ASUS has just released its latest devices in the Zephyrus lineup, and I was absolutely thrilled to get my hands on them to see how they perform — especially since I had previously owned a few older laptops from this line. Looking sleeker and slimmer than previous generations, ASUS still packs them with the latest hardware without compromising performance or overall power. I spent the last few weeks going over the new ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16, the larger model in the lineup. Let’s dig into how my time with it went.
Unboxing/First Impressions
The unboxing experience this year was certainly different from previous years, when everything was contained in a single suitcase-style box. This year, ASUS has separated the laptop from the charging adapter, giving the overall presentation a more premium feel, similar to unboxing a Razer Blade Stealth 13 I owned several years ago.
While you won’t find much beyond the laptop and a 240-watt adapter — and, of course, the usual warranty and safety paperwork — I still find myself wishing ASUS would pack in some added extras, like mice or slim cases, as it did many years ago.
This year’s ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 comes in two colours: Eclipse Gray and Platinum White — my unit being the latter. Both colours feature a full CNC aluminum chassis that not only looks and feels more premium but is also a significant improvement over the model I previously owned, which was made of plastic that tended to crack and break after extended use. This also enhances overall chassis rigidity, not that I ever had an issue with that in the past.
Like past generations, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus lineup is not a cheap option, but it offers high-end performance in a form factor compact and portable enough for most environments. My review unit, as configured, comes in at a price tag of $5,299 CAD, which is likely to be out of reach for many people. However, it includes the latest Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 with 16 GB of GDDR7, 64 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, and a spacious 2 TB NVMe SSD. It also features the latest Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity.
Weighing in at well under five pounds, this isn’t exactly a feather-light ultrabook, but it still places the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 among the lightest 16-inch laptops on the market — even lighter than the Razer Blade 16 or MacBook Pro 16. Looking around the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16, ASUS has totally nailed it this year in terms of I/O on the chassis — something more companies could learn from, as this is what I believe should be standard on any gaming or productivity laptop.
Along the left side of the device, ASUS again uses its proprietary power plug. While I’m still not completely sold on it, it does at least appear to be compatible with other ASUS laptops, making it a bit easier to accept. Also on the left are an HDMI 2.1 port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and a headphone/microphone combo jack.
Over on the right side, you’ll find a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, another USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, and — thankfully — a full-size SD card slot. This is something I find myself using more often than others might, particularly because of my hobbies involving retro-emulation handhelds. While a third USB-C port on the right would have been nice, the wide range of ports provided should be more than enough for most users.
The top cover features ASUS’s new Slash Lighting, similar to the AniMe lighting found on other laptops like the Strix G16 I previously reviewed. It gives the device a subtle, almost futuristic flair — as if I’m using a laptop straight out of Cyberpunk 2077. Also on the top cover is a subtly placed ROG logo in the lower-left corner of the lid, which I personally prefer over the reflective logo on my old model.
Keyboard/Touch Pad
While we’re looking at the overall design and build, let’s take a look at what’s under the lid when you open the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 — specifically, the keyboard and touchpad. The keyboard is a well-spaced, chiclet-style layout, featuring a power button and four additional hotkeys unique to ASUS, which users can program for a wide range of functions.
The keys themselves are white and RGB backlit. In some lighting conditions, I found this made it a little harder to read the individual key labels. One minor gripe I had was the lack of a fingerprint reader built into the power button — especially since the design looks like it could easily support one. While not a major issue, since Windows Hello facial recognition is still supported, it would have been a great backup solution for those who prefer not to use facial login.
Key actuation was a pleasant surprise this year compared to previous models. Gone are the days of mushy-feeling keys that lacked stability. I was delighted to find ASUS had finally improved the keyboard’s tactile feel, with firmer key presses and significantly more stability. I was able to hit the corners of each key without missing a stroke. It’s great to see more manufacturers taking the keyboards on their gaming laptops seriously and making them more enjoyable to use.
The touchpad was another pleasant surprise. It now takes up almost half of the lower palm rest area and is roughly 1.5 times the size of my iPhone 16e. ASUS has retained the traditional diving board-style buttons along the bottom edge — something that felt a little odd after adapting to a laptop with a haptic touchpad. Still, my fingers glided smoothly across the surface, and I had no complaints about its performance.
Display
ASUS continues to impress me with how gorgeous a display it can pack into such compact form factors. This year’s ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 features a 2.5K 16:10 display that covers 100 percent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and delivers an impressive 240 Hz refresh rate. Colour accuracy was excellent, and watching videos was a great experience. Going back to other systems I own that only feature a 60 Hz screen felt like a drag — especially after getting used to this one.
I’m also thankful to see more gaming laptops adopting taller aspect ratio screens, as I can generally get more done when it comes time for actual work. While wider screens are typically nicer for gaming, allowing you to see more of the in-game environment, the 16:10 aspect ratio feels like the sweet spot for me. It’s wide enough for immersive gameplay while also being tall enough to run two programs side by side and still have enough vertical space to work comfortably.
Battery Life
ASUS has always worked some magic when it comes to battery life on its Zephyrus lineup. The company consistently manages to squeeze impressive endurance out of its machines without compromising performance — and this year is no exception.
ASUS has packed a large 90-watt-hour battery into this laptop, delivering an impressive nine to 12 hours of battery life — remarkable for a gaming laptop and better than some ultrabooks on the market. Of course, that figure applies to lighter productivity tasks, but it still makes the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 an excellent choice for students or professionals who need a powerful system but can’t always be near an outlet when it’s time to recharge.
Audio/Speakers
ASUS spared no expense in ensuring the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 has an impressive sound system built into its slim chassis. Despite its thin profile, the laptop features a total of six integrated speakers: four 2-watt woofers paired with dual 1-watt tweeters, delivering an exceptional audio experience.
The audio was clear, crisp and rich, making this one of the best-sounding gaming laptops I’ve tested to date. While most laptops tend to fall short in bass and low tones, the ROG Zephyrus G16 produced enough bass to deliver immersive sound whether gaming, watching movies or listening to music.
Performance
Now we get to the part you’ve been waiting for — how the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 performs across a variety of scenarios. I’m pleased to say it does not disappoint, although there are a few things to keep in mind. My review unit was equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and 64 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, making it one of the highest-end configurations available — and it’s an absolute beast of a machine.
Starting with benchmark testing, I ran the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 in Turbo mode for all tests, and I was genuinely impressed by the performance numbers it delivered. In Cinebench R23, the laptop scored 20,172 points in multi-core mode. While that’s not the highest number I’ve ever seen from a gaming laptop, it’s still a very respectable result for a system this thin and compact.
In a more demanding test like 3DMark Time Spy, the system produced an excellent overall score of 15,492 — with 12,770 in the CPU test and 16,098 in the GPU test. Again, these aren’t record-breaking scores, but they are more than acceptable for a gaming laptop — especially one as feature-packed as the ROG Zephyrus G16.
Gaming
Of course, where the performance of a gaming laptop really matters is how it handles actual gameplay — and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 absolutely knocks it out of the park. It handled every game I tested with ease. While the fans can get quite audible at times, this generally isn’t an issue if you’re using a good pair of headphones or earbuds.
To start, I tested one of the more demanding titles in my library, Cyberpunk 2077. Playing at fully maxed-out settings and the highest resolution the game allowed, I was shocked to see the ROG Zephyrus G16 maintain a consistent 140 to 160 frames per second at all times. As a result, I was fully immersed in the game and ended up playing for hours on end.
Next, I turned to BeamNG.drive, which I find pushes systems harder than most games. Even with all settings maxed out, I consistently reached frame rates of 80 to 100+ FPS, depending on the vehicle and map. While it didn’t feel quite as smooth as Cyberpunk, it was still absolutely playable at all times.
One of my favourite gaming sessions came while playing Grand Theft Auto V: Enhanced Edition. The improved visuals made the experience far more enjoyable, and the Zephyrus G16 handled it wonderfully. At no point did I experience stuttering or lag, and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute.
The biggest concern I encountered during gaming was thermal performance. While every game I tested ran incredibly well, I found the bottom of the laptop became uncomfortably hot during extended play — especially when using it on my lap. While this may not be an issue for those gaming at a desk, I’d recommend using a cooling pad or hard surface if you plan to game on the couch or in bed.
Conclusion
To wrap everything up, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is an outstanding all-around system that not only delivers top-tier specs and performance but also packages it all in a sleek, slim profile that wouldn’t look out of place in a professional setting. Its long-lasting battery ensures you can stay away from outlets throughout the day, whether you’re handling business tasks or attending classes.
I hope more manufacturers take note of the excellent connectivity, as ASUS has included everything you could possibly need on the move. This makes the ROG Zephyrus G16 a compelling choice not only for students and business professionals but also for media creators and photographers looking for a powerful, portable system that doesn’t weigh them down.
