ASUS ROG Strix G16 16" G615LM Eclipse Gray 2025

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM packs a top-tier Core Ultra 9 CPU and a beautiful 240Hz display into a heavy, power-hungry chassis. The 16GB of RAM is the main weak spot, but it's upgradeable to 128GB. If you want raw performance and don't care about portability or battery life, this is a strong buy at $1,949.

The Core Ultra 9 275HX is the star here. With 24 cores and a 5.5GHz turbo, it's one of the best laptop CPUs we've seen in our database, and it'll crush rendering, compiling, and heavy multitasking. The RTX 5060 with 8GB of GDDR7 is a solid mid-range GPU, sitting in the 83rd percentile, so you'll get great 1440p gaming performance, though you might need to dial back settings on the most demanding titles. The 1TB NVMe SSD is fast and roomy enough for a decent game library, and the 16GB of DDR5 is fine for most tasks, but it's the one spec that feels like a bottleneck for a machine this capable. The 240Hz display is a standout, bright and smooth, making fast-paced games feel fantastic.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, the Strix G16 holds its own on CPU power but gives up some GPU muscle and build quality. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is lighter and more portable, but its smaller screen and weaker CPU can't match the Strix for raw performance. The MSI Raider is a closer competitor, often with similar specs and better cooling, but the Strix's display is a step above. And the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max? Different animal entirely, way more expensive, but if you need macOS or all-day battery, the Strix isn't even in the conversation.

At $1,949, this is a lot of laptop for the money, especially with the upgraded thermal paste job from HIDevolution. You're getting a top-tier CPU, a solid GPU, and a fantastic display. But the 16GB of RAM is a head-scratcher at this price point. You can upgrade it later, sure, but you shouldn't have to. If you're willing to crack it open and add more memory, the value proposition gets a lot better. As configured, it's a good deal, not a great one.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G615LM is a big, fast gaming laptop with a spec sheet that reads like a wish list. You get Intel's Core Ultra 9 275HX, a 24-core monster that lands in the 96th percentile for laptop CPUs, paired with an RTX 5060 and a gorgeous 16-inch 240Hz display. On paper, this thing is built to chew through games and creative work without breaking a sweat.

But there's a catch. This particular config comes from HIDevolution, a builder that adds thermal upgrades like Thermal Grizzly Conductonaut on the CPU and Gelid GC Extreme on the GPU. That's nice for temps, but the 16GB of RAM feels a little tight for a machine this powerful, and the 2.73kg weight means you won't be tossing it in a backpack for a coffee shop session.

If you need a laptop you can actually use on your lap, look elsewhere. This thing weighs 2.73kg and the battery won't last through a long gaming session. If portability or all-day battery life matters, the HP OMEN Transcend 14 or a MacBook Pro will serve you better. Also, if you're not comfortable opening up a laptop to upgrade the RAM, the 16GB config might frustrate you sooner than you'd like.

This is a machine for gamers and creators who want desktop-class CPU performance in a laptop and don't mind the heft. If you're planning to upgrade the RAM yourself and you mostly use it plugged in, the Strix G16 G615LM is a fantastic choice. The display is a joy, the CPU is a beast, and the thermal upgrades are a nice bonus. Just don't expect to game on battery for more than an hour or two.