At CES 2025, Asus announced its 2025 range of ROG laptops. Focusing big time on AI, new Nvidia RTX 50 series GPUs and more. Let’s examine each laptop, with detailed specifications.
Quick Summary
- ROG Strix SCAR 16 & 18: Flagship gaming laptops with Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, new chassis, end-to-end vapor chamber, and tool-less upgrades.
- ROG Strix G16 & G18: High-performance models with AMD Ryzen 9 or Intel Core Ultra 9 options, RTX 50-series GPUs, and improved cooling.
- ROG Zephyrus G14 & G16: Thin-and-light gaming laptops featuring AMD Ryzen AI 9 or Intel Core Ultra 9, RTX 50-series GPUs, and OLED displays.
- ROG Flow Z13 (2025): Gaming tablet powered by AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395, RDNA 3.5 graphics, unified memory architecture, and a new vapor chamber design.
- ROG XG Mobile (2025): External GPU with RTX 5090, Thunderbolt 5, redesigned chassis, and improved cooling.
ROG Strix SCAR 16 and 18
The 2025 SCAR series comes with some of the most ambitious specifications possible. The 2025 ROG Strix Scar series are powered by the Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX and Nvidia RTX 5090 mobile Gpu.
Key Specifications ROG Strix Scar 16 and 18:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX (24 cores, 32 threads)
- GPU: Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU (175W TGP)
- Display: 2.5K mini-LED, 240Hz, 1200 nits peak brightness
- Memory: Up to 64GB DDR5-5600
- Storage: Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (RAID 0)
- Cooling: Custom vapor chamber with Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal
- Special Features: Tool-less chassis design, AniMe Vision array
The design of the new ROG Strix Scar is refreshed. There is now Anime Vision display at external top lid of the laptop. Then at the back of the laptop, there is ROG branding, looks nice. Plus there is a great new way to open the laptop now, without any screws called tool less chassis design
Under the hood, the SCAR models boast the next-gen Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX, paired with the monstrous NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. This combination is capable of pushing out incredible frame rates in even the most demanding AAA titles, as well as handling creative workloads with ease.
To keep these powerful components cool, there is also a new cooling system. ASUS has implemented a sandwiched heatsink design with custom vapor chambers, which according to Asus – can maintain a surprisingly quiet 45dB under full load.
That’s notably quieter than previous generation SCARs, which could get quite loud under heavy gaming sessions.
The tool-less design is particularly noteworthy – it’s the first implementation I’ve seen on a gaming laptop that actually works well in practice. One button press, and you have access to upgrade components, no screwdrivers required.
It all sounds incredibly compelling. With this kind of hardware and design, the new Strix SCAR models are poised to be absolute beasts. We will surely be covering more detailed articles once they are generally available in the market.
ROG Strix G16 and G18:
The Strix G series sits just below the SCAR models in ROG’s lineup. For 2025, the Strix G16 and G18 offer a choice between AMD and Intel. The AMD models (G614/G814) pack the Ryzen 9 9955HX/9955HX3D, while Intel variants feature the Core Ultra 9 275HX.
Specs:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D (G16), AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX (G18), or Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 275HX (G16/G18)
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080, 5070 Ti, or 5070 Laptop GPU
- Display: 16-inch or 18-inch 2.5K Nebula Display, 240Hz, 3ms, 100% DCI-P3, ACR technology
- Memory: Up to 32GB DDR5-5600 RAM
- Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
- Cooling: 7 heat pipes, full-surround vents, full-width heatsink, optional tri-fan solution, 1080p FHD camera, dual speakers with Dolby Atmos
- Other: Dual PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD slots (Intel models support PCIe Gen 5 on both slots, AMD on one), customizable hotkeys, pixel patterns (AMD models), full-surround Aura RGB lighting (Intel models)
For GPUs there will be option with RTX 5080, 5070 Ti, or 5070 Laptop GPUs.
Cooling is handled by 7 heat pipes, full-surround vents, and a full-width heatsink, with some models featuring a tri-fan solution.
Both Intel and AMD variants showcase different approaches to high-performance gaming.
The Intel variant is its implementation of the Core Ultra 9 275HX. This 24-core, 32-thread processor represents a significant departure from traditional mobile chips, offering desktop-class performance thanks to advanced power management and cooling solutions.
While the AMD variant’s inclusion of 3D V-Cache technology provides an interesting alternative, particularly for games that benefit from larger L3 cache. In our informed view, we think there will be slightly better performance in strategy games and MMOs on the AMD model, while the Intel version showed advantages in tasks requiring single-thread performance.
ROG Zephyrus G14 & G16: Ultraportable Powerhouses
The Zephyrus line continues its tradition of balancing performance and portability, but 2025 brings some new updates.
The G16 can be configured with up to an RTX 5090, while the G14 goes up to an RTX 5080. The displays are stunning OLED panels, with the G14 sporting a 3K 120Hz screen and the G16 a 2.5K 240Hz option.
The displays are also Pantone validated with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, making them equally suitable for content creation. The new G14 is slightly thicker than the 2024 model, allowing for improved cooling.
ROG Zephyrus G16
The larger Zephyrus maintains the series’ premium build while offering more screen real estate:
Key Specifications of Zephyrus G16:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 285H
- Graphics: Up to RTX 5090 Mobile
- Display: 2.5K ROG Nebula OLED | 240Hz refresh rate | 0.2ms response time
- Weight: 1.85kg
- Thickness: 1.49cm
- Cooling: Vapor chamber setup
- Special Features:
- Advanced Arc Flow Fans
- AI-enhanced noise cancellation
- Thunderbolt 4 connectivity
Zephyrus G14
The G14, available in both AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and Intel Core Ultra 9 285H variants, maintains its portable 1.5kg weight while incorporating significant performance improvements.
Key Specifications of Zephyrus G14:
- CPU: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370
- GPU: Up to RTX 5080 Laptop GPU
- Display: 3K 120Hz OLED, 0.2ms response time
- Weight: 1.5kg
- Thickness: 1.59cm
- Cooling: 47% thermal coverage, advanced heat pipes
The 2025 G14 is slightly thicker than its predecessor 2024 G14, incorporating a small bump on the bottom for improved cooling.
The shift to OLED technology in the Zephyrus series is particularly noteworthy. The G14 features a 3K OLED panel with 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time, while the G16 pushes this further with a 240Hz refresh rate.
ROG Flow Z13: Redefining Mobile Gaming
The 2025 Flow Z13 challenges conventional gaming form factors. By integrating AMD’s Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with Radeon 8060S graphics, ASUS has created a tablet that genuinely games. The unified memory architecture and 50 TOPS NPU compute power suggest this isn’t just a tablet with gaming aspirations – it’s a gaming device that happens to be a tablet.
The 2-in-1 gaming tablet that challenges conventional gaming form factors:
Specifications of ROG FLOW Z13:
- Processor: AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with Radeon 8060S graphics
- AI Performance: 50 TOPS NPU compute power
- Display: 2.5K ROG Nebula Touch
- 180Hz refresh rate
- Pantone Validated
- 100% DCI-P3 coverage
- Touch and stylus support
- Memory: Unified memory architecture
- Battery: 70Wh (up to 10 hours usage)
- Cooling System:
- Stainless steel vapor chamber
- 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans
- Near-silent operation under load
- Special Features:
- 170° kickstand
- ROG Command Center
- Detachable keyboard
- Premium CNC aluminum build
The 2.5K ROG Nebula touch display with 180Hz refresh rate addresses common gaming tablet compromises. ASUS has tackled thermal concerns with a stainless steel vapor chamber and 2nd Gen Arc Flow Fans, allowing sustained gaming performance in a tablet form factor. The 70Wh battery promising 10 hours of use indicates ASUS hasn’t sacrificed practicality for performance.
XG Mobile: External Graphics Evolved
The 2025 XG Mobile represents a significant rethinking of external GPUs. Housing an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU in the smallest XG Mobile chassis yet, it brings desktop-class graphics to compatible laptops through Thunderbolt 5 connectivity.
The redesigned vapor chamber, offering 150% more surface area than traditional heat pipes, addresses the primary challenge of external GPUs – thermal management in a compact form factor.
ROG’s 2025 lineup is impressive. The Strix SCAR series remains the performance king, while the Zephyrus line continues to impress with its balance of power and portability.
However, the true test will come in real-world performance, particularly how well these laptops manage their thermal profiles under sustained loads. The promised performance figures are impressive, but gaming laptops live and die by their ability to maintain performance over time. We’ll be covering about all this when the laptops become available generally in the market.
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