ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) Review: Power Meets Portability

The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is ASUS’s latest offering in the high-performance gaming laptop market, combining powerful specs with a sleek design. This review will explore its key features, performance, and overall value proposition.

Design and Build

The Zephyrus G16 boasts a refined aesthetic with its precision-machined aluminum alloy chassis and elegant matte finish. Available in “Eclipse Gray,” the laptop strikes a balance between understated luxury and modern design. A standout feature is the customizable “Slash Lighting” on the rear, offering five lighting modes that can sync with music or respond to gaming scenarios.

Weighing 1.85 kg and measuring just 1.49 cm thick, the G16 maintains impressive portability for its performance class. However, the finish is prone to fingerprints and smudges, requiring regular cleaning. The 16-inch OLED display is a highlight, featuring ASUS’s Nebula display technology. With a 2560×1600 (2.5K) resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage, it delivers exceptional visual quality for both gaming and content creation.

Software

The Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes pre-installed with ASUS’s Armoury Crate software, a comprehensive system control and customization suite. Accessible via a dedicated M4 key, Armoury Crate serves as a central hub for managing various aspects of the laptop:

• Performance Presets: Users can switch between different performance modes to balance power and efficiency.
• Hardware Monitoring: Real-time tracking of processor, graphics card, and memory status.
• RGB Lighting Control: Customization of the “Slash Lighting” and keyboard backlighting through Aura Sync.
• Fan and Power Management: On-the-fly adjustment of fan speeds, power supply, and cooling characteristics.

Performance

Powered by an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 laptop GPU, the Zephyrus G16 offers robust performance for gaming and multitasking. It comes with 32GB of LPDDR5X memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, providing ample speed and storage.

In benchmarks and real-world gaming tests, the laptop demonstrated strong capabilities:

• 3DMark: Score of 9777 (up to 10841)
• PCMark 10: Score of 4460
• Cinebench R23: Multi-core score of 12664, Single-core score of 739

The laptop also excelled in the Black Myth: Wukong benchmark tool, a demanding test that pushes modern hardware to its limits. At a borderless resolution of 2560 x 1600 with high graphic settings and DLSS upscaling and frame generation enabled, the Zephyrus G16 achieved an impressive average frame rate of 64 FPS.

Gaming performance varied by title:

• Apex Legends: Maintained 120-140 FPS at high settings, providing smooth gameplay for fast-paced action.
• Tekken 8: Delivered a consistent 50-60 FPS at the highest settings, ensuring fluid fighting game experience.
• Elden Ring: Achieved 40-50 FPS at high settings, with occasional dips to 34 FPS in demanding scenes.

During these gaming tests, GPU temperatures were monitored. After approximately 30 minutes of gameplay, temperatures reached 73°C for Apex Legends, 67°C for Tekken 8, and 74°C for Elden Ring. While these temperatures are within operational limits, they indicate that the cooling system is working hard to maintain performance during extended gaming sessions.

Input, Output, and Connectivity Features

The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) offers a comprehensive suite of features for user interaction and connectivity. Its keyboard features a unique layout without a number pad, sporting 1-Zone RGB backlit Chiclet keys, a dedicated Windows 11 Copilot key, and an AURA key for syncing ROG peripherals. The large, smooth touchpad enhances productivity and user comfort.

Audio quality is impressive, thanks to a four-speaker system with dual subwoofers and tweeters supporting Dolby Atmos, delivering clear midrange and meaningful bass. For video conferencing and security, the laptop is equipped with a 1080P FHD IR camera that supports Windows Hello facial recognition.

Connectivity options are plentiful, including an HDMI 2.1 port for high-resolution external displays, USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C ports, and a high-speed USB 4 Type-C port offering 40Gbps data transfer, DisplayPort functionality, and power delivery. Content creators will appreciate the inclusion of an SD Express 7.0 card slot for high-capacity storage cards.

Battery and Cooling

The Zephyrus G16 is equipped with a large 90Wh battery, offering approximately 5 hours of light usage. It supports fast charging, capable of reaching 50% charge in just 30 minutes, which is particularly useful for users on the go.

The cooling system features second-generation Arc Flow Fans, designed to optimize airflow and thermal management for the high-performance components. The laptop incorporates dual exhaust vents – one located near the rubber feet on the underside for downward air expulsion, and another at the rear of the chassis.

However, the cooling system’s performance under heavy loads is a point of consideration. During intensive gaming sessions, the laptop’s sides can become quite hot, and the cooling fans can produce noticeable noise. In testing, GPU temperatures reached up to 74°C during extended gaming sessions, indicating significant thermal output. While these temperatures are within operational limits, they suggest that the cooling system is working hard to maintain performance, which could potentially impact long-term comfort during extended use and the overall lifespan of the components.

Conclusion

The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is a versatile gaming laptop that balances high performance with portability. It excels in display quality, audio performance, and overall versatility, making it suitable for gaming, creative work, and everyday use.

However, the laptop is not without its considerations. The cooling system, while adequate, shows signs of strain under heavy loads, with temperatures rising significantly during intense gaming sessions. This could potentially impact long-term performance and user comfort during extended use. Additionally, the laptop’s finish is prone to fingerprints and smudges, requiring regular maintenance to keep it looking pristine.

In the context of the current high-end laptop market, the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) positions itself as a strong contender. Ultimately, the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) succeeds in its goal of being a versatile, high-performance laptop. It’s equally at home running the latest games, handling content creation tasks, or serving as a powerful workstation for everyday use. Despite minor drawbacks in thermal management under heavy loads, the laptop’s strengths in display quality, audio performance, processing power, and overall design make it a worthy investment for those seeking a premium gaming and productivity experience in a portable package.

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