ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)

ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023)

Manufacturer	ASUS
Product family	ROG Strix
Release date	January 2023 (2023-01)
Introductory price	USD 1999
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core i7-13650HX Intel Core i9-13980HX
Memory	16 (2x8) or 32 (2x16) GB DDR5-4800 Mhz SODIMM (supports up to 64 GB)
Memory slots	2 user accessible
Storage	512 GB or 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Display	Screen size: 16 inch Panel type: IPS Coating: Matte (anti-glare) Resolution: 2560 x 1600 Pixel density
Graphics	Intel UHD Graphics Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop 6 GB GDDR6 140 W w/ Advanced optimus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 140 W w/ Advanced optimus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 140 W w/ Advanced optimus
Sound	2 x stereo speakers w/ Smart Amplifier Technology, Dolby Atmos support
Camera	Front: 720p HD camera
Touchpad	Glass-covered, 5.12 inches (13.0 cm) x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm)
Connectivity	Intel AX211 WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, DP 1.4, PD) 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (Type-C, DP 1.4) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x Ethernet (2.5 Gbps) 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack
Dimensions	W: 14.1 inches (36 cm) D: 10.2 inches (26 cm) H: 1.1 inches (2.8 cm)
Mass	5.5 pounds (2.5 kg)
Power brick	280W AC adapter
Battery	4 cell Li-Polymer 90 Wh
Keyboard	Per-key RGB backlit, black (US) Standard full size layout
Chassis	Color: Eclipse gray Materials: Aluminum lid; Plastic palm rest, sides and bottom cover Cooling: 3 fans, 7 heatpipes, Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on CPU
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	No
Website	ASUS

All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.

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   The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2023) is a mid-range gaming laptop equipped with Intel 13th gen HX series mobile processors and Nvidia Geforce RTX 4000 series mobile GPUs. Available configurations vary by store and location. The Strix G16 is positioned as a powerful yet affordable option for gamers, offering a balance between performance and price.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The ROG Strix G16 (2023) can come with the following processors:

• Intel Core i7-13650HX with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 4.9 Ghz for P-cores and 3.5 Ghz for E-cores.
• Intel Core i9-13980HX with 24 cores (8 P-cores + 16 E-cores) and 32 threads, 36 MB cache and max frequency of 5.6 Ghz for P-cores and 4.0 Ghz for E-cores.

ASUS supplies the processors with sufficient power and cooling for CPU-intensive tasks resulting in average to above-average performance compared to other laptops with the same processors. In CPU-only tasks, SKUs with the i7-13650HX and i9-13980HX perform as expected. SKUs with i9-13980HX perform impressively well - scoring on average 9-10% higher than the average i9-13980HX and only 5% behind the average i9-14900HX. Performance sustainability is good but not perfect, with all processors losing about 5% performance in long stress tests.

ASUS also supplies the processor with sufficient power in mixed CPU and GPU tasks like gaming leading to noticeably better performance than competitors with the same configurations. In particular, the SKU with i9-13980HX and RTX 4070 performs better than most other laptops with this configuration and is only 10% behind the Pro 5i with i9-14900HX and RTX 4070.

All SKUs lose a significant amount of CPU performance when running on the battery.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • i9-13980HX: ~2126 pts (single-core), ~30305 pts (multi-core)
  • i7-13650HX: ~2067 pts (single-core), ~18227 pts (multi-core)

Graphics

In addition to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics, the ROG Strix G16 (2023) ships with the following discrete GPUs:

• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU with 6 GB GDDR6 memory, 2420 Mhz boost clock, and 140 W Total Graphics Power (TGP).
• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2420 Mhz boost clock, and 140 W TGP.
• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2225 Mhz boost clock, and 140 W TGP.

All configurations support Advanced Optimus, DLSS 3.5, Dynamic Boost 2.0, VR ready, and DirectX® 12 Ultimate technologies.

ASUS supplies all GPUs configurations with 140 W of max power even though RTX 4050, 4060, and 4070 get diminishing returns beyond 100W. Nevertheless, in GPU-only benchmarks, SKUs with RTX 4060 perform slightly above average while SKUs with RTX 4070 perform impressively with results that are up to 15% faster than the average laptop RTX 4070.

In gaming, the RTX 4060 SKUs with the i7-13650HX perform significantly better than the competition with the same GPU and are just 10% behind the RTX 4070 Pro 5i with the better i9-13980HX CPU. The RTX 4070 and i9-13980HX SKU also perform above average and outperform laptops with the same 140W RTX 4070 configured with a lower power processor.

All SKUs lose a significant amount of graphics performance when running on the battery.

Benchmarks:

• 3D Mark TimeSpy 2560 x 1440:
  • RTX 4060: ~11381 pts
  • RTX 4070: ~13500 pts
• 3D Mark Fire Strike 1920 x 1080:
  • RTX 4060: ~24308 pts
  • RTX 4070: ~31000 pts
• The Witcher 3 1920 x 1080 Ultra HBAO+:
  • i9-13980HX and RTX 4070: ~175 fps
  • i7-13650HX and RTX 4060: ~155 fps

Memory

The Intel HM770 chipset used in the ROG Strix G16 supports a maximum of 2 SO-DIMM sticks and the 13th Generation Intel HX processors support up to 64 GB DDR5-4800Mhz memory. The maximum available capacity currently DDR5 SO-DIMM is 32 GB 4800 Mhz, therefore the ROG Strix G16 can support maximum 64 GB DDR5 4800 Mhz memory.

Pre-configured SKUs come with either 16 GB (2 x 8) DDR5-4800 or 32 GB (2 x 16) DDR5-4800 Memory. These sticks perform identically even when paired with different CPUs.

Benchmarks:

• PassMark 10: ~7301 pts (Memory: 3237 pts)

Storage

The ROG Strix G16 can ship with 512 GB or 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD depending on the seller. The OEM SSD only uses 1 slot in all configurations leaving the other slot open for upgrades.

Reviews of the i9 13980HX + RTX 4070 and i7 13650HX + RTX 4060 SKUs note that both came with the Micron 2400 1 TB SSD which provides fast load times and ample storage for games and applications. The SSD performs adequately but does not match the speeds of the fastest drives in the market.

Benchmarks:

• PCMark 10: ~8016 pts (Disk Mark: 24392 pts)
• AS SSD Total Score: ~5610 pts
  • SEQ1M Q8T1 (Sequential 1MB blocks): ~4308 MB/s (read), ~2890 MB/s (write)
  • RND4K Q1T1 (Random 4 KB blocks): ~58 MB/s (read), ~220 MB/s (write)

Co-processors

The ROG Strix G16 does not have a dedicated NPU to accelerate AI applications.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The ROG Strix G16 comes with a standard keyboard layout with full size arrow keys and no number pad. The keyboard offers 1.9 mm travel and per-key RGB backlighting. The RGB backlight can be customized using the Armoury Crate software. The keyboard also includes extra keys above the keyboard for volume adjustment, mic muting, performance mode changes, and opening Armoury Crate.

The typing experience is considered good with a nice clicky feel, making typing enjoyable. However, the short right shift key may annoy some users.

Touchpad

The ROG Strix G16 comes with a glass-covered clickpad that measures 5.12 inches (13.0 cm) x 3.5 inches (8.9 cm).

The touchpad is large and spacious, providing a reasonable level of responsiveness and support for multi-touch gestures. It is suitable for occasional use and provides a satisfactory experience for general navigation.

Webcam

The ROG Strix G16 comes with a 720p HD camera without IR for Windows Hello.

The webcam quality is average, with low light causing a considerable increase in background noise. The image quality is not competitive with other laptops in the same class, making it a downside for video calls and streaming.

Microphone

The ROG Strix G16 comes with a built-in array microphone with AI noise-canceling technology.

The microphone quality is adequate for basic use, but not exceptional.

Output Devices

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Display

ASUS ships the ROG Strix G16 with the following display:

• 16 inch, 2560 x 1600, 16:10, IPS, 500 Nits, anti-glare (matte), 100 % sRGB, 240 Hz, 100% DCI-P3, 3ms response time, G-Sync

The display offers good brightness and decent contrast, suitable for gaming and media consumption. It features a matte non-glare finish, making it well-suited for outdoor or bright office space use. The panel gets fairly bright, though it did not reach ASUS's claimed 500 nits. The Armory Crate software has panel overdrive enabled by default, resulting in a 3.7ms average grey-to-grey response time, which is below the 4.17ms needed for transitions within the 240Hz refresh window.

Benchmarks:

• Coverage: 99.8% sRGB, 83.8% AdobeRGB, 98.1% DCI-P3
• Max brightness: 480.88 cd/m2
• Min brightness: 24.95 cd/m2
• Contrast at max brightness: 1074:1
• PWM: No

Audio

The ROG Strix G16 comes with two bottom-facing speakers near front corners in stereo configuration.

The speakers provide a rich sound experience, although vocals in lower tonal ranges may sound hollow due to the downward-facing design. Dolby Atmos support enhances the audio experience, especially in gaming and cinematic scenarios.

Connectivity

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WiFi

ASUS equips the ROG Strix G16 with an Intel AX211 WiFi 6E WLAN module.

The WiFi performance is good, with reliable connectivity and fast data transfer rates.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit: ~1586 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive: ~1890 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The ROG Strix G16 comes with a Bluetooth 5.3 module.

SD Card Reader

ASUS does not include an SD card reader with the ROG Strix G16.

USB

ASUS equips the ROG Strix G16 with the following USB ports:

• 1 x USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps) with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery
• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) with DisplayPort 1.4
• 2 x USB-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2, 10 Gbps)
• 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack

The USB ports provide ample connectivity options for peripherals and external devices, enhancing the laptop's versatility.

Display Outputs

The ROG Strix G16 comes with 3 display outputs:

• 1 x USB-C with DisplayPort 1.4
• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 with DisplayPort 1.4
• 1 x HDMI 2.1

The HDMI 2.1 port allows for high refresh rate output to external displays, making it suitable for gaming on larger screens.

Case

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The ROG Strix G16 (2023) is available in an eclipse gray finish. The chassis features a mix of plastic and metal, with a cyberpunk aesthetic that appeals to gamers. The lid is made out of aluminum, while the keyboard deck and bottom cover are made out of plastic. The lid opens to the full 180 degrees, and the design allows for easy one-finger opening. However, there is a noise from the left hinge when opening and closing, which may indicate potential long-term issues.

The overall build quality feels great, and the design is sturdy with minimal flex. The materials used help with weight reduction and cooling. The laptop is more stable than previous models, but the overall quality could be improved, as there are visible gaps and some excessive elements.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel is held on by 11 screws, with shorter screws at the front to keep track of. The baseplate is relatively easy to open, allowing for upgrades and maintenance.

Upgradeable components:

• 90 WHr battery.
• Two M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSDs (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).
• Two DDR5-4800 SODIMMs (most configurations only have one slot filled from the factory).
• M.2 2230 wireless card.

Cooling System

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The ROG Strix G16 is equipped with a tri-fan cooling system with seven heat pipes and Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on the CPU. The system intakes air from the side and bottom grilles and exhausts air through the back grilles.

Heat

Surface temperatures vary depending on the configuration.

The i7-13650HX + RTX 4060 SKU gets quite warm while idling, up to 39 °C on the bottom of the device. The left side with the WASD keys heats up more than the right side. Under heavy load, there is a hot spot of 57 °C on the bottom.

The i9-13980HX + RTX 4070 SKU is slightly cooler while idling across all areas, reaching up to 36 °C on the bottom. The palm rest and the WASD keys remain comfortable during intensive tasks.

Benchmarks:

• i7-13650HX + 4060:
  • Maximum upper side: ~43 °C
  • Maximum bottom: ~50 °C
  • Idle upper side: ~30 °C
  • Idle bottom: ~34 °C
• i9-13980HX + 4070:
  • Maximum upper side: ~44 °C
  • Maximum bottom: ~55 °C
  • Idle upper side: ~33 °C
  • Idle bottom: ~36 °C

Noise

There is no electronic noise or coil whine. The laptop is effectively silent during undemanding loads like light browsing or video playback, hovering below 30 dB(A). During intensive tasks, the fans quickly ramp up even when set to balanced mode. Fan noise while gaming in balanced mode is identical to performance mode despite temperatures being noticeably lower in balanced mode. During intensive tasks, the laptop emits noise above 50 db(A) and is louder than most other gaming laptops. Most variants emit the same amount of noise with more powerful configurations being slightly louder.

Benchmarks:

• i7-13650HX + RTX 4060:
  • Load: > 50 db(A)
• i9-13980HX + RTX 4070:
  • Idle: ~24 db(A) (min), ~24 db(A) (avg), ~29 db(A) (max)
  • Load: ~46 db(A) (avg), ~57 db(A) (max)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The ROG Strix G16 ships with a large 280 W AC adapter.

ASUS remains very liberal with the power supplied to the CPU during combined CPU and GPU loads. Both the i7-13650HX + RTX 4060 and i9-13980HX + RTX 4070 SKUs consume around 220 W during load with temporary spikes to around 290 W.

The i7-13650HX + RTX 4060 Legion draws around 50 W when idling for the most part, reducing to 15-20 W after waiting a very long time and any minor input brings the consumption back up to 50 W.

Battery Life

All ROG Strix G16 SKUs come with a 90 WHr Li-Polymer battery that ASUS claims can charge from 0-50 % in 30 mins using the provided power adapter.

The battery life during light tasks is slightly below average for this class of laptop. Many competitors now include 90+ Whr batteries. Reviews verify the charging claims to be accurate.

Benchmarks:

• i7-13650HX + RTX 4060:
  • WiFi Browsing (150 nits): 300 minutes
  • Load: 110 minutes
• i9-13980HX + RTX 4070:
  • WiFi Browsing (150 nits): 290 minutes
  • Load (max brightness): 70 minutes

Biometrics

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The ROG Strix G16 does not support Windows Hello face recognition and does not have a fingerprint reader.

Software

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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Home but the laptop can be upgraded to Windows 11 Pro, either manually or when buying directly from ASUS.

Preinstalled Software

Armoury Crate

The Armoury Crate program acts as the primary control center in the ROG Strix G16. In addition to the performance profiles, the program also handles keyboard lighting macro keys, hardware troubleshooting, always on USB settings, toggling flip to start (opening the lid starts the laptop), battery conservation mode (limit charge to 80 %), MUX switch, system updates and other things.

There are three preset performance profiles - quiet, balanced and performance. ASUS supports adding an AI engine in balanced mode that automatically adjusts system parameters based on the context. There is also a customized mode where the user can manually set various parameters.

Most reviewers use performance mode for performance benchmarks and quiet mode for the battery tests unless otherwise stated.

MyASUS

The MyASUS software provides battery care mode and other system management features.

Other Preinstalled Software

The ROG Strix G16 also comes with other less useful software like a 1-month trial for new Microsoft 365 customers and a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial.

Linux Support

The ROG Strix G16 has limited Linux support. The keyboard, touchpad, camera, ethernet, and Wi-Fi worked fine, but speakers did not function. Keyboard shortcuts for adjusting screen brightness and RGB lighting brightness worked, but the Aura key did not change the effect off the default rainbow.

Accessories & Warranty

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The ROG Strix G16 comes with a 280 W AC adapter and paperwork.

There is one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The ROG Strix G16 is considered one of the best gaming laptops at its price with high CPU and GPU performance relative to competitors. Often found under $2000, the Strix G16 is suitable for people looking for a high performance gaming laptop without breaking the bank. The laptop also comes with a decent screen for gaming and is highly upgradeable. The primary downsides are the poor battery life, large size and weight which make it unsuitable for portable use away from an outlet for a long time.

Problems Summary

• No SD card reader.
• Below average speakers given the form factor.
• Plastic touchpad does not provide the best tracking experience.
• High idle power consumption
• Higher than average surface temperatures while idling and during intensive tasks.
• Below average battery life.
• Heavy
• Large size

Links

i7-13650HX, RTX 4060, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: JarrodsTech,

i9-13980HX, RTX 4070, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: TomsHardware

i9-13980HX, RTX 4070, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: NotebookCheck

i9-13980HX, RTX 4060, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: UltrabookReview