Review of ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4050): A Small Graphics Card in a High-End Chassis

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is a gaming laptop distinguished by its 16-inch screen with FHD resolution and an impressive refresh rate of 165 Hz. Under its hood, you’ll find an Intel Core i5-13450HX processor, accompanied by an impressive capacity of up to 48 GB of DDR5 memory, as well as an SSD storage that can reach up to 2 TB.

As for the graphics component, ASUS has opted for an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 (140W), offering a balance between performance and price. All of these components fit into a meticulously crafted chassis, thus demonstrating ASUS’s commitment to manufacturing quality and advanced features for gamers, while also ensuring not to inflate the bill with an entry-level graphics card.

Related: Review of ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (RTX 4080)

Technical Specifications of ASUS ROG Strix G16

Presentation

After a successful but expensive gaming laptop, the Rog Strix Scar 18, costing nearly US$2,374.99 to US$2,499.99, we turned our attention to the Rog Strix G16. This much more affordable model boasts a chassis worthy of high-end computers in terms of finishes and features. However, concessions have been made on the component side, as this PC is equipped with only a simple GeForce RTX 4050 graphics card.

This placement may seem a bit peculiar in the market, with a design taking precedence over performance, but the Rog Strix G16 might have some surprises in store in that regard. While the official price of the 1TB model with a WQHD screen may cause some to hesitate (US$1,929.99), you can find the tested version here (512GB with a Full HD+ panel) for around $1300-$1500, which is much more wallet-friendly. There is also a variant equipped with a GeForce RTX 4060.

Read Also: Review of ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 17 G733 – Cool, Powerful Laptop With Mechanical Keyboard

ASUS ROG Strix G16 Construction

Design and Build Quality

Rarely have we seen a “compact setup” adorned with such meticulous design. The printed patterns and translucent keyboard keys clearly reveal its gaming heritage. The chassis is well-crafted and appears sturdy, particularly in the hinge area. However, the screen’s tilting angle is somewhat limited, which is rather unusual in this day and age. Its 16:10 aspect ratio, on the other hand, is pleasing, and for a gaming PC, the bezels are impressively slim, achieving a screen-to-body ratio of nearly 88%.

Related: Review of ASUS ROG FLOW X16 (2022) GV601 Gaming Laptop

Lighting and Input

Of course, RGB backlighting is part of the package, adjustable key by key as seen in high-end models. Additionally, there’s an LED strip at the front for further customization — all managed as usual with ASUS via the Armoury Crate software. The typing experience is responsive, as is the touchpad. However, don’t expect a fingerprint reader here, and the 720p webcam lacks Windows Hello compatibility for quick session unlocking. Its quality is frankly subpar, a common occurrence in gaming-oriented PCs even in well-lit environments.

Connectivity

The connectivity options are comprehensive, featuring an HDMI 2.1 port, an Ethernet port, two USB-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, two USB-C ports (including one Thunderbolt 4 and one 3.2 Gen 2), and a mini-jack socket. Additionally, users can take advantage of Bluetooth 5.2 and Wi-Fi 6E, cutting-edge wireless protocols of the moment.

Accessibility and Upgradability

Accessing the components is a breeze; just unscrew the few Torx screws on the chassis. This allows for the replacement of RAM, M.2 SSD, and battery. An empty slot for another M.2 SSD is also identified, a positive feature for expandability and repairability.

Cooling and Noise Levels

The Rog Strix G16 pleasantly surprised us with its ventilation. For a gaming model, it proved to be relatively quiet despite the presence of three fans. We measured only 39 dB at 50 cm from the screen during full gameplay. While clearly audible in a quiet environment, it’s far from the roaring fans of other PCs. Heat management is very well-handled, with temperatures reaching 43°C above the keyboard and remaining generally cool throughout the rest of the chassis.

Related: Review Of the MSI Cyborg 15 A12V (Core I7 12th Gen, RTX 4060) Laptop

Performance of ASUS ROG Strix G16

The Strix G16 is equipped with an Intel Core i5-13450HX processor, clocked at 3.4 GHz with a turbo boost up to 4.6 GHz. It boasts six performance cores and four efficiency cores. It is accompanied by 16 GB of DDR5 RAM running at 4800 MHz and 512 GB of SSD storage.

The HX models have a high thermal envelope, generally providing a commendable level of performance. In this case, don’t be misled by the simple “Core i5” label, as it has proven to be very swift. With a CPU score of 165, it may not quite match the powerhouse processors like the i9-13980HX, but it easily surpasses the i7-13700H found in mainstream laptops, and even outperforms the Core i9-13900H of the Samsung Galaxy Book3 Ultra. It can also be compared to the MacBook Pro M2 Pro, asserting itself as a processor capable of handling demanding tasks, such as video editing or 3D rendering.

The SSD exhibits rapid read speeds, as we measured 5 GB/s, but it shows relatively modest write speeds at 3.5 GB/s.

Related: Best Lenovo Laptop of 2023

Gaming

This is the first Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 we’ve tested, and we were somewhat skeptical about its gaming performance. Fortunately, its thermal power (TGP) is pushed to 140W here, allowing it to assert itself reasonably well. This means you can play most games in Full HD at over 60 frames per second, which is necessary for a smooth experience.

However, it does have to bow down to much more powerful graphics cards in our database. In our GPU performance index, it only scores 176 points. This is roughly on par with an RTX 3060 140W in several games like Cyberpunk 2077, COD Black OPS Cold War, or The Medium, but falls behind in other titles such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Control.

Its only advantage over the previous generation of RTX cards is that it offers DLSS 3 in compatible games. For example, you can play Cyberpunk at an average of 65 frames per second with ultra-quality and ray tracing. That said, it is outperformed by the RTX 4070 in the MSI Raider GE68, or even the RTX 3070 Ti in the Lenovo Legion 5 Pro.

The screen of the Strix G16 has a refresh rate of 165Hz, and it will honestly be difficult to fully take advantage of it unless you’re playing less demanding multiplayer titles like Counter Strike, Apex, or Fortnite.

Related: Review of Lenovo ThinkPad Z13

Audio

While not impressive, the speakers of the Strix G16 perform rather well. The stereo effect is accurately reproduced, and one can distinguish the highs from the mids, which is not a given for all PCs. However, don’t expect to distinctly hear the bass: they are somewhat hard to discern, as is the case with most laptops.

The headphone output is also decent, boasting a low distortion of 0.05%, an extended dynamic range of 100 dB, crosstalk of barely -64 dB, rendering it imperceptible, and a substantial output power of 200 mVRMS.

Related: Review of Lenovo Laptop ThinkPad P16v Gen 1 Mobile Workstation

Mobility / Battery Life of ASUS ROG Strix G16

Obviously, the Strix G16 is not the small Ultrabook you’ll carry with you every day. It still weighs a considerable 2.5 kg, to which you need to add a hefty charger of 774 g. Likewise, the chassis remains bulky with a thickness of 3 cm.

However, we were pleasantly surprised by the battery life. For a model designed for gaming, the computer performs remarkably well. It lasted for 7 hours and 20 minutes during video playback on Netflix via the Chrome browser, with brightness set at 200 cd/m², keyboard backlighting and Bluetooth turned off, and headphones plugged in with the volume set at 50%. This is a very strong result when you consider that many competitors barely reach 4 hours. It even outperforms some laptops dedicated to office work. The secret? A battery with a capacity of 90 Wh, close to the maximum that a laptop can accommodate.

Read Also: Review of ASUS ROG Flow X13

Pros and Cons of ASUS ROG Strix G16

Pros

Build quality.

Performance of the Core i5.

Very good battery life for a gaming PC.

Comprehensive connectivity.

Cons

The GeForce RTX 4050 doesn’t soar very high…

Limited screen brightness.

Mediocre webcam.

No Windows.

Related: ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 16 2023 Gaming Laptop Review

Conclusion

The ASUS Rog Strix G16 is a good PC in many respects. Firstly, its quality design stands on par with models that sometimes cost double or even more. Additionally, it boasts very good battery life and strong processor performance. Unfortunately, this model is equipped with an RTX 4050 graphics card that lags behind other GeForces, even those from the previous generation.

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