Gaming laptops are commonplace today, however not all of those pricier, extra highly effective PC options are price paying a premium for. To my delight, that is not the case with the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, which manages to face out from the group due to a fully good show and the most recent power-packed {hardware}. There isn’t a lot to complain about, and if in case you have a couple of thousand {dollars} to drop, that is the gaming laptop computer to beat.
It is massive, however not outsized
One of many first issues that you just’ll discover concerning the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is simply how massive it’s, although it by no means feels outsized. Regardless of the 18-inch display screen measurement and a chassis massive sufficient to suit a ton of souped-up {hardware} that would not match right into a slimmer and extra fashionable design, the laptop computer truly does an incredible job of managing its measurement and weight.
Regardless of its massive footprint, the ROG Strix Scar 18 solely weighs in at 6.77 kilos. That appears like quite a bit, particularly in comparison with the burden of my regular each day driver, a MacBook Air 15-inch that weighs roughly half as a lot, however we’re additionally speaking a couple of gaming machine with much more oomph, due to the Thirteenth-Gen Core i9 processor and the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 strapped inside.
The 18-inch 2560 x 1600 IPS show is a giant a part of that measurement equation, however it isn’t onerous to justify the related further weight (and value) when you get a very good have a look at it. Not solely is it 2K decision, however the show is brilliantly coloured and gives a blazing 240Hz refresh fee.
All issues thought-about, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 isn’t a really moveable laptop computer. You may actually tote it round, however the nearly 7-pound physique, in addition to the hefty energy brick required to cost it, make it a bit an excessive amount of to deal with—however that’s more likely to be an issue with any laptop computer with a big show, and this one feels trim in comparison with its capabilities.
Killer specs justify the burden (and the associated fee)
Should you’re anxious that weight will not be price it, the specs would possibly change your thoughts. The actual variation I examined runs to round $4,000 and a few change, based mostly on my finest estimates after fidgeting with the customization instruments on Asus’ web site.
For $4,000, a gaming laptop computer has to ship a whole lot of efficiency to make it price buying. This one undoubtedly does. Listed below are the specs for the system that I examined out, however you’ll be able to decide and select from the configurable choices on the Asus web site.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 specs:
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Processor: Intel Core i9-14900HX at 2.20 Ghz
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Ram: 32GB
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Drive kind: SSD
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Display Dimension: 18 inches
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Decision: 2560 x 1600
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Panel kind: IPS
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Refresh fee: 2560 x 1600
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Variable refresh assist: G-Sync
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GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090
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Graphics reminiscence: 16GB
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Wi-fi: 802.11ax, Bluetooth 5.2
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Weight: 6.77 lbs
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OS: Home windows 11 Professional
Asus has loaded this laptop computer up with all the things you must reach any recreation that you just throw at it. With a gaming laptop computer like this, efficiency isn’t a problem—and it seemingly gained’t be for a very good few years. That’s a pleasant perk if you’re spending this a lot. The ROG Strix Scar 18 additionally comes geared up with two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, in addition to a microphone port.
Plastic in all places
Regardless of my reward of the burden and the specs, there may be one facet of the ROG Strix Scar 18 I do not love: There’s simply a lot plastic. I get it; constructing a high-powered gaming laptop computer geared up with all the most recent and biggest {hardware} whereas balancing supplies value and weight has received to be a problem. Nevertheless, Asus depends on plastic for just about each seen part of the ROG Strix Scar 18.
Credit score: Joshua Hawkins
It’s a very disappointing transfer, particularly contemplating the prices we’re speaking about, and the truth that extra steel is utilized in different equally priced laptops, resembling the brand new MacBook Execs. (No, the MacBook Professional isn’t precisely a “gaming machine,” however it does fall into the identical high-powered class of laptops.)
The good factor, no less than, is that the plastic doesn’t really feel low cost. The outside of is roofed from prime to backside with RGB and each actual and faux grilles for the cooling system. It offers the machine a novel look that screams “I’m a gamer” (which might be a plus or minus, relying in your perspective). Personally, I’m enamored of easier, extra understated design language, however not everyone seems to be like me, and Asus has at all times tended to favor a little bit of a aptitude with regards to its ROG lineup.
These quibbles apart, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 nonetheless looks like a premium system in all of the vital methods. The keyboard is easy to kind on, and gaming on it’s a dream. Even the trackpad performs nicely, although severe players will certainly need to go for a correct gaming mouse.
Efficiency and battery life
As you’d count on from a laptop computer as packed to the brim as this, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is an absolute beast. I examined it with a number of video games, together with Cyberpunk 2077, Star Citizen, and Helldivers 2, all of which carried out exceptionally nicely, which is not at all times the case—particularly with a title as resource-intensive as Star Citizen.
Credit score: Joshua Hawkins
I by no means skilled dips in efficiency whereas gaming, and I used to be simply in a position to join my SteelSeries headset with out situation, permitting me to staff up with my buddies on Discord. I examined on-line gaming principally by way of wifi, and the connection was at all times secure and speedy. Whereas working the Strix Scar 18 related to an exterior 4K monitor, I used to be in a position to get implausible efficiency even with probably the most demanding video games.
The tradeoff for all that energy is battery life. This factor sucks up a whole lot of juice, and if you happen to’re not working it in one of many decrease energy modes—like balanced or energy saver—then you definitely’re going to wish to prime up usually. Working solely on the battery, I used to be in a position to play Cyberpunk 2077 for simply over two and a half hours earlier than I began having to search for an outlet. Should you actually need to eke extra out of the battery, you’ll need to fiddle with the settings—however I wished to see how onerous I might push it throughout my assessments.
If you’re not gamily, the efficiency is extra typical. Our buddies at PCMag have performed an intensive breakdown of the battery, and report the machine can run for round 8 hours if you stick with video playback.
The underside line
When all is alleged and executed, I am very impressed with the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. Yeah, the design selections could be lower than stellar—I actually want there was extra steel within the construct—however it by no means looks like the worth tag is lower than justified both.
Battery life might be higher, however that show is beautiful, and the {hardware} packed into even the most cost effective variant is greater than sufficient to maintain you gaming at top-level settings for years. Nevertheless, if you happen to do plan to put money into a ROG Strix Scar 18, I like to recommend splurging just a little on extra RAM and extra inside storage.
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 begins at $3,587 on Amazon, with the worth various based mostly in your alternative of storage and RAM.
