There are so several fantastic premium gaming laptops accessible that this proved to be the most tough class to pick winners. We ended up with two, a single from Asus and 1 from Lenovo.
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 (2023) signifies a sizeable leap ahead in the realm of superior-effectiveness gaming laptops. This design, notably in its Core i9 and RTX 4080 variant, stands out for a blend of blistering efficiency, a aggressive price position, and an eye-catching mini LED display.
The 16-inch, 16:10 miniLED panel, which Asus likes to connect with the “ROG Nebula HDR” display, is a highlight. It presents a 240Hz refresh charge on the 2560×1600 display screen, quick reaction situations, 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, and 1,024 dimming zones. It can also get to around 1,100 nits of peak brightness, making sure great HDR overall performance. The vivid colours and brightness make it perfect for both of those gaming and media intake.
The refreshed semi-transparent design of the Scar 16 is as strong as ever, providing something that feels sound and well-designed if a small heavier than former designs. The chassis attributes blunted edges and corners that are person-welcoming, and the hinges make it possible for for straightforward display adjustments. It really is also coated in RGB lighting.
The ROG Strix Scar comes in two variations with the Nebula exhibit: just one with the RTX 4090 ($3,699.99) and the other with an RTX 4080 ($2,899.99). Both equally pack a 13th-Gen Main i9-13980HX, and you can increase up to 64GB of RAM, far too the functionality on present below is monstrous. A considerably less costly variation with out the miniLED screen (FHD 165Hz) is supplied with an RTX 4070 for drastically significantly less ($1699), while nonetheless retaining the identical Core i9 chip.
There are also loads of connectivity solutions, such as Thunderbolt 4 assistance, even though the ports are only on the sides as the rear is reserved for cooling. Other reasons to obtain consist of a Dolby Atmos quad-speaker technique, a digital numeric keypad on the trackpad, superior battery daily life for a gaming laptop, and a crafted-in array microphone.
Some a lot less-welcome features consist of the Strix obtaining rather toasty just after prolonged use. It also lacks biometrics options like an IR camera or fingerprint sensor, and the 4080/4090-only products are quite high priced.
However, that breathtaking display screen, cool structure, major-tier functionality, and strong construct excellent make the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 an excellent decision for those people who want a accurate gaming laptop computer.
A Worthy Joint Winner
Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (Gen8)
If you want a 16-inch notebook that delivers a comparable configuration as the Strix with a considerably less extravagant design and can dwell without having the miniLED display, check out out the Lenovo Legion Professional 7i (Gen 8). Like the Asus, the Legion can be specced with up to an RTX 4090, while all models come with an Intel Main i9-13900HX processor.
Where the two devices differ most is the display screen. The Legion has the exact 2560×1600 (WQXGA, 16:10) resolution combined with a 240Hz refresh charge, and it does seem great. But the 500 nits brightness and HDR 400 certification illustrate how it are unable to review to the Strix’s stunning miniLED display screen.
At the time of writing, the $2,849 value of the RTX 4080 product has been minimized to $2,249, so it is excellent benefit. It also has a far more grown-up design, even with more than enough RGB lighting to fulfill followers.
Other attributes include things like the Coldfront 5. thermal tech, Lenovo’s standard exceptional keyboard, and an capacity to squeeze so a great deal functionality out of the RTX 4080 (150W TGP) that it can match some RTX 4090-run laptops when it will come to framerates.
The battery daily life could be on the weaker side, but the electric power and aggressive selling price of the Legion Pro 7i make it a worthy joint winner.