ASUS G615LP-XS97

The ROG Strix G16 is a top-tier gaming laptop with a beautiful 240Hz screen and near-best-in-class CPU and GPU performance. It's heavy and not very portable, but for around $2,000, it's a killer desktop replacement. If you want max frames at 1440p and don't need to travel light, buy it.

This thing flies. The Core Ultra 9 275HX sits near the absolute best right now for laptop CPUs, and the RTX 5070 is a standout GPU that pushes high frame rates at 1440p without much drama. In our database, both the processor and graphics are in the 92nd percentile or higher, so you're getting leading performance for gaming and creator tasks. The 32GB of fast DDR5 and a speedy 2TB Gen 4 SSD mean load times are basically nonexistent. The only real weak spot is reliability, which lands at a solid but unremarkable 60th percentile. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth noting this isn't the most battle-tested chassis in its class yet.

Stacked against the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 10, the Strix G16 holds its own on raw gaming performance but gives up some build quality and reliability points. The HP OMEN Transcend 14 is way more portable and has an OLED screen, but its smaller chassis means lower sustained performance. Then there's the Apple MacBook Pro M4 Max, which is in a different universe for battery life and creator efficiency but costs significantly more and can't touch the ASUS in pure gaming GPU grunt. The Strix G16 is the sweet spot if you want maximum frames per dollar and don't care about weight.

Pricing is all over the map for this config, with a spread of over $500,000 across vendors. That's clearly some listing errors in the wild, but the real street price seems to hover around $1,900 to $2,000. At that level, you're getting a lot of machine for the money, especially with the high-end CPU, GPU, and that gorgeous screen. Newegg appears to have the most realistic and competitive pricing if you're hunting for a deal. For a sub-$2,000 gaming laptop with this spec sheet, it's a strong value play against pricier rivals.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a beastly 16-inch gaming laptop built for people who want top-tier frame rates and don't mind a little heft. It packs Intel's new Core Ultra 9 275HX and an RTX 5070, which means it chews through modern games and creative workloads without breaking a sweat. The 240Hz Nebula display is genuinely stunning, and you get a generous 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD right out of the box.

But this is not a thin-and-light machine, and it doesn't pretend to be. At over 2.6kg, it's a desktop replacement that will live on your desk most of the time. The port selection is fantastic, the cooling keeps things in check, and the overall package feels premium. Just know what you're signing up for in terms of portability.

If you need a laptop to carry to class or on flights every week, look elsewhere. The Strix G16 is a chunky 2.65kg machine with mediocre battery life for real-world portability. An HP OMEN Transcend 14 or a MacBook Pro will serve you much better if weight and all-day endurance are priorities.

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is for gamers and creators who want a desktop replacement with a stunning screen and don't plan on lugging it to a coffee shop every day. It's a powerhouse that delivers leading performance where it counts, and the price is right if you shop smart. If you need something light or with all-day battery life, this ain't it. But for a desk-bound gaming rig that can handle anything you throw at it, it's an easy recommendation.