
Customers consistently note the ROG Zephyrus G16's overall performance and impeccable screen quality as major strengths. Its portability and good battery life are also appreciated, along with its above-average processor speed and appealing design. However, some customers have concerns about heat generation, limited RAM, and fan noise, while a few find the initial price somewhat high.
As a current college student and at home gamer I can say that my experience with the laptop has been truly fascinating. When unboxing it felt like I wasn’t just unboxing a product but instead I was unboxing the future and luxury of technology. Everything about this laptop is 10 times better than my old gaming tower that is an iBUYPOWER Gaming Desktop PB-BB972-RB Intel Core i7-9700F 16GB DDR4 1TB HDD 480GB SSD GeForce RTX 2070 SUPER Windows 10 Home 64-bit that I also bought at my local Best Buy. Here is my experience on the pros and cons about the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. Pros: What Makes the Zephyrus G16 Stand Out 1. Stunning OLED Display The 16-inch QHD+ OLED panel with a 240Hz refresh rate delivers exceptional visuals. It boasts full DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB color coverage, a peak brightness of around 436 nits, and G-SYNC support. The minute that I turned on the laptop the brightness, color definition, and refresh rate was too good to be true. It instantly made me realize on how much I was missing out on gaming at ultra high definition with high refresh rates. While watching my favorite movies and streaming services at the best highest image quality it made me stop using my parents Samsung 65" Class RU8000 Premium Smart 4K UHD TV (2019) that they also bought at Best Buy due to its impressive OLED screen . The laptops display is truly fascinating in which the ultra clear display feels like I’m experiencing everything in real life. 2. Powerful Performance Equipped with the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU, the G16 handles demanding games and multitasking with ease. The system maintains high processor frequencies and power limits during heavy stress, ensuring smooth performance. While gaming on this pc I can say that this thing is a pure beast. From my experience It can handle the games on the Xbox game pass at ease. The only problem is that to use the maximum performance that the laptop unleashes you need to use the charger plugged into the laptop. 3. Premium Build and Portability Despite its powerful internals, the G16 remains sleek and lightweight, weighing approximately 1.85 kg or 4.079 lbs. Its solid metal construction exudes durability, and the compact design enhances portability. I’ve been using this laptop for college and this thing weighs less than my notebooks. Honestly from the unboxing I thought this laptop would weigh a ton but I was wrong. When you hold it this thing weighs like nothing. The weight distribution in this thing is truly impressive. 4. Excellent Audio Quality The laptop features a robust speaker system with two tweeters and two woofers, delivering immersive sound with surprising depth and bass, enhancing the gaming and multimedia experience. I tested the sound on this thing and trust me it sounds better than most cars and home stereo sound systems. The audio feels like you are experiencing something rather than just hearing. 5. Comprehensive Connectivity The G16 offers a versatile selection of ports, including Thunderbolt 4, HDMI 2.1, USB-C with Power Delivery, and Wi-Fi 6E, catering to various connectivity needs. The only problem I have experienced is the lack of having an Ethernet port connection. I had to buy a usb to ethernet adapter to get faster internet speeds due to my homes WiFi wireless speeds. ⸻ ⚠️ Cons: Areas for Improvement 1. Thermal Management Concerns Under heavy loads, the CPU and GPU temperatures can reach up to 95°C and 100°C, respectively. This heat can be noticeable around the keyboard area, potentially affecting comfort during extended gaming sessions. This is true because it actually overheats very fast so I warn you to place the computer on a table or desk and not on top of your legs since it can technically burn you. Not joking … 2. Limited RAM Upgradeability The 16GB LPDDR5X RAM is soldered onto the motherboard, preventing future upgrades. This limitation could be a drawback for users who require more memory for intensive tasks. If you’re like me and use this laptop for casual gaming and school assignments you should be more than fine. 3. Battery Life Underwhelms During Gaming While the laptop can last up to 9 hours during light tasks, battery life drops significantly during gaming, often requiring the device to be plugged in for optimal performance. The battery drops and plug in performance is true but I would say that the battery by itself doesn’t last up to 9 hours. I would say that it lasts like a good 2 hours and 30 minutes of constant usage. 4. Fan Noise Under Load The cooling fans can become quite loud during intensive tasks, reaching noise levels that might be distracting in quiet environments. This is true however they are different modes in which you can control the fan noise for personal preference. 5. Software Optimization Issues Some users have reported software conflicts between Windows power management and the Armoury Crate utility, leading to inconsistent performance and occasional bugs. For me I haven’t had an issue in these aspects but instead I did have a terrible issue with a windows code 0xc0000225 in which I couldn’t access my laptop and I tried fixing it but nothing worked. I didn’t use my laptop for like 2 good days and it magically fixed it. I don’t know how but it started working normally after like if nothing ever happened. ⸻ Final Conclusion: The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) is a great choice for gamers, students, and professionals seeking a blend of performance, portability, and visual excellence. Its vibrant OLED display, robust build, and powerful internals make it stand out in the crowded gaming laptop market. However, potential buyers should be aware of its thermal limitations, non-upgradable RAM, and shorter battery life during gaming sessions. If these factors align with your usage patterns, the G16 offers a premium experience that justifies its price point.
Posted by JohanD
(Picture is the Zephyrus g14 compared to the g16) I've previously owned several gaming laptops and I can confidently say that the Zephyrus g16 blows them all out of the water on nearly all fronts. The last gaming laptop I owned was an Alienware m17, and while it was a decent laptop, it suffered from a lot of the same negatives as most gaming laptops out there - it was big, it was bulky, and it had a terrible battery life. The Zephyrus fixes the majority of the problems I have with gaming laptops. It's thin and portable, and I've found myself actually using it as a portable laptop (shocker) rather than just sitting at my desk 24/7 like most bulky laptops. The battery life isn't at Macbook levels, but it still lasts many hours doing light tasks like watching YouTube. The aesthetic of the laptop is also a huge consideration - I was embarrassed using my previous Alienware laptop in public because of the blinding RGB lights and the "gamery" look. The Zephyrus is sleek enough to just look like a regular laptop while still being different enough from regular laptops to be unique. The fans certainly aren't silent, especially while playing games, but I've found that while doing light tasks the fans are barely audible. The screen is absolutely gorgeous, and I've found myself using it as my primary monitor even though I have a $400 external monitor that's twice the size. OLED is just incredible. It's unfortunately not all perfect though. The laptop gets HOT. The actual thermals inside aren't that bad for gaming laptops (actually pretty good considering how thin the thing is), but the exterior of the laptop gets absurdly hot to the touch after a little while... it's not a laptop you can use on your lap unless you want to burn yourself. I've also found that the screen is weirdly wobbly... it gets a little distracting while typing. Other than that though, I seriously recommend the laptop to anyone thinking about getting it. If you want the Windows equivalent of a Macbook, this is it.
Posted by Schick
For how compact, lightweight, and absolutely stunning the OLED screen is, this is MY perfect gaming laptop! Sure there are other 4070s or even some 4080 gaming laptops in this price range (without oled), but I am very happy with my purchase! The laptop is incredibly fast!!!! It turns on in literally seconds, its astonishing. The gaming performance is perfectly fine for me! I average 100+ fps on gta 5 with everything on ultra. Yes it gets hot but thats expected for so much power in such a compact chassis. I have an rgb $30 amazon cooling pad and that helps a lot! The laptop is just so beautiful and feels very premium. I absolutely cannot stop staring at the OLED screen. I got an absolute steal with open box excellent(thank you best buy!!) so I just cannot be happier! The customizable slash lighting on the back is just beautiful as well! Its not too flashy but an amazing touch! It would have been nicer to have more ram or the ability to upgrade it myself, but thats not a deal killer for what you get. 9 out of 10 I love this thing!
Posted by MarloD
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