Maingear has unveiled a brand-new, top-tier 18-inch gaming laptop called the Ultima 18. This latest creation by Maingear is undeniably their most potent laptop yet, as per its impressive specifications.
NVIDIA’s top-tier mobile graphics processors such as the RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 can now be customized, and they are accompanied by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor boasting 24 cores.
This large 18-inch screen boasts a high-definition Ultra High Definition Plus (UHD+) resolution of 3840×2400 pixels, offers a fast refresh rate of 200 times per second, is compatible with NVIDIA’s G-Sync technology for smooth gaming visuals, and reproduces an impressive 100% of the DCI-P3 color spectrum.
Additionally, if you’d like to adjust certain aspects before completing your purchase, there are adaptable models at your disposal.
Maingear’s Ultima 18 comes with up to an RTX 5090, but that doesn’t mean you should buy it
According to its CEO, Wallace Santos, Maingear’s latest model, the Ultima 18, is marketed as a high-performance, full-fledged desktop gaming system that can be carried in a backpack. It’s not just for gaming, though; this machine also excels at handling demanding tasks like creative work and artificial intelligence applications effortlessly.
Here’s a deeper look at the specs that make up the Ultima 18.
| Maingear Ultima 18 | |
|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Graphics | Up to NVIDIA RTX 5090 Laptop GPU |
| Memory | Up to 192GB DDR5 (4x 48GB) |
| Storage | Up to 4x M.2 SSDs (1x Gen5x4, 3x Gen4x4) |
| Display | 18 inches, 3840×2400 (UHD+), 16:10 aspect ratio, NVIDIA G-Sync, Advanced Optimus, 100% DCI-P3 |
| Ports | 2x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, 2x USB-A 3.2, microSD card reader, 2x 2.5Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm audio |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 |
| Camera | 5MP + IR, Human Presence Detection, shutter |
| Audio | 5 speakers |
| Battery | 98Wh |
| Weight | 8.8 pounds (3.99kg) |
As an onlooker, I can’t help but notice that the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX appears to be a favorite among top-tier gaming laptops, and it’s easy to see why.
In my personal assessment, the CPU found within the “Arrow Lake” system is reminiscent of the one I previously evaluated in my ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 review. Notably, it excelled beyond every other processor we’ve examined so far, particularly in synthetic benchmark tests that predominantly focus on CPU performance.
Despite the fact that the chip doesn’t have a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) strong enough for Copilot+, as it only reaches 13 TOPS compared to the required 40 TOPS, NVIDIA RTX 50-series mobile GPUs will compensate when using AI-driven applications.
In such a scenario, I would advise going all out and getting the NVIDIA RTX 5090. However, for ordinary PC gamers not engaged in development or artificial intelligence tasks, the NVIDIA RTX 5080 might be the most suitable option to consider.
According to my findings in the Scar 18 review, the mobile variant of the RTX 5090 doesn’t significantly surpass the RTX 5080 when gaming, but it comes at an additional cost of $800 to over $1,000.
Regardless of any innovative cooling and power management solutions Maingear may have implemented, the poor value proposition of the RTX 5090 ultimately relies on NVIDIA.
In other aspects, the Ultima 18 means business. It boasts four M.2 ports for storage, one of which is compatible with PCIe 5.0, allowing for the swiftest SSDs available. For memory, it accommodates up to 192GB of DDR5 RAM, distributed across four slots, each holding 48GB.
Premium features, including human presence detection
Regarding cooling systems, it seems that the Ultima 18 boasts two substantial rear exhaust openings, accompanied by additional venting on the sides. Sandwiched between these back vents are permanent fixtures such as dual 2.5Gb Ethernet ports, HDMI 2.1, power input, and a lock slot.
It brings me joy to find that the back ports on this device are still intact, as they offer significant assistance in organizing cables. In his review of the Legion Pro 7i (Gen 10), Zachary Boddy from Windows Central pointed out the absence of rear ports as one of two drawbacks in its redesign.
One potential rephrase could be: Another issue with the Legion review was the absence of Windows Hello compatibility. However, Maingear has taken things a step beyond by incorporating an IR sensor and shutter into their 5MP webcam for facial recognition, not just that.
It seems quite unusual for a gaming laptop, as far as I know, to incorporate human presence detection (feel free to correct me if I’m mistaken in the comment section).
Setting it up to auto-lock and unlock your computer as you leave or return offers a level of convenience you may not initially consider.
Notable aspects of this 18-inch laptop are its high-quality speaker system consisting of five separate components – tweeters, drivers, and a subwoofer; rapid and dependable Wi-Fi 7 connectivity for the internet; and advanced Bluetooth 5.4 technology to facilitate wireless use with accessories.
Maingear re-enters a limited 18-inch gaming laptop market
Maingear’s new Ultima 18 represents their first gaming laptop of comparable size since they released the eX-L 18 approximately 16 years prior.
Reflecting on the eX-L 18’s specifications, Maingear aimed to create the swiftest laptop available in the year 2009. They achieved this by incorporating two NVIDIA GTX 280M GPUs operating in SLI, 8GB of dual-channel DDR3 memory, an Intel Core 2 Extreme X9300 processor, a pair of 500GB SATA II hard drives, and a DVD burner.
How far we’ve come.
In contemporary times, the Maingear Ultima 18 steps into a relatively sparse 18-inch gaming laptop market. This market becomes even more vacant when considering systems equipped with the cutting-edge NVIDIA RTX 5000 mobile GPUs.
Among some recently released gaming laptops, we have the Acer Predator Helios Neo 18 AI, which debuted in May, the Alienware 18 Area-51 that hit the market in March, the Lenovo Legion 9i 18 (Gen 10), which is now available, and the Razer Blade 18 from March.
Maingear collaborates closely with CLEVO, a Taiwanese Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), who supplies the fundamental blueprint for the design of their high-performance gaming laptops.
As a curious tech enthusiast, I’ve personally experienced the top-tier performance of Maingear’s custom-built gaming desktops – undeniably among the market leaders. However, regrettably, my hands-on time with their laptop offerings has yet to materialize.
Looking forward, I expect the situation to improve quickly so I can gauge the quality of Maingear’s collaborative laptops better.
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2025-06-11 15:40