ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 GU605/GA605 (2024)

Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)

Manufacturer	Asus
Product family	ROG Zephyrus
Release date	January 2024 (2024-01)
Introductory price	USD 3299
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Home Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core Ultra 7 155H Intel Core Ultra 9 185H
Memory	16 GB or 32 GB LPDDR5X-7467 (soldered)
Memory slots	None (soldered)
Storage	1 TB, 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Removable storage	1 x SD card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s)
Display	Screen size: 16 inch Panel type: OLED Coating: Glossy (anti-reflection coating) Resolution: 2560 x 1600 PPI: 189 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 240 Hz Brightness: 400 to 500 Nits Contrast Ratio
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 105 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12 GB GDDR6 115 W w/ Dynamic Boost Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 115 W w/ Dynamic Boost
Sound	4-speaker (dual force woofer) system with Smart Amplifier Technology, 2 Tweeters Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification (for headphone)
Camera	Front: 1080p FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello
Touchpad	Glass, 5.9 inches (15 cm) x 3.9 inches (9.9 cm)
Connectivity	Intel AX211 WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-A) 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (DP 1.4, PD) 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 (Type-C, DP 1.4, PD) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x SD card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s)
Power brick	240W slim AC adapter
Battery	4 cell Li-Polymer 90 Wh
Keyboard	1-zone RGB backlit
Chassis	Color: Eclipse Gray, Platinum White Materials: CNC milled aluminum chassis Cooling: Vapor chamber cooling system (RTX 4080/4090), third fan (RTX 4060/4070)
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	Yes (Windows Hello)
Predecessor	Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2023)
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.

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is a high-performance gaming laptop designed for gamers and creative professionals. It features Intel's latest Core Ultra processors and Nvidia's RTX 4000 series GPUs, housed in a premium CNC milled aluminum chassis. The laptop is available in Eclipse Gray and Platinum White colors and offers a variety of configurations to suit different performance needs.

Since there are significant changes in design when compared to previous Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 models, an alternative name as Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 air is used in some regions (e.g., Chinese market refer the 2024 model as ROG 幻16 air).

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) can be configured with the following processors:

• Intel Core Ultra 7 155H with 16 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores + 2 AI NPU cores) and 22 threads, 24 MB cache, and a max frequency of 4.8 Ghz.
• Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with 16 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores + 2 AI NPU cores) and 22 threads, 24 MB cache, and a max frequency of 5.1 Ghz.

The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor is designed for high performance in both gaming and content creation tasks. It features six performance cores, eight efficiency cores, and two high-efficiency AI NPU cores. The processor is highly efficient, with a focus on low power consumption and high performance. However, some reviews note a slight reduction in CPU performance compared to previous models, with Cinebench R23 scores around 19,200, compared to over 20,000 in the previous model.

The Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor also offers good multi-core performance but shows no significant improvement over Raptor Lake processors. It has slightly weaker single-core performance, with Cinebench R23 Multi scores of 17,267 points and Single scores of 1,681 points.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • Intel Core Ultra 9 185H: ~19,200 pts (multi-core)
  • Intel Core Ultra 7 155H: ~17,267 pts (multi-core), ~1,681 pts (single-core)

Graphics

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) can be configured with the following discrete GPUs:

• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 1655 MHz boost clock, and 105 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 1655 MHz boost clock, and 105 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU with 12 GB GDDR6 memory, 1970 MHz boost clock, and 115 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.
• Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with 16 GB GDDR6 memory, 1700 MHz boost clock, and 115 W TGP with Dynamic Boost.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU is praised for its excellent performance in QHD gaming, with average power consumption in most games ranging from 95-105 Watts. It achieves high scores in gaming benchmarks, with a Time Spy Graphics score of around 18,000, and can reach over 21,000 with V BIOS swapping. The RTX 4080 also performs well, offering 15-20 FPS more in games compared to an RTX 4070.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU is suitable for current games, with good performance and a MUX switch with Advanced Optimus. It achieves a 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics score of 26,568 points and a 3DMark Time Spy Graphics score of 10,989 points.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy:
  • RTX 4090: ~18,000 pts
  • RTX 4070: ~10,989 pts
• 3DMark Fire Strike:
  • RTX 4070: ~26,568 pts

Memory

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes with either 16 GB or 32 GB of LPDDR5X-7467 memory, soldered onto the motherboard and supporting dual-channel configuration. The memory is fast and efficient, but the lack of upgrade options is a downside.

The 16 GB LPDDR5X-7467 memory configuration achieves excellent benchmark results, with AIDA64 Memory Copy speeds of 89,414 MB/s, Read speeds of 86,576 MB/s, and Write speeds of 73,337 MB/s.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64:
  • Memory Copy: ~89,414 MB/s
  • Memory Read: ~86,576 MB/s
  • Memory Write: ~73,337 MB/s

Storage

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) can be configured with either a 1 TB or 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD. The laptop includes two slots for drives, one of which is empty, allowing for additional storage upgrades.

The 1 TB Western Digital SN560 SSD offers good transfer rates, up to 5 GB/s, and maintains performance under load. CrystalDiskMark benchmarks show Read speeds of 4,970 MB/s and Write speeds of 3,496 MB/s.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark:
  • SEQ1M Q8T1 (Sequential 1MB blocks): ~4,970 MB/s (read), ~3,496 MB/s (write)

Co-processors

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) includes Intel's AI Boost NPU, which boosts AI tasks like AI-generated images and Windows Co-Pilot.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a backlit chiclet keyboard with 1-zone RGB lighting and 1.7 mm key travel. The keyboard is praised for its comfortable typing experience and increased key cap size.

The keyboard offers good feel, but the backlighting could be brighter and more uniform.

Touchpad

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes with a large glass touchpad measuring 5.9 inches (15 cm) x 3.9 inches (9.9 cm). The touchpad is smooth, responsive, and well-received, though a haptic touchpad would have been preferred.

Webcam

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) includes a 1080p FHD IR camera for Windows Hello. The webcam performs well under good lighting conditions, with good color replication and detail. However, it requires a BIOS update for optimal performance.

Microphone

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a built-in 3-microphone array. Detailed performance evaluations are not provided in the reviews.

Output Devices

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Display

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a 16-inch OLED display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and a 240 Hz refresh rate. The display supports Dolby Vision HDR and is Pantone Validated with 100% DCI-P3 color gamut.

The display is highly praised for its color accuracy, brightness, and smoothness in gaming. It has a peak brightness of 500 nits and a contrast ratio of 118,000:1. However, there are concerns about screen burn-in and brightness compared to mini-LED displays.

Benchmarks:

• Brightness: ~400 to 500 nits
• Contrast Ratio: ~118,000:1

Audio

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a 4-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology and Dolby Atmos. The speakers include dual force woofers and tweeters.

The speakers are praised for their loud, clear mids and highs, and good bass. They can drown out fan noise during gaming and are considered almost on par with a MacBook Pro 16.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is equipped with an Intel AX211 WiFi 6E module. The WiFi performance is very good and stable, with iperf3 transmit speeds of 1,654 MBit/s and receive speeds of 1,600 MBit/s.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: ~1,654 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: ~1,600 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes with a Bluetooth 5.3 module.

SD Card Reader

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) includes a full-size SD card reader (UHS-II, 312MB/s). The inclusion of a full-size SD card reader is appreciated, with transfer rates around 80-90 MB/s.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum AS SSD Seq Read Test: ~120.8 MB/s

USB

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (support DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (support DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)

The port selection is considered great, with a good balance of options, supporting power delivery and eGPU enclosures.

Display Outputs

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) includes the following display outputs:

• 1 x HDMI 2.1 FRL
• 1 x Thunderbolt 4 (support DisplayPort 1.4)
• 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (support DisplayPort 1.4)

Thedisplay outputs are versatile and support high resolutions and refresh rates, making the laptop suitable for multi-monitor setups and high-definition content creation.

Case

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The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a CNC-milled aluminum chassis available in Eclipse Gray and Platinum White. The design is praised for its thinness, lightness, and premium feel. The laptop weighs between 4.08 pounds (1.85 kg) and 4.30 pounds (1.95 kg), and its dimensions are 13.94 inches (35.4 cm) x 9.69 inches (24.6 cm) x 0.59 inches (1.5 cm) to 0.69 inches (1.8 cm).

The build quality is high, with a durable coating that is less prone to fingerprints. However, the display is noted to be a bit wobbly.

Maintenance

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The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is designed to be user-friendly for maintenance and upgrades. The bottom panel is held on by T6 Torx screws, and there are two hidden screws beneath rubber covers. The laptop includes two slots for drives, one of which is empty, and a swappable Wi-Fi card.

Upgradeable components:

• Two M.2 PCIe 4.0 SSD slots (one empty in most configurations)
• Swappable Wi-Fi card
• Battery

The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, limiting upgradeability.

Cooling System

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The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features a sophisticated cooling system. Models with the RTX 4080 and RTX 4090 GPUs use a vapor chamber cooling system, while models with the RTX 4060 and RTX 4070 GPUs use conventional heat pipe cooling with three fans.

The cooling system is effective, keeping temperatures around 86-87°C during intensive tasks. The laptop manages heat well, with the keyboard remaining cool under load.

Heat

The laptop's heat management is praised, with good temperature results despite the thin case. The maximum temperature on the upper side is around 50.3 °C, and the maximum temperature on the bottom is around 48 °C.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum upper side: ~50.3 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~48 °C

Noise

The fan noise is noticeable even during everyday tasks, with uncomfortable noise levels at higher speeds. The laptop emits noise above 50 dB(A) during intensive tasks, but the loud speakers can drown out the fan noise during gaming.

Benchmarks:

• Quiet mode: ~41.5 dB(A)
• Performance mode: ~46.4 dB(A)
• Turbo mode: ~52.4 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) ships with a 240W AC adapter. The laptop supports USB-C power charging, making it versatile for different charging scenarios.

The power consumption varies depending on the content depicted, with around 120 watts while gaming and up to 170 watts during stress tests.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: ~8.3 - 12.8 watts
• Load: ~71.3 - 169.1 watts

Battery Life

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes with a 90 Wh Li-Polymer battery. The battery life is excellent, with up to 9.5 hours of YouTube playback and 10 hours or more for basic tasks.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: ~7h 15min
• WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: ~5h 45min
• Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: ~11h 11min
• Load (maximum brightness): ~1h 11min

Biometrics

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The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) features facial recognition via Windows Hello, supported by a 1080p FHD IR camera. The fingerprint scanner has been removed in favor of facial recognition.

Software

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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Home or Windows 11 Pro. The laptop includes a 1-month trial for new Microsoft 365 customers and a 3-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

Preinstalled Software

Armoury Crate

The Armoury Crate software acts as the primary control center for the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024). It handles performance profiles, system settings, and hardware monitoring.

MyAsus

The MyAsus software is used for system updates and hardware troubleshooting.

Other Preinstalled Software

The laptop also comes with Nvidia Studio drivers and other less useful software like a 30-day McAfee security trial.

Linux Support

Linux support details are not provided in the reviews.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) comes with a 240W AC adapter and paperwork.

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

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is considered a high-end gaming and multimedia laptop with a premium build quality and powerful performance. It is praised for its thin and light design, high-quality display, excellent speakers, and efficient cooling system. The primary drawbacks include the soldered RAM, slightly reduced CPU performance compared to previous models, and noticeable fan noise.

Problems Summary

• Soldered RAM, not upgradeable.
• Slight reduction in CPU performance compared to previous models.
• Noticeable fan noise during everyday tasks.
• Display is a bit wobbly.
• Concerns about screen burn-in and brightness compared to mini-LED displays.
• No Ethernet connection.

Community Reports

The following section has relaxed citation requirements. Contributors can add their own anecdotes to existing issues or create new ones with or without supporting evidence. Contributors are also encouraged to upload their own images or videos demonstrating the problem. Read more.

Heat Management

• Users reported high temperatures while gaming, with CPU temperatures reaching up to 89°C and GPU temperatures up to 81°C. This suggests potential cooling inefficiencies.

• One user mentioned experiencing thermal throttling, which was resolved by replacing the thermal paste.

• There are complaints about the noise from the third fan when it is at full blast, although some users find it manageable.

Poor Battery Life

• Several users expressed disappointment with the battery life, reporting only 2.5 to 3 hours of usage, which is significantly lower than expected for a laptop of this caliber.

Insufficient Soldered RAM

• The laptop comes with 16GB of RAM, which some users find insufficient, especially given the price point. Users noted high memory usage during multitasking, suggesting that 32GB should be the minimum for this model.

Fingerprint Magnet

• The Eclipse Gray model attracts fingerprints easily, which can be bothersome for users who prefer a cleaner look.

Slow Face Recognition

• The face recognition feature is reportedly slower compared to other devices, taking 3-4 seconds to recognize a face.

Poor Value and Availability

• While the design is praised for its sleekness and similarity to a MacBook, some users feel the lack of a touchscreen and the fingerprint issue detract from the overall experience.

• Some users wished for a touchscreen feature, especially considering the laptop's price point.

• Some users noted the high price and limited availability of certain models, such as the white version in the US, which can be a deterrent.

Good Port Selection

• Users appreciated the variety of ports available, reducing the need for dongles.

Keyboard Concerns

• Concerns were raised about the potential for the keyboard lettering to wear off over time, based on past experiences with similar models.

Relevant Links

This section can include sources that have not been cited in the article but are still deemed useful like community guides. Read more.

Gizmosliptech: Review of Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4090, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD variant.

MatthewMoniz: Review of Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4080, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD variant.

Notebookcheck: Review of Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4080, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD variant.