CPU elements someday sooner or later, however with the specs on my evaluation unit, I wouldn’t think about needing any form of CPU or GPU improve for a protracted whereas. I ran my ordinary benchmarks throughout the same old gamut of artificial exams, video games, and rendering duties. The laptop computer carried out precisely as anticipated. It was worse than the Omen Max 16 when utilizing that laptop computer in its overclocked mode, however the Strix Scar 18 will grant you greater than playable body charges in demanding video games from Cyberpunk 2077 to Alan Wake II with a bevy of ray tracing choices enabled. You received’t get absolutely the peak of efficiency with out an RTX 5090 put in, however contemplating these costs, I nonetheless consider the RTX 5080 is the GPU avid gamers really need.

The remainder of the specs are precisely what you count on from a contemporary $3,400 gaming laptop computer. The mini-LED show is lots shiny and colourful. The show has a particular layer that retains reflections and glare to a minimal, even in direct daylight. Even with Dolby Imaginative and prescient for HDR assist, for the quantity you’re paying, I nonetheless miss the inky depths of an OLED show. The show can assist as much as a 240Hz refresh price, which implies that your video games taking part in at as much as 240 fps will look their finest, although it lacks variable refresh price, or VRR, to make sure there received’t be display tearing points or different visible glitches in video games working far beneath that.

I’ll admit, the ROG Strix Scar 18’s overt lighting and large, empty keyboard didn’t go away the most effective first impression. As soon as I dug into it—actually—I found this can be one in every of my favourite laptops of the 12 months and a contender on your most suitable option of an 18-inch desktop alternative system. It’s acquired the display, sound high quality, and really feel you’ll want to comprise your gaming all-in-one. Greater than that, it exhibits Asus is pushing repairability a bit of additional via small improvements to the rear panel. Let’s preserve pushing in that course, and possibly we’ll come to some extent the place we will purchase a single laptop computer and never must spend one other $3,400 a couple of years down the road.

See Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 at Amazon