Table of Contents
The ASUS Strix G16 comes to market as a robust mid-range gaming laptop, blending performance with build quality and features. It’s no Yakko–it still has its weaknesses, especially when competing with gaming laptops produced by some of the bigger brands. In this complete review of the ASUS Strix G16, we cover everything from its performance to its design and the features that affect its usability. If you’re a gamer or someone checking out the competition, you’ll find all the important details inside this review.
Key Highlights of the ASUS Strix G16
- Design & Build Quality
- Available in eclipse gray and volt green finishes, with a vibrant RGB light bar for added flair.
- Sturdy plastic interior with minimal flex, and a strong hinge for easy opening.
- Weighs 5.2lb (2.4kg) without the charger, or 7.1lb (3.2kg) with the charger, making it a bit heavy but still portable for its size.
- Display
- 16-inch Nebula display with a 2560×1600 resolution and 240Hz refresh rate, offering excellent visuals for gaming and productivity.
- Color accuracy and wide color gamut make it suitable for content creators as well.
- No backlight bleed and low 3.7ms response time for a smooth gaming experience.
- Performance
- Powered by Intel Core i7-13650HX and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, providing solid gaming performance and content creation capabilities.
- Delivers excellent gaming performance with smooth frame rates in demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2.
- Multicore performance shines, thanks to the high power limits allowed for the CPU.
- Keyboard & Touchpad
- RGB backlighting with 4 customizable zones and a clicky, comfortable keyboard (1.9mm key travel) for gaming and typing.
- The larger touchpad (10% increase from previous models) is responsive but lacks a numpad as shown in some marketing materials.
- Ports & Connectivity
- Offers a solid selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, USB Type-C, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, and Gigabit Ethernet.
- Supports DisplayPort over Type-C and HDMI for external monitor connections, making it versatile for multi-display setups.
- Battery Life
- 5 hours of YouTube playback and around 1 hour 50 minutes of gaming, which is average for a gaming laptop, but not exceptional.
- Cooling & Thermal Management
- Features a robust cooling system with three fans and seven heatpipes, effectively managing heat under load.
- Manual mode offers customizable fan speeds and GPU/CPU power limits, allowing users to optimize performance for heavy tasks.
- Price & Value
- The Strix G16 is priced on the higher end for a RTX 4060 laptop, which makes it a bit expensive compared to the competition.
- Offers a solid value when it goes on sale, making it a strong choice for those willing to invest in gaming performance, build quality, and features.
Build and Design: A Sturdy and Stylish Laptop
1. Design Overview
The ASUS Strix G16 has an eye-catching design, but it’s not all about flash.
- Finish Options: The ASUS Strix G16 comes in two main colors: the subdued eclipse gray and the more vibrant volt green. The latter features bright green accents on the back, lid logo, and underneath, which adds a bold touch. However, for those seeking a more muted aesthetic, the eclipse gray finish should feel at home.
- RGB Light Bar: Even the eclipse gray model isn’t exactly subtle. It has an RGB light bar running along the front, adding some flair without overdoing it.
2. Build Quality and Durability
In terms of overall build, the G16 shines with its sturdy design.
- The plastic interior feels smooth and robust, with only minor flex when you push down hard. This is a good indicator of its durability, which is something gamers look for in a long-lasting laptop.
- The hinge of the laptop is strong, but there’s a slight noise when opening and closing. While it might just be an issue with our test unit, it’s something worth noting, as it could signal future wear and tear.
- One positive note is the one-finger opening mechanism. This design makes it easier to open the laptop, which is a minor but appreciated detail.
3. Size and Weight
This 16-inch laptop has a relatively compact profile despite its larger display.
- Weight: The ASUS Strix G16 weighs around 5.2 pounds (2.4 kg) without the charger, which is a bit on the heavier side. However, with the included 280W charger, the total weight rises to 7.1 pounds (3.2 kg). The weight can vary depending on the configuration, as higher-spec versions come with a larger charger (up to 330W).
- Thickness: Compared to other gaming laptops, the ASUS Strix G16 is slightly thicker at the back. Still, it remains manageable for a gaming laptop of this size.
Performance and Specs: A Gamer’s Delight
1. Processor and Graphics
When it comes to gaming laptops, performance is the key. The ASUS Strix G16 doesn’t disappoint in this department.
- Processor: The ASUS Strix G16 is powered by the Intel Core i7-13650HX, a high-performance CPU with excellent multitasking capabilities. It delivers great processing power for gaming, content creation, and productivity tasks.
- Graphics: For gaming, the laptop features the Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics card. While not the top-of-the-line option, the RTX 4060 still provides excellent gaming performance at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, running demanding games smoothly with high-quality settings.
2. Display Quality
The display is another standout feature of the ASUS Strix G16.
- Resolution: The laptop comes with a 2560×1600 Nebula display that supports 240Hz refresh rate. This makes it a great choice for fast-paced gaming, offering smoother visuals than most 1080p screens. The 16:10 aspect ratio provides extra vertical screen real estate, which is ideal for productivity and gaming alike.
- Color Accuracy: The Nebula display covers an impressive color gamut, making it suitable for content creators as well. The display’s brightness is decent, but it didn’t quite hit ASUS’s claimed 500 nits during testing. However, this discrepancy is likely due to the inherent variance in individual panels.
- Backlight Bleed: The screen didn’t have any noticeable backlight bleed, which is a rare and commendable trait for a gaming laptop.
3. Gaming Performance
Gaming is where the ASUS Strix G16 truly shines.
- Cyberpunk 2077: In our tests, the ASUS Strix G16 offered one of the lower performance results for a laptop with RTX 4060, but it delivered better 1% lows, indicating smoother gameplay with fewer stutters and frame drops.
- Red Dead Redemption 2: In this benchmark, the ASUS Strix G16 was neck and neck with the Helios Neo 16. It tied for the best 4060 result, showing that the laptop delivers great performance in demanding games.
- Control: For this title, the ASUS Strix G16 performed well, especially in terms of 1% lows. The laptop’s CPU, running at high power limits, seems to provide an edge over other 4060 laptops.
4. Content Creation Performance
Though it’s designed with gamers in mind, the ASUS Strix G16 also performs well in content creation applications.
- Blender and Adobe Photoshop: In tests, the ASUS Strix G16 performed on par with other gaming laptops that have similar specs, like MSI’s GP77. However, laptops with the RTX 4070 or 4080 will see better performance gains, especially in GPU-heavy tasks.
- DaVinci Resolve: This GPU-dependent test yielded similar results, again showing that for more intense creative tasks, a higher-end GPU may be necessary for substantial performance improvements.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and Ports: A Comfortable User Experience
1. Keyboard
The keyboard on the ASUS Strix G16 is a satisfying experience for both typing and gaming.
- Key Feel: The keys have 1.9mm of travel, offering a decent amount of tactile feedback and a pleasant typing experience.
- RGB Backlighting: The laptop comes with 4-zone RGB backlighting, which can be customized through the Aura Creator software. While the lighting is cool and visually appealing, it can appear somewhat patchy, especially on keys like Q, W, E, R, A, S, D, F, and spacebar.
- Extra Keys: The keyboard also includes dedicated buttons for adjusting volume, muting the microphone, changing performance modes, and opening Armory Crate (ASUS’s software control panel).
2. Touchpad
The touchpad on the ASUS Strix G16 is 10% larger than previous models, making it more comfortable to use for everyday tasks. It’s responsive and smooth, although it lacks the numpad that appears in some online images of the laptop.
3. Ports and Connectivity
The ASUS Strix G16 has a solid selection of ports for connectivity.
- Left Side: The left side houses the power input, gigabit ethernet, HDMI 2.1 output, two Type-C ports (one Thunderbolt 4 and one USB 3.2 Gen 2), and a 3.5mm audio combo jack.
- Right Side: The right side contains two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports.
- Back: There are no ports on the back, which is typical for laptops with advanced cooling systems.
- Thunderbolt 4: It’s worth noting that the Thunderbolt 4 port always connects to the Intel integrated graphics, while the other Type-C and HDMI ports connect directly to the Nvidia GPU, which is beneficial for gaming performance.
Battery Life and Thermal Performance: Handling Long Sessions
1. Battery Life
While the ASUS Strix G16 isn’t known for its exceptional battery life, it performs reasonably well for a gaming laptop.
- Video Playback: The laptop lasted for around 5 hours during YouTube video playback, which is a decent result for this category of laptop.
- Gaming: When gaming, the battery drained faster, lasting just 1 hour 50 minutes. This is about average for gaming laptops but may not be sufficient for long gaming sessions away from a power source.
2. Thermal Management
The ASUS Strix G16 features a robust cooling system with three fans and seven heatpipes, which work together to keep temperatures in check.
- Thermal Performance: During idle use, the laptop runs cool, but under stress, the CPU did hit thermal throttling when maxed out in manual mode. That said, the laptop still handles gaming and heavy workloads effectively without significant thermal throttling.
- Fan Noise: The fans do get loud under heavy performance modes, especially in Manual Mode. Users will likely need headphones if they plan to push the laptop to its limits.
Final Thoughts: A Great Laptop, But the Price Could Be Better
Pros:
- Strong performance in both gaming and content creation
- Excellent display with a 240Hz refresh rate and Nebula panel
- Solid build quality and great keyboard feel
- Upgradeability with easy access to storage and memory
Cons:
- Price: At the time of writing, the Strix G16’s pricing feels a bit too high, especially when compared to other laptops with similar or better specs.
- Battery Life: While acceptable, battery life could be improved, especially for long gaming sessions on the go.
- Fan Noise: Under heavy performance modes, the fans get loud, which can be distracting.
The ASUS Strix G16 is a well-rounded laptop, offering impressive performance, a high-quality display, and great overall build quality. However, the high price tag makes it less competitive compared to other laptops with similar specs, particularly when on sale. If you’re looking for great gaming performance without breaking the bank, other options might be more cost-effective.
If you are willing to spend some extra bucks for advanced features such as RGB lighting and superior cooling, the Strix G16 is worth considering. You should monitor sales and Odin knows how to stretch a penny. Soon, even heavy-duty gamers will have a supreme machine for a lower price.
