The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a well-liked gaming laptop that typically offers models with both AMD and Intel processors, positioning itself as an entry-level choice for the high-end market.
By 2025, these two versions will be significantly distinct: Intel models are expected to undergo a makeover, while AMD models stick with last year’s design. While the update for AMD may not seem as thrilling, it is the AMD-equipped ROG Strix G16 that I believe deserves your attention.
In simpler terms, AMD’s strongest mobile processor yet stands tall in competition with Intel, and the ROG Strix G16 delivers a top-notch gaming adventure. Although it’s a pricey device, one could make a case that it offers more value for money compared to its Intel counterparts in the market.
This review was created with a complimentary product from ASUS, but ASUS did not influence or preview the content before it was published.
ROG Strix G16 review: Pricing and specifications
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025) is actually and confusingly two entirely separate laptops.
The AMD variant of the ROG Strix G16 laptop that I’m evaluating retails from $2,399.99 on ASUS, however it is only available in two distinct configurations. Both versions feature a 16-inch, 240Hz IPS LCD display, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, 32GB of memory, and 1TB of solid-state drive storage.
At ASUS, you can purchase the ROG Strix G16 for $2,499.99. For an additional $100, you get AMD’s exclusive X3D technology, which enhances its gaming capabilities even further.
The base model of the ASUS ROG Strix G16, featuring an Intel Core i9 processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 graphics, 16GB of memory, and 1TB solid-state drive, is priced at $1,999.99 from Intel.
| Spec | ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025, AMD) |
|---|---|
| Display | 16-inch IPS LCD ROG Nebula Display, QHD+ (2,560 x 1,600) resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, 500 nits max brightness, 100% DCI-P3 color gamut, Dolby Vision HDR support, NVIDIA G-SYNC certified, Pantone Validated, anti-reflection coating |
| CPU | Up to AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D (Zen 5, 16 cores, 32 threads, up to 5.4GHz max boost, up to 120W) |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (Blackwell, 12GB GDDR7 VRAM, up to 140W) |
| Memory | 32GB (2x 16GB) DDR5 @ 5,600MHz (2x SODIMM slots) |
| Storage | 2TB M.2 NVMe PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD (2x M.2 slots) |
| Ports | 1x USB Type-C 4.0 (40GBps, DisplayPort 1.4, Power Delivery 3.0), 1x USB Type-C 4.0 (40GBps, DisplayPort 1.4), 2x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 (10GBps), 1x HDMI 2.1 (FRL), 1x RJ45 Ethernet, 1x 3.5mm audio jack |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E 2×2, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Battery | 90Whr, 280W DC charger |
| Dimensions | 354 x 264 x ~22.6-30.4mm (13.94 x 10.39 x ~0.89-1.2in) |
| Weight | 2.5kg (5.51lbs) |
| Warranty | 12-month standard |
Inside the container, you’ll discover the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025), an exclusive 280W power adapter, and three months of PC Game Pass subscription.
ROG Strix G16 review: Design and build quality
This year’s model of the ROG Strix G16 (specifically the AMD version) adopts the identical shell structure as its predecessor. Consequently, it offers a primarily plastic construction reinforced by a metallic cover, vibrant RGB highlights, and distinctive ROG details.
Although the Strix G16 has a plastic construction which might not convey a top-tier feel, it avoids appearing inexpensive due to its robust build quality and minimal flexing on the keyboard tray. The choice of plastic also contributes to a slightly lighter weight for this device, despite it being quite thick and hefty overall.
In general, it appears well-designed, and ASUS’ subtle design elements manage to steer clear of being overly flashy or excessive.
The overall impression is that it’s neatly designed, with ASUS ensuring their design touches don’t veer into the realm of tackiness.
Lastly: It seems well-crafted in terms of design, and ASUS has been careful to avoid making it too flashy or over-the-top.
For the ROG Strix G16 laptop, it’s quite well-equipped for a device of its size, with even the unused spaces cleverly utilized, especially around the vented areas.
In addition to the charging barrel plug, you’ll notice an Ethernet jack for wired connectivity, an HDMI 2.1 slot for video output, two standard USB Type-A ports, and two USB Type-C 4.0 slots – they all offer the same speed and display capabilities as a Thunderbolt 4 port.
ROG Strix G16 review: Display quality
As an enthusiast, I’ve noticed a trend in high-end gaming laptops: they’re swapping out traditional, backlit IPS LCD panels for advanced technologies like OLED or mini-LED displays. However, the ROG Strix G16 stands out by keeping costs slightly more affordable by sticking with the older technology.
This laptop’s screen is equally beneficial, not a disadvantage; it boasts a stunning, vivid display with superb color accuracy and impressive performance. While company-specific branding often holds little significance, I can see why ASUS labels this as the “ROG Nebula Display.
This display boasts a QHD+ resolution and a swift 240Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for both work productivity and enjoyable media consumption. It’s also well-suited for gaming due to its responsive performance. What sets this panel apart is the uniformity of its backlighting, which is often a challenge in IPS LCD displays.
The slim edges on all but one side make the screen stand out prominently, while an unexpectedly efficient anti-glare layer is applied to minimize reflections.
| Setting | Brightness (nits) | Black | Contrast | White point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | 26.3 | 0.01 | 1,920:1 | 6,100 (0.321, 0.321) |
| 25% | 44.6 | 0.03 | 1,610:1 | 6,100 (0.320, 0.321) |
| 50% | 87.1 | 0.06 | 1,560:1 | 6,200 (0.320, 0.321) |
| 75% | 226.4 | 0.17 | 1,370:1 | 6,300 (0.318, 0.320) |
| 100% | 518.5 | 0.37 | 1,400:1 | 6,400 (0.315, 0.318) |
During testing, the display on the ROG Strix G16 proves impressive, delivering color accuracy exceeding the norm and a commendable maximum brightness surpassing 500 nits. However, if there’s an area for improvement, it would be the average contrast ratio throughout and a minor inconsistency in white balance (the panel tends to lean cooler as it becomes brighter).
I’m thrilled to share that this device boasts Dolby Vision HDR support, although I must admit, the impact on laptop screens might not be as striking as on larger TVs. Additionally, it comes equipped with Adaptive Sync and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility, which should deliver a smoother gaming experience.
ROG Strix G16 review: Performance and thermals
Instead of relying on the most recent Intel Core Ultra (Series 2) processors like many contemporary high-performance gaming laptops, the ROG Strix G16 in this version employs a different strategy.
Rather than settling for the usual AMD mobile processor, we are equipped with an extraordinary one – the Ryzen 9 9955HX (or 9955HX3D on the premium level). This powerhouse boasts a mighty 16 cores and is exclusively optimized for gaming performance. Indeed, this piece of silicon is nothing short of impressive.
This processor comes equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, which falls into NVIDIA’s higher mid-range for their latest 50-series GPUs. It also offers two SODIMM memory slots and two M.2 slots for you to customize your memory and storage needs – initially, it comes with 32GB of dual-channel RAM and 1TB of solid-state drive (SSD) storage.
How does the mix of components function? Exceptionally effectively, as one might anticipate. The ROG Strix G16 effortlessly handles almost anything you can challenge it with, and it also performs admirably in testing.
I find it hard to believe that ASUS doesn’t provide a model of their laptop equipped with the GeForce RTX 5080 GPU, given the impressive power of the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D. The GeForce GTX 5070 Ti is certainly sufficient for most users, but I would have appreciated having more direct comparisons between systems powered by Intel.
In summary, regardless of any concerns, I’m quite content with this laptop’s performance, particularly its heat management. Though the fans can become noticeably loud, they never reach an annoying level. Moreover, the ROG Strix G16 consistently maintained a 98.2% stable framerate during the 3DMark Time Spy test after running it 25 times consecutively, which is impressive.
Long gaming sessions are a breeze.
- Forza Horizon 5 — 134 FPS (Extreme preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution/DLSS Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency disabled) | 195 FPS (Max settings, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Reflex Low Latency enabled)
- Gears 5 — 124 FPS (Ultra preset, 1600p resolution, uncapped framerate, v-sync enabled)
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 — 135 FPS (Extreme preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution set to Performance, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled)
- Cyberpunk 2077 — 69 FPS (Ray Tracing: Ultra preset, 1600p resolution, 240Hz refresh rate, v-sync enabled, NVIDIA DLSS Super Resolution Transformer Model set to Auto, NVIDIA DLSS Frame Generation/Ray Reconstruction disabled, NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency enabled) | 142 FPS (Ray Tracing: Overdrive preset, v-sync disabled, NVIDIA DLSS Multi-Frame Generation set to 4x, NVIDIA DLSS Ray Reconstruction enabled)
Equipped with the RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, the ROG Strix G16 laptop delivered gaming performance as anticipated. This device offers ample power to run most contemporary PC games smoothly at high to ultra settings, maintaining consistent and smooth frame rates. Additionally, leveraging NVIDIA’s advanced DLSS 4 technology allows for keeping these graphical settings while making the most of that 240Hz display.
ROG Strix G16 review: Software and AI experience
One significant distinction between AMD’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX lies in the absence of a Neural Processing Unit (NPU) in the former, which means, strictly speaking, the ROG Strix G16 doesn’t qualify as an AI-centric PC.
Absolutely, you can maximize the benefits of the NVIDIA GPU, built with artificial intelligence as a key focus. However, it won’t offer any unique AI features related to Copilot+ PC or ASUS-specific AI enhancements.
In this setup, you’ll discover a variety of apps from AMD, NVIDIA, Dolby, and notably, ASUS. I personally find that ASUS includes quite a bit of its own software, which can also include additional, unnecessary applications such as McAfee Antivirus and CapCut. However, the installation of Windows 11 in this case is largely uncluttered.
In simpler terms, you’ll handle the majority of the ROG Strix G16’s hardware through both MyASUS and Armoury Crate applications. However, it can be a bit inconvenient to have two separate software, and Armoury Crate tends to randomly organize your system settings in a confusing manner.
Or,
The main control of the ROG Strix G16’s hardware will primarily reside within MyASUS and Armoury Crate applications. While this is helpful, it can be a bit frustrating to have two different programs, and Armoury Crate tends to arrange your system settings in a disorganized and confusing way.
ROG Strix G16 review: Battery experience
High-performance gaming laptops such as the ASUS ROG Strix G16 typically have the most extensive batteries available, yet they tend to offer relatively brief battery durations. I wasn’t taken aback by this fact with the ROG Strix G16, but I was mildly astounded by its endurance.
As a researcher, I found that this 90Whr battery cell doesn’t quite deliver an “all-day” performance, but it managed to last between 3 to 5 hours with regular use, even without intentionally conserving power or disabling default features such as the RGB lighting.
As a dedicated fan, I ran my ROG Strix G16 through a one-hour test, which included a mix of generic Microsoft Office tasks and HD video playback using Procyon. The results were quite revealing – the battery drained by approximately 28% during the Office workload and 22% during the video playback session.
This laptop is designed for gaming, and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 outperforms most similar Intel-based models that I’ve previously evaluated in terms of performance.
When running on battery power, you can expect about a 29% decrease in CPU performance and a significant 62% reduction in GPU performance. This is quite a substantial drop, particularly for the GPU. However, even with this throttling, the ROG Strix G16 outperforms most laptops without a dedicated graphics card in terms of both processing power.
ROG Strix G16 review: Keyboard and touchpad
Initially, I thought the ROG Strix G16’s keyboard would be merely satisfactory, but my experience with it far surpassed my expectations and I found myself genuinely appreciating its feel.
The ROG Strix G16 keyboard appears to be tailor-made for gaming, offering expansive, well-traveled keys that provide a satisfying tactile response, complete with full-sized arrow keys combined with page navigation, dedicated media controls, five extra macro keys, and per-key RGB illumination. In contrast to other gaming laptops, which simply add RGB lighting to standard keyboards, the ROG Strix G16 seems designed specifically for gamers’ needs.
This device delivers an exceptional typing and gaming experience, and I can’t help but be enthusiastic about it. However, one peculiarity is the touchpad, which incorporates a concealed numerical keypad, illuminated with LED lights, that is more associated with productivity-oriented features found in some of ASUS’ non-gaming devices.
As I interact with this device, I find the touchpad to be fairly standard. Microsoft Precision drivers do provide gesture functionality, but it doesn’t seem as responsive as the top-tier options. However, if you press and hold the “Numlk” key, it activates a number pad, which is quite useful. While it may not be perfect, I believe many users will find its presence beneficial, especially compared to compact keyboards that have a shrunken number pad integrated into them.
ROG Strix G16 review: Other hardware
In the smaller aspects is where you can notice ASUS made some cost-saving adjustments. For instance, the FHD webcam and microphone array are quite standard in comparison to most gaming laptops, and it lacks Windows Hello facial recognition (or any other biometric authentication options).
Wireless connectivity is great, but also a generation behind with Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3.
The laptop doesn’t have any striking unique features, but it does offer some notable extras such as customizable keys provided by ASUS on the keyboard, which is an added advantage. Moreover, the per-key RGB lighting and front-facing RGB lightbar are of a better quality than I typically find in ASUS’ high-end gaming laptops.
Initially, I was taken aback when I turned on these speakers. Given their dual, down-firing design and Dolby Atmos support, I didn’t anticipate much. However, these speakers are significantly louder, clearer, and more profound than one might expect from just two speakers. Keep in mind, though, that they still only have two speakers, and their placement is crucial, so don’t set your expectations too high.
ROG Strix G16 review: Also consider
ROG Strix G16 review: My final thoughts
✅You should buy this if …
- You want an AMD-powered gaming laptop instead of Intel
- You want enough power to play all the latest and greatest games.
- You like a deep keyboard with lots of extra keys.
❌You should not buy this if …
- You care a lot about having a sleek, premium design.
- You want an option to upgrade to an RTX 5080 GPU.
As a gaming enthusiast, I must acknowledge that ASUS truly deserves its accolades. The ROG Strix G16 exceeded my expectations in ways I wouldn’t have anticipated prior to testing it. Despite my strong affection for the Zephyrus series and ASUS’ consumer laptops, the Strix lineup hadn’t left a lasting impression on me before now.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025, AMD) might not be groundbreaking, but it’s a solid, versatile gaming laptop that offers exceptional keyboard quality and reliable performance. Its price point is reasonable, and there’s a strong likelihood of price reductions in the upcoming months as well.
Instead, it was refreshing to try out a gaming laptop running on AMD’s newest technology rather than the usual Intel. However, I do wish this model had undergone the same design refresh as its Intel-powered counterpart, the Strix G16, and offered more customization options to create our ideal laptop.
Even though, I must admit that I’m quite fond of this machine, and I believe you might find it appealing as well. You can purchase the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025, AMD) configuration that I recommend for a price of $2,499.99 at Best Buy.
Despite having my reservations, I have to confess my fondness for this machine, and I think you’ll feel the same way too. You can get hold of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2025, AMD) configuration that I endorse at Best Buy for a price tag of $2,499.99.
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2025-06-16 22:11