ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023)

ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023)

Manufacturer	ASUS
Product family	ROG Zephyrus
Release date	January 2023 (2023-01)
Introductory price	USD 3999
Discontinued	No
Operating system	Windows 11 Pro
CPU	Intel Core i9-13900H
Memory	32 GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM (supports up to 64 GB)
Memory slots	2 user accessible
Storage	2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage slots	2 user accessible
Removable storage	microSD card reader
Display	Screen size: 16 inch Panel type: Mini LED Coating: Anti-glare Resolution: 2560 x 1600 PPI: 189 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 240 Hz Brightness: 500 to 1100 Nits Contrast ratio: 950:1 to 100,000:1 DCI-P3: 100 % Adobe RGB: 97 % VRR: G-Sync Screen-to-body ratio: 92 %
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop 8 GB GDDR6 140 W w/ Advanced optimus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop 12 GB GDDR6 145 W w/ Advanced optimus Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop 16 GB GDDR6 145 W w/ Advanced optimus
Sound	2 x 2 W tweeter 2 x 2 W dual-force woofer w/ Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos
Camera	1080P FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello
Touchpad	Glass, 5.1 inches (13 cm) x 3.3 inches (8.4 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 (DP 1.4, PD) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack
Dimensions	W: 13.98 inches (35.5 cm) D: 9.69 inches (24.6 cm) H: 0.78 inches (2.0 cm) to 0.88 inches (2.2 cm)
Mass	4.4 pounds (2.0 kg)
Power brick	280W slim 3-pin proprietary AC adapter (US)
Battery	4 cell Li-Polymer 90 Wh
Keyboard	1 zone RGB backlit, black (US) Standard full size layout
Chassis	Color: Matte black Materials: Aluminum lid; Magnesium interior Cooling: Triple fan design with liquid metal cooling
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	No
Facial recognition	Yes
Predecessor	ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 (2022)
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 Zephyrus M16 (2023) is a high-end gaming laptop featuring the Intel 13th gen H series mobile processors and Nvidia Geforce RTX 4000 series mobile GPUs. Available configurations vary by store and location. The Zephyrus M16 is positioned as a premium gaming laptop with a focus on performance and display quality.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The Zephyrus M16 (2023) can come with the following processor:

• Intel Core i9-13900H with 14 cores (6 P-cores + 8 E-cores) and 20 threads, 24 MB cache and a max frequency of 5.4 Ghz for P-cores and 3.9 Ghz for E-cores.

ASUS supplies the processor with sufficient power and cooling for CPU-intensive tasks resulting in average to above-average performance compared to other laptops with the same processor. In CPU-only tasks, the i9-13900H performs as expected. The i9-13900H performs well in multi-core tasks, scoring 19,903 points in Cinebench R23 and 7,573 points in Cinebench R20.

The i9-13900H also performs well in mixed CPU and GPU tasks like gaming, maintaining stable performance without significant thermal throttling.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • i9-13900H: ~2023 pts (single-core), ~19903 pts (multi-core)
• Cinebench R20:
  • i9-13900H: ~788 pts (single-core), ~7573 pts (multi-core)
• Geekbench 5.5:
  • i9-13900H: ~2023 pts (single-core), ~20784 pts (multi-core)

Graphics

In addition to the integrated Intel UHD Graphics, the Zephyrus M16 (2023) ships with the following discrete GPUs:

• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with 8 GB GDDR6 memory, 2030 Mhz boost clock, and 140 W Total Graphics Power (TGP).
• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU with 12 GB GDDR6 memory, 1715 Mhz boost clock, and 145 W TGP.
• Nvidia Geforce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with 16 GB GDDR6 memory, 1505 Mhz boost clock, and 145 W TGP.

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

ASUS supplies all GPU configurations with sufficient power, resulting in above-average performance in GPU-only benchmarks. The RTX 4090, in particular, performs well, scoring 18,347 points in 3DMark Time Spy and 34,319 points in 3DMark Fire Strike.

In gaming, the RTX 4070 and RTX 4090 configurations perform well, maintaining stable frame rates in demanding games. The RTX 4090, for example, achieves 178 fps in The Witcher 3 at 1080p Ultra settings.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Time Spy:
  • RTX 4070: ~11,862 pts
  • RTX 4090: ~18,347 pts
• 3DMark Fire Strike:
  • RTX 4070: ~33,550 pts
  • RTX 4090: ~34,319 pts
• The Witcher 3 1920 x 1080 Ultra:
  • RTX 4090: ~178 fps

Memory

The Zephyrus M16 (2023) supports up to 64 GB DDR5-4800 memory with two SO-DIMM slots. Pre-configured SKUs come with 32 GB (2 x 16) DDR5-4800 memory. The memory performs well in multitasking and gaming scenarios, providing ample bandwidth for demanding applications.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~77,544 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Read: ~85,073 MB/s
• AIDA64 Memory Write: ~80,441 MB/s

Storage

The Zephyrus M16 (2023) can ship with a 2 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD depending on the seller. The OEM SSD uses one slot, leaving the other slot open for upgrades. The storage performance is stable, with good read and write speeds.

Benchmarks:

• CrystalDiskMark:
  • SEQ1M Q8T1 (Sequential 1MB blocks): ~7092 MB/s (read), ~5205 MB/s (write)
• AS SSD Total Score: ~5508 Points

Co-processors

The Zephyrus M16 (2023) does not have any additional co-processors.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The Zephyrus M16 comes with a standard keyboard layout with a single-zone RGB backlight. The keyboard offers 1.7 mm travel and a light clicky feel. The backlight can be customized through the Armory Crate application.

The typing experience is generally comfortable, though the small arrow keys may be a drawback for some users. The keyboard lacks a dedicated number pad, which may be a downside for users who frequently input numbers.

Touchpad

The Zephyrus M16 comes with a large glass clickpad that measures 5.1 inches (13 cm) x 3.3 inches (8.4 cm).

The touchpad is described as extremely smooth and accurate, providing a great user experience. It feels perfect to click and is responsive, making it one of the best touchpads tested this year.

Webcam

The Zephyrus M16 comes with a 1080p FHD IR camera for Windows Hello.

The webcam provides clear video quality for video calls and streaming. Windows Hello logs in quickly and easily, making it convenient for users who need to access their laptops frequently.

Microphone

The Zephyrus M16 comes with a built-in 3-microphone array with AI noise-canceling technology.

The microphone quality is adequate for general use but not exceptional, suitable for video calls and casual use.

Output Devices

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Display

The Zephyrus M16 (2023) features a 16-inch Mini LED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a refresh rate of 240 Hz. The display supports 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, G-Sync, and Dolby Vision HDR.

The display is bright and vibrant, with excellent color reproduction and HDR support. It features a high refresh rate of 240 Hz, making it ideal for gaming. The display hits an impressive peak brightness of 1100 nits, with a contrast ratio of 100,000:1, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum Brightness: ~1100 nits
• Contrast Ratio: ~100,000:1
• Color Accuracy (ΔE): ~0.89
• Brightness Distribution: ~92%

Audio

The Zephyrus M16 comes with two 2W tweeters and two 2W dual-force woofers with Smart Amp Technology. The speakers are powered by Dolby Atmos and provide a balanced sound profile with clear bass and good mids and highs.

The speakers deliver good sound quality, making them suitable for media consumption and gaming.

Connectivity

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WiFi

ASUS equips the Zephyrus M16 with an Intel AX211 WiFi 6E WLAN module.

The WiFi performance is strong, supporting high-speed connections and low latency for online gaming.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 receive AXE11000 6GHz: ~1655 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The Zephyrus M16 comes with a Bluetooth 5.3 module.

SD Card Reader

The Zephyrus M16 includes a microSD card reader.

The card reader is fast and efficient, allowing for quick data transfers.

USB

ASUS equips the Zephyrus M16 with the following USB ports:

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

Display Outputs

The Zephyrus M16 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 Zephyrus supports up to 4 displays simultaneously including the built-in display.

Case

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The Zephyrus M16 (2023) is available in a matte black color. The chassis is made of aluminum for the lid and magnesium for the interior, providing a sturdy and premium feel. The laptop is compact for a 16-inch device, with ultra-slim bezels and a 92% screen-to-body ratio.

The design is sleek and modern, though the styling is described as modest compared to flashier competitors. The build quality is good, with minimal flex and a sturdy hinge design.

Maintenance

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The bottom panel is held on by 14 Phillips-head screws, some of which are hidden behind rubber covers. The panel must be carefully removed to access the internals.

Upgradeable components:

• 90 WHr battery.
• Two M.2 2280 PCIe4 x4 SSDs.
• Two DDR5-4800 SODIMMs.
• M.2 2230 wireless card.

Cooling System== Cooling System

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The Zephyrus M16 is equipped with an advanced cooling system featuring a triple fan design with liquid metal cooling. The system includes three fans and a full-width heatsink, which helps to manage the heat generated by the high-performance components effectively.

Heat

The cooling system is effective in maintaining reasonable temperatures during gaming and other intensive tasks. The armrest and the areas around the WASD keys and arrows rarely go over 40 degrees Celsius, ensuring a comfortable gaming experience. However, the middle section of the keyboard can get warm under load, reaching temperatures of around 45-48 degrees Celsius. The bottom of the display also reaches high temperatures of around 50-60 degrees Celsius.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum upper side: ~48 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~60 °C
• Idle upper side: ~30 °C
• Idle bottom: ~34 °C

Noise

The fans are relatively quiet in silent mode but become louder in higher performance modes. Turbo mode is notably louder than manual mode, indicating effective cooling but increased noise levels. The laptop emits noise above 50 dB(A) during intensive tasks, making it one of the louder gaming laptops.

Benchmarks:

• Silent mode: ~35 dB(A)
• Performance mode: ~43 dB(A)
• Turbo mode: ~52 dB(A)
• Manual mode: ~55 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The Zephyrus M16 ships with a 280 W AC adapter and supports USB-C charging up to 100 W. The laptop consumes around 16 W for light tasks, providing around 5-6 hours of use. During intensive tasks, the power consumption can peak at around 267 W.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: 20-25 W
• Load: 107-267 W

Battery Life

All Zephyrus M16 SKUs come with a 90 WHr Li-Polymer battery. ASUS claims that the battery can charge from 0-50% in 30 minutes using the provided power adapter. The battery life is decent but not great, with around 5-6 hours of use for light tasks. The miniLED panel most likely takes a toll on battery life.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: ~4h 19min
• WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: ~3h 01min
• Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: ~4h 45min
• Load (maximum brightness): ~2h 53min

Biometrics

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The Zephyrus M16 supports Windows Hello facial recognition through its 1080P FHD IR camera. There is no fingerprint reader or physical webcam shutter, which may be a drawback for security-conscious users.

Software

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All SKUs ship with Windows 11 Pro. The laptop comes with various ASUS utilities, including Armoury Crate for performance management and fan control, allowing users to customize their experience based on their needs.

Preinstalled Software

• Armoury Crate: For performance and fan control.
• MyASUS: For battery care and performance management.
• Various ASUS utilities: For system updates and hardware troubleshooting.
• 1-month trial for new Microsoft 365 customers.
• Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (3 months): Terms and exclusions apply.

Linux Support

Basic functionality works with Ubuntu 22.10, but some features like the Aura key do not function. Keyboard shortcuts for adjusting brightness and volume work as expected.

Accessories & Warranty

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The Zephyrus M16 comes with a 280 W 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 Zephyrus M16 (2023) is considered one of the best gaming laptops at its price with high CPU and GPU performance relative to competitors. It is suitable for people looking for a high-performance gaming laptop with a premium display. The laptop also comes with a decent screen for gaming and is highly upgradeable. The primary downsides are the high idle power consumption, large size, and weight, which make it less suitable for portable use.

Problems Summary

• High idle power consumption.
• Large size and weight.
• No SD card reader.
• Below average battery life.
• Loud fan noise under load.
• No fingerprint reader or physical webcam shutter.
• High temperatures in certain areas during intensive tasks.

Links

i9-13900H, RTX 4070, 32 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: JarrodsTech

i9-13900H, RTX 4090, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: UltrabookReview

i9-13900H, RTX 4090, 32 GB RAM, 2 TB SSD: NotebookCheck