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If you’re looking for the final word gaming laptop computer, it is easy to go for the absolute best specs and assume that can ship the most effective efficiency. You’re not improper, however you is likely to be losing your cash.
The Asus ROG Strix G18 is precisely the type of gaming laptop computer you do not wish to overlook. It is arduous to overlook with its huge 18-inch show, however that is not the one factor it has going for it. Whereas it does not come low cost, it presents much better worth to your cash than you would possibly anticipate and punches approach above its weight class, giving RTX 5090 laptops a run for his or her cash.
It left me asking – why pay a premium for an RTX 5090 laptop computer when you will get aggressive efficiency from an RTX 5080 laptop computer just like the Strix G18? This would possibly even be one of many finest gaming laptops you should buy, particularly in the event you’ve obtained your eye on a big show.
This is a take a look at all the things the Asus ROG Strix G18 has to supply and some issues you need to know earlier than making it your subsequent gaming rig.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Specs and benchmarks
|
Value: |
$3,059 (beginning at $2,499) |
|
CPU: |
Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX |
|
GPU: |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB) |
|
RAM: |
32GB |
|
Storage: |
2TB |
|
Show: |
18-inch, 2.5K (2560 x 1600), IPS, 240Hz |
|
Battery life (internet searching) |
7:45 |
|
Battery life (gaming) |
1:34 |
|
Dimensions: |
15.71 x 11.73 x 1.26 inches |
|
Weight: |
7.05 kilos |
Click on to view full benchmark check outcomes
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Strix G815 |
|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Increased is best) |
19,899 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Decrease is best) |
2:10 |
|
SSD switch charge (Increased is best, MBps) |
2,054 |
|
Warmth (Non-gaming, Levels Fahrenheit) |
94.8 |
|
Warmth (Gaming, Levels Fahrenheit) |
114.4 |
|
Battery life (Non-gaming, Increased is best) |
7:45 |
|
Battery life (Gaming, Increased is best) |
1:34 |
|
Show brightness (Increased is best) |
511.8 |
|
sRGB coloration gamut (Increased is best) |
110.2% |
|
DCI-P3 coloration gamut (Increased is best) |
78.0% |
|
Colour accuracy (Decrease is best) |
0.31 |
|
3DMark Hearth Strike Extremely (Increased is best) |
13,074 |
|
3DMark Time Spy Excessive (Increased is best) |
10,227 |
|
Murderer’s Creed Mirage (1080p) |
154 |
|
Black Fantasy: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p) |
53 |
|
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p) |
59.8 |
|
Far Cry 6 (1080p) |
120 |
|
Monster Hunter Wilds (1080p) |
81.78 |
|
Crimson Useless Redemption II (Extremely, 1080p) |
74.9 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p) |
187 |
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Value and configurations
The Asus ROG Strix G815 is out there in just a few configurations beginning at $2,499, which incorporates an Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (8GB) GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.
Our overview configuration prices $3,059 and contains an Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB) GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.
That is actually not low cost, however for a gaming laptop computer with these specs, that value is pretty affordable. For context, the smaller Asus ROG Strix G16 prices a bit much less at $2,499 for a configuration with an RTX 5070 Ti and 1TB of storage. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI, an 18-inch behemoth just like the Strix G815, prices considerably extra at $4,499 for a configuration with an RTX 5080 and 4TB of storage.
So, Asus’s asking value is cheap, particularly if a big 18-inch show is a prime precedence for you.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Design
The Asus ROG Strix G18 is eye-catching
The Asus ROG Strix G18 is eye-catching, however extra so due to its measurement than its design.
The plastic chassis is not too over-the-top, sporting a darkish steel-gray end with a shiny ROG emblem on the lid and a hidden RGB gentle strip alongside the underside of the keyboard deck (which you’ll simply flip off if you’d like). The keyboard additionally options RGB backlighting, and a handful of keys have clear keycaps, which not solely look cool however assist your WASD keys stand out.
I additionally admire that Asus separated the facility button from the primary keyboard and gave it a novel form, making it unlikely you will press the facility button accidentally. There are additionally a handful of extra media keys above the perform row for shortly adjusting quantity, muting your mic, swapping efficiency modes, and opening the Armoury Crate app.
The very first thing I observed concerning the Asus ROG Strix G18 was its weight. It is simply the most important laptop computer I’ve ever reviewed, an honor beforehand held by the large Acer Nitro 17. That is no shock contemplating the large 18-inch show, however you need to maintain the G18’s cumbersome measurement in thoughts if you wish to journey with it typically, because it’s too large to slot in most laptop computer baggage.
The Strix G18 measures 15.71 x 11.73 x 1.26 inches and weighs 7.05 kilos. For context, here is how just a few comparable gaming laptops examine:
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Ports
Picture 1 of 2
The Asus ROG Strix G18 features a fairly customary set of ports for a gaming laptop computer:
- 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A (helps as much as 10Gbps)
- 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-C (helps DisplayPort/energy supply/G-Sync)
- 1x USB Sort-C Thunderbolt 4 (helps DisplayPort/energy supply)
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 1x RJ45 Ethernet/LAN
- 1x 3.5mm audio jack
That was greater than sufficient ports for my wants, but when you end up needing much more selection, you’ll be able to all the time join the G815 to one of many finest laptop computer docking stations or a USB Sort-C hub.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Battery life
Gaming laptops are hardly ever excessive performers with regards to battery life, and the Asus ROG Strix G815 is not any risk to the laptops with the most effective battery life, nevertheless it’s notably higher than many of the competitors.
It lasted 7 hours and 45 minutes in our non-gaming battery life check, considerably longer than its rivals. After all, the irony of fine battery life on an 18-inch laptop computer like that is that it is so cumbersome you in all probability will not wish to journey with it typically. Even so, it is good which you can get virtually a full day of fundamental duties performed on the G815 on a single cost.
Conversely, the gaming battery life for the G815 is common at 1 hour and 34 minutes, however you will get higher sport efficiency with it plugged in anyway.
Click on to view chart knowledge in desk format
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Strix G815 |
Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) |
HP Omen Max 16 |
MSI Raider 18 HX AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Battery life (Non-gaming, Increased is best) |
7:45 |
5:22 |
3:20 |
2:33 |
|
Battery life (Gaming, Increased is best) |
1:34 |
1:22 |
1:24 |
1:46 |
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Show
The large 18-inch show on the Asus ROG Strix G18 is arguably its star function.
The large 18-inch show on the Asus ROG Strix G18 is arguably its star function. It is a roomy 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS panel with a 3ms response time and a most refresh charge of 240Hz.
This show is about as large as you will get with out utilizing an exterior desktop show. In case your prime precedence is extra display actual property for gaming and watching films, the Strix G18 may very well be the proper match.
Whereas the Strix G18 is not precisely transportable, the large show is sweet for creating an immersive viewing expertise. It made episodes of Andor much more of a visible feast than traditional, drawing me into the moody photographs of Ferrix again alleys and capturing sweeping photographs of Chandrila in crisp element and vivid coloration.
The Strix G18 did not break any data in our show checks, nevertheless it did not carry out poorly both. It lined 78% of the DCI-P3 coloration gamut and reached a powerful common brightness of 511.8 nits. Whereas I’d have most popular a better coloration gamut rating, the brightness is notably increased than many of the competitors, except the MSI Raider 18 HX AI.
Click on to view chart knowledge in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Strix G815 |
Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) |
HP Omen Max 16 |
MSI Raider 18 HX AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Show brightness (Increased is best) |
511.8 |
449.0 |
363 |
668 |
|
sRGB coloration gamut (Increased is best) |
110.2% |
112.5% |
199.7% |
117.0% |
|
DCI-P3 coloration gamut (Increased is best) |
78.0% |
79.7% |
141.4% |
83.1% |
|
Colour accuracy (Decrease is best) |
0.31 |
0.4 |
0.31 |
0.25 |
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Keyboard and touchpad
it feels extra like a mechanical keyboard than most different laptop computer keyboards.
Contemplating it is an 18-inch laptop computer, it is no shock the Strix G18 encompasses a full-size keyboard. It isn’t as satisfying as my desktop mechanical keyboard (the Lofree Block), nevertheless it feels extra like a mechanical keyboard than most different laptop computer keyboards. The Strix G18 additionally options per-key RGB backlighting, which could be custom-made within the pre-installed Armoury Crate app.
On the Monkeytype typing check, I scored 101 phrases per minute with 98% accuracy on the Strix G18, which is not record-breaking for me, nevertheless it’s not dangerous in any respect, both.
The touchpad on the Strix G18 is big, even bigger than the show on my 6.6-inch telephone. It is so large that I discovered myself transferring my mouse unintentionally with my palms sometimes whereas typing. The touchpad floor is clean, and clicking has a good quantity of journey and suggestions. You may in all probability wish to use probably the greatest gaming mice more often than not, however for moments once you want the touchpad, this one’s not dangerous.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Audio
the side-firing audio system sound actually good with music, video games, and video content material alike.
The Asus ROG Strix G18 options twin audio system situated on the backside entrance corners of the keyboard deck. Contemplating the scale of the keyboard deck (and the quantity of empty house on it), I’d have actually favored to see top-firing audio system on this laptop computer. Even so, the side-firing audio system sound actually good with music, video games, and video content material alike.
“Welcome to the DCC” by Nothing However Thieves sounded punchy and detailed with spectacular depth and an excellent stability of bass, mids, and highs. The bass may very well be a tad stronger, nevertheless it’s not dangerous, both. The audio system get significantly loud, too (I may hear them from the subsequent room at simply 45).
The audio in video games can also be strong. I had an ideal expertise with Avowed, the place the Strix G18 delivered crisp dialogue and wealthy background ambiance whereas I wandered Dawnshore. I turned the amount up a bit for video games, just a little over half normally, however nothing sounded muddy or drowned out, even in fight.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Efficiency and warmth
The Strix G18 crushed our general efficiency checks
The Asus ROG Strix G18 is powered by an Intel Core Extremely 9 275HX CPU (24 cores, 24 threads, max frequency of 5.4GHz). This chip will not have any hassle managing a few dozen browser tabs without delay, multitasking, or operating resource-intensive duties like picture or video modifying. I did not expertise any lag throughout fundamental duties, even whereas operating just a few apps without delay and downloading video games on Steam.
The Strix G18 crushed our general efficiency checks, though it could not fairly prime a few opponents. It scored 19,899 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark, only a bit behind the AMD-powered Asus ROG Strix G16. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI, powered by an Intel Core Extremely 9 285HX, simply outpaced each.
Whereas gaming laptops supply top-tier efficiency, it could actually typically include the notable downside of excessive temperatures. The Strix G18 ran heat even in our non-gaming warmth check, the place it peaked at 94.8 levels, only a hair under our 95-degree consolation threshold. It soared to 114.4 levels in our gaming warmth check, which is not as sizzling because the smaller Strix G16 obtained, however nonetheless noticeably heat.
A variety of that warmth is getting pushed out by means of the vents alongside the again of the hinge, so the keys keep cool more often than not. I did not discover the warmth whereas gaming on a desk, however you’ll be able to undoubtedly really feel it you probably have the Strix G18 in your lap whereas a sport is operating.
Click on to view chart knowledge in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Strix G815 |
Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) |
HP Omen Max 16 |
MSI Raider 18 HX AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Geekbench 6 (Increased is best) |
19,899 |
20,113 |
19,822 |
21,851 |
|
Handbrake conversion (Decrease is best) |
2:10 |
2:17 |
2:54 |
2:07 |
|
SSD switch charge (Increased is best, MBps) |
2,054 |
1,904.0 |
1,395.0 |
2,252.0 |
|
Warmth (Non-gaming, Levels Fahrenheit) |
94.8 |
100.8 |
88.6 |
104.3 |
|
Warmth (Gaming, Levels Fahrenheit) |
114.4 |
127.1 |
105.8 |
115.3 |
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Gaming and graphics
I wasn’t shocked that the Strix G18 crushed our gaming checks.
The Asus ROG Strix G18 runs on an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of VRAM. It provided incredible efficiency in all of my hands-on testing, with seamless gameplay, fast loading instances, gorgeous visuals, and no noticeable points.
I performed a spherical of Elden Ring Nightreign on the Strix G18 and had one show hiccup at first, though it wasn’t because of the GPU itself. The sport initially failed to acknowledge the G18’s show decision appropriately, however all the things ran completely after I mounted it within the settings.
After that, the moody, shadowy visuals of Limveld regarded gorgeous, with good distinction, crisp element, and flawless motion due to the excessive 240Hz refresh charge on the G18. I averaged 60 frames per second all through with no lag or stuttering. I did not win my run, however that is not the RTX 5080’s fault.
Avowed ran nice on the Strix G18, as effectively. The colourful tropical forests exterior Paradis regarded flawless, and new zones loaded shortly. Fight was clean all through, even with many enemies and particular results on display without delay. I averaged slightly below 80 fps.
Contemplating the graceful efficiency I skilled in my hands-on testing, I wasn’t shocked that the Strix G18 crushed our gaming checks. Curiously, it outscored the HP Omen Max 16 throughout the board, regardless of the Omen having a extra highly effective RTX 5090 GPU.
The Strix G18 scored 13,074 on the 3DMark Hearth Strike Extremely graphics benchmark, second solely to the MSI Raider 18 HX AI (which additionally has an RTX 5080). The G18 bested the Raider in a number of video games, although, together with Murderer’s Creed Mirage, Far Cry 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Crimson Useless Redemption II, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
The MSI Raider 18 HX AI and the HP Omen Max 16 every price practically $1,500 extra, but the Strix G18 outperforms each (particularly the Omen). If you happen to’ve obtained the finances for a high-end gaming laptop computer like this, the Strix G18 may very well be among the finest bang to your buck on the market.
Click on to view chart knowledge in desk format.
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Strix G815 |
Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) |
HP Omen Max 16 |
MSI Raider 18 HX AI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
3DMark Hearth Strike Extremely (Increased is best) |
13,074 |
10,794 |
12,374 |
13,865 |
|
3DMark Time Spy Excessive (Increased is best) |
10,227 |
8,577 |
10,100 |
10,050 |
|
Murderer’s Creed Mirage (1080p) |
154 |
132 |
137 |
153 |
|
Black Fantasy: Wukong (Cinematic, 1080p) |
53 |
53 |
51 |
79 |
|
Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p) |
59.8 |
53.75 |
58 |
64.48 |
|
Far Cry 6 (1080p) |
120 |
143 |
109 |
118 |
|
Monster Hunter Wilds (1080p) |
81.78 |
69.2 |
76.5 |
80.94 |
|
Crimson Useless Redemption II (Extremely, 1080p) |
74.9 |
51.69 |
Row 7 – Cell 3 |
59.16 |
|
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (1080p) |
187 |
151 |
175 |
183 |
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): AI options
Whereas AI won’t be a prime concern when selecting a gaming laptop computer, it is value noting that the Asus ROG Strix G18 comes with the Microsoft Copilot AI assistant pre-installed and has a devoted Copilot key on the keyboard.
The Copilot app contains fundamental generative AI options like textual content and picture technology. Copilot additionally powers Home windows Studio Results, which makes use of AI to reinforce your webcam video high quality.
Whereas these AI options is likely to be good sometimes, many players will in all probability be pissed off that the Copilot key replaces the appropriate management key. Fortunately, there are workarounds to remap the Copilot key so it capabilities like a traditional proper management key as an alternative, however it could nonetheless be an unwelcome change for some.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Webcam
Laptop computer webcams normally disappoint me, and sadly, that features the Asus ROG Strix G18. The built-in 1080p FHD webcam is not as sharp as its decision suggests, with visibly grainy, blurry video high quality that lacks element and struggles to correctly stability shadows and highlights. It is effective for informal duties like Zoom conferences or Discord calls, however if you wish to use the digicam for something extra, you will be higher off with one of many finest webcams.
With that stated, the built-in mic is fairly good. It captured my voice effectively and did an excellent job of blocking out the background noise from my air conditioner. The standard is greater than sufficient for in-game voice chat and different informal makes use of.
Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Software program and guarantee
The Strix G18 comes with Home windows 11 House and contains the usual suite of fundamental Microsoft apps like Microsoft Edge, the Microsoft Retailer, and the Xbox app. It additionally contains Armoury Crate, the place you’ll be able to see dwell system utilization knowledge, regulate your efficiency profiles and macros, and customise your RGB backlighting. The MyAsus app contains some comparable options, however primarily serves as a hub for operating system diagnostics and updates and viewing your settings.
The Strix G18 comes with Asus’s customary restricted 1-year guarantee.
Backside line
Why pay $1,000 extra for an RTX 5090 laptop computer when the Strix G18 presents aggressive efficiency for much less?
The Asus ROG Strix G18 delivers stellar efficiency throughout the board, even outpacing top-tier RTX 5090 laptops. The roomy 18-inch show and crisp audio high quality make for a very immersive gaming expertise that is robust to beat at this value. Why pay $1,000 extra for an RTX 5090 laptop computer when the Strix G18 presents aggressive efficiency for much less?
Whereas I had a good time gaming on the Strix G18, it might not be for everybody. If you happen to want one thing transportable, this isn’t the best choice. The 18-inch show is appropriate for gaming and watching films, however the G18 is just too giant to slot in most laptop computer baggage and is comparatively heavy, weighing over 7 kilos. A smaller 16, 15, and even 14-inch gaming laptop computer could be a a lot better match if portability is a priority for you.
Nonetheless, if you’d like a laptop computer that may successfully exchange your desktop PC, the Strix G18 may very well be the proper match. It’s also possible to go to our information to the finest gaming laptops to check it to much more options.
