ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) Gaming Laptop, 16” 16:10 FHD 165Hz Display, NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4060, Intel Core i7-13650HX, 16GB DDR5, 1TB PCIe Gen4 SSD, Wi-Fi 6E, Windows 11, G614JV-AS74
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a powerful and well-rounded gaming laptop designed for those seeking a balance between performance, portability, and affordability. Equipped with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and a 165Hz FHD display, this laptop delivers excellent gaming performance for its price point. With advanced cooling technologies, DDR5 memory, and ample storage, the Strix G16 is primed to handle both AAA titles and multitasking with ease.
Pros:
Cons:
Features & Functionality
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The ASUS ROG Strix G16 packs an impressive set of features that make it a standout gaming laptop in its category. At its core, the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX processor delivers remarkable performance for both gaming and multitasking. With 14 cores and a maximum clock speed of 4.9 GHz, it excels in handling modern AAA games, video editing, and content creation tasks with ease. Paired with 16GB of DDR5-4800MHz RAM, the system provides fast and responsive multitasking capabilities. Whether you’re running multiple applications or switching between demanding tasks, the G16 doesn’t break a sweat, thanks to the high-bandwidth memory that minimizes load times.
One of the key components elevating the gaming experience is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 GPU with 140W Max TGP. This graphics card, based on NVIDIA’s Ada Lovelace architecture, supports ray tracing and AI-powered features like DLSS, which improves frame rates and visual fidelity. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 or Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II benefit greatly from these enhancements, offering immersive, real-time ray tracing effects and ultra-smooth frame rates. The G16 supports up to 165 frames per second (FPS) on its FHD display, making it ideal for fast-paced competitive gaming where every millisecond counts.
Another notable feature is the 16-inch FHD 165Hz display, which delivers smooth motion with minimal ghosting. The 100% sRGB color accuracy and Pantone validation make this display suitable not only for gaming but also for color-sensitive tasks like graphic design and video editing. The high refresh rate allows gamers to enjoy seamless gameplay, while the accurate color reproduction and vibrant visuals enhance the immersive experience. Although the display resolution is limited to 1080p, the high refresh rate makes it a perfect fit for competitive gamers who prioritize speed and responsiveness over ultra-high resolution.
ASUS has also integrated their ROG Intelligent Cooling system, which uses Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU. This advanced cooling solution, combined with a third intake fan and Tri-Fan technology, ensures that the laptop maintains optimal performance even during extended gaming sessions. The cooling system is designed to reduce heat buildup and prevent throttling, allowing the CPU and GPU to perform at their peak for longer durations. This makes the Strix G16 highly capable of sustaining high frame rates without compromising on thermal performance, a key requirement for gamers who push their hardware to the limits.
Design & Build Quality
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The Strix G16’s design is heavily inspired by cyberpunk aesthetics, with graffiti-like accents and a dot matrix design on the lid that gives it a modern and edgy look. The RGB light bar, along with customizable per-key lighting, adds a layer of personalization that gamers often appreciate. Its Eclipse Gray finish complements the overall look, making it a visually striking machine that fits well in gaming setups or even professional environments where a stylish laptop is appreciated.
The laptop’s build quality is impressive, with a sturdy chassis that feels durable enough for frequent travel. At 5.5 pounds, the Strix G16 is reasonably portable for a gaming laptop with this level of performance. The compact form factor, despite the 16-inch screen, makes it easy to slip into a backpack, and the slim 0.89-inch thickness doesn’t add much bulk.
The keyboard, while solid, lacks a numeric keypad, which may be a downside for those who need it for productivity tasks. However, the keys themselves offer good tactile feedback, making typing comfortable, and the RGB lighting enhances the overall aesthetic appeal. The design choices focus on both performance and portability, with a sleek and robust frame that looks as good as it performs.
Power & Performance
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When it comes to power and performance, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 truly excels, particularly for gamers and power users. Powered by the 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13650HX processor, this laptop can easily handle heavy multitasking and processor-intensive tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and running virtual machines. With 14 cores (six performance cores and eight efficiency cores), the CPU ensures fast performance across a range of applications. Whether you’re gaming, streaming, or working on intensive tasks simultaneously, the Strix G16 performs without hiccups.
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card is another major strength of this machine. With 8GB of dedicated GDDR6 VRAM, the RTX 4060 can handle high-end gaming and demanding graphical tasks like 3D modeling and real-time ray tracing. Its 140W Max TGP (Total Graphics Power) ensures that the GPU can fully utilize its potential, providing smooth gameplay even in graphically demanding titles. Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Red Dead Redemption 2 run at high settings with stable frame rates, and enabling DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) boosts performance without a significant loss in visual quality.
The laptop’s FHD display, though limited to 1080p resolution, shines in terms of its 165Hz refresh rate. For competitive gamers, this means buttery-smooth gameplay with minimal input lag, a crucial feature when playing fast-paced shooters like Valorant or Apex Legends. The 100% sRGB color coverage and Pantone validation make this display ideal for creative professionals as well. Whether you’re gaming or working on digital content, the colors are rich and accurate, ensuring that the visual experience remains top-notch. Although a higher resolution display (like 1440p) might have been a welcome addition, the 1080p resolution allows the RTX 4060 to perform at its best without being bottlenecked by ultra-high pixel counts.
Another notable feature in terms of performance is the laptop’s fast DDR5-4800MHz memory. This new generation of RAM significantly improves data transfer speeds compared to DDR4, reducing latency and improving the system’s overall responsiveness. Coupled with the PCIe Gen4 SSD, the Strix G16 ensures that applications and games load quickly, and file transfers are completed in no time. With 1TB of storage, users will have plenty of space for large game libraries and media files, though the additional NVMe slot allows for future storage expansion if needed.
ASUS has also optimized the G16 for sustained performance with its ROG Intelligent Cooling system. The use of liquid metal thermal compound on the CPU, combined with a triple fan setup, ensures efficient heat dissipation during long gaming sessions. This prevents throttling, allowing the laptop to maintain peak performance over extended periods. Even when the system is running at full load in turbo mode, temperatures remain manageable. However, the fans can get quite loud in turbo mode, especially when the laptop is pushed to its limits. For gamers who prioritize cooling over noise levels, this is a trade-off that might be acceptable, though using a headset can help mitigate the noise.
Lastly, the battery life is decent for a gaming laptop of this caliber, with a 90Wh battery providing enough juice for several hours of moderate use, like web browsing or streaming. However, when gaming or using performance-intensive applications, expect to plug in more frequently, as gaming laptops are notoriously power-hungry under load. Despite this, the Strix G16 offers the kind of power and performance that gamers and creative professionals need, all packed into a relatively portable form factor.
Compatibility & Connectivity
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In terms of connectivity, the Strix G16 offers a well-rounded selection of ports, with four USB ports, including USB 3.2, and PCI Express x4 for faster data transfers. The laptop supports Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connectivity, which is crucial for online gaming and streaming. Users have noted that the Wi-Fi performance is excellent, with stable and fast connections even in multiplayer gaming environments.
Bluetooth support is also included, allowing easy pairing with wireless peripherals. The laptop features a dedicated headphone jack, which is great for immersive sound experiences, though many users may prefer the enhanced audio clarity they get from using a high-quality headset.
The MUX switch with Advanced Optimus is designed to optimize battery life by automatically switching between the integrated and dedicated GPUs based on current usage. However, some users have reported issues with automatic switching during gaming, causing resolution disruptions. It is generally recommended to manually select the GPU mode to avoid these issues.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the ASUS ROG Strix G16?
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is an outstanding gaming laptop for users who want high performance at a reasonable price. With a powerful Intel Core i7 processor, an RTX 4060 GPU, and a fast 165Hz display, it’s ideal for gamers looking to play AAA titles at high settings. The laptop’s advanced cooling system ensures sustained performance during long gaming sessions, while its sleek design makes it a stylish addition to any setup.
If you’re a gamer or a content creator seeking a mid-tier laptop that balances power, design, and affordability, the Strix G16 is an excellent option. However, if you prioritize higher resolution displays or quieter cooling under heavy load, there are alternatives to consider in the higher-end range. Overall, this laptop is a strong contender for anyone looking for premium performance without breaking the bank.