Asus ROG Strix Scar 16
Value: $2,899
CPU: Intel Core i9-13980HX
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080
RAM: 32GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Show: 16-inch, QHD+, 240Hz, Mini LED
Measurement: 13.94 x 10.39 x 0.89 inches
Weight: 5.51 kilos
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 isn’t only a nice laptop computer, it’s the most recent member of our greatest gaming laptops and greatest Asus laptops pages a powerful suggestion that perhaps you don’t want that RTX 4090 within the greater Strix Scar 18.
Now I do know that’s going to get some readers scratching their heads with confusion (and likelihood is my boss will kill me for suggesting her favourite laptop computer is a bit of redundant), however bear with me right here.
As we undergo, I’m going to point out you that by spending much less, you’re additionally getting a greater price-to-performance ratio — all in a smaller, extra transportable chassis that sports activities the identical unbelievable mini LED show. Let’s get into it.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 value and configurations
So I begin with the inevitable information with any RTX 40 sequence laptop computer in the intervening time: this machine is fairly expensive. The present going value is $2,999 (opens in new tab) — yikes!
However for that, you might be getting a reasonably respectable spec sheet with an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4.0 SSD, and that beasty RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB GDDR6 video reminiscence.
This additionally is available in means beneath its 4090 brethren. Extra particularly, it’s $800 lower than the ROG Strix Scar 18. As for similarly-priced competitors, that is $100 greater than the Alienware m17 R5 (AMD Benefit version). You’ll perceive why I’m evaluating it to the vastly dearer Scar 18 quickly.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 design
Sharing a near-identical aesthetic to the Strix Scar 18, you’re going to see the duality that exists inside our workforce — the great thing about differing opinions. As a result of whereas our Editor in Chief, Sherri L. Smith loves the flashy futurism of the entire thing, I’ve all the time most popular one thing a bit of extra refined.
To not say this doesn’t appear and feel premium. Removed from it! Actually, whereas I’ve referred to as quite a lot of gaming laptops “cringe” in my previous, that is positively on the decrease finish of that scale. The aluminum casing on prime has a pleasant, metallic sensation as you progress your fingers over the floor, which is interrupted solely by the sleek glossiness of the ROG brand emblazoned throughout it.
From the Customizable Armour Cap spherical again to the practically all-black development, every part right here is enterprise as standard when in comparison with the Scar 18, and that features the RGB lighting that surrounds the system by its clear edges and the keyboard.
That basic sword unsheathing sound impact upon turning on the laptop computer is accompanied by a sluggish crimson pulse, that provides strategy to the approaching flash flood of colour. Fortunately, you may customise the colours and patterns to one thing rather less “child stealing his mother’s bank card for extra V Bucks,” however I did really fairly like the sunshine present on right here — particularly the refined illuminating waves around the rear exhaust vents.
Talking of opening the laptop computer and turning it on, whereas that is extra compact than the Scar 18, you’re nonetheless getting that good full-sized keyboard, that’s raised relatively than recessed to offer you a greater sense of hand placement. And also you’ll discover the ability button simply above the house/finish key.
As for dimensions, you’re a reasonably hefty laptop computer right here — not shocking given it’s an enthusiast-tier gaming system (13.94 x 10.39 x 0.89 inches, and weighing 5.51 kilos). Nonetheless, as it is a 16-inch mannequin, it’s smaller and lighter than the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (15.7 x 11.6 x 0.9~1.2 inches, 6.8 kilos), and the Alienware m17 R5 (14.1 x 10.2 x 1.1 inches, 5.6 kilos).
For a extra even comparability, the Razer Blade 16 does pip it to the put up at 13.98 x 9.61 x 0.87 inches and a slightly lighter weight of 5.4 kilos.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 ports
For the port choice, you’ll discover every part you want for an optimum gaming expertise — sufficient I/O for equipment and connectivity.
On the left, there’s the three.5mm audio jack, two USB-C sockets (one is USB 3.2 Gen 2, and the opposite is Thunderbolt 4), HDMI 2.1, Ethernet, and the proprietary energy port.
Flip over to the fitting, and also you’ll discover two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Sort-A, and that’s it. As somebody who discovered getting artistic work executed on this Mini LED show a pleasure, I might like to have seen an SD card slot on right here, however Asus has one clear target market in thoughts right here. In case you do want extra, try our greatest laptop computer docking stations and greatest USB Sort-C hubs pages.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 show
Whether or not it’s the Scar 18 or ROG Zephyrus M16, Asus has been killing it on the show entrance, and the Scar 16’s ROG Nebula HDR show is not any totally different. Feasting your eyes upon the flash flood of colour and properly balanced distinction ratio makes for a splendid unfold of vividity in your gaming.
Breaking down the specs, our evaluation mannequin sported a 16-inch mini-LED show with a QHD+ (2560 x 1600) decision, and a 240Hz refresh charge. With assist for Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR and Pantone validation, that is going to offer you an impressively deep distinction ratio and correct colour science — whether or not you’re gaming or working.
And naturally, the swap to Nvidia’s Superior Optimus makes extracting the absolute best efficiency out of the Scar 16 a cinch. Principally, it’s an automatic MUX Swap to attach the show on to the dGPU by software program, and (because the title suggests) HDR.
Firing up the brand new rally growth on Forza Horizon 5 exhibits the impressively wealthy colour on provide right here. Don’t get me incorrect, it’s not OLED ranges of a portrait, however when dashing by the luminous greens and vivid shades of the jungle and its plumage in first particular person, you might be fooled into pondering you’re gazing by the windscreen.
Pair that with a powerful depth coming from the HDR-driven distinction ratio, which actually offers every part a pleasant depth, and it’s straightforward to get hooked and lose many hours to any sport. To check this power of the show additional, I fired up the Resident Evil 4 remake, and whereas Capcom has already executed a incredible job of amping up the strain, each darkish nook turns into all of the extra terrifying with deeper blacks.
We’re nonetheless ready for out lab testing (as soon as we get the outcomes, I’ll replace this part), however I’m pretty sure that you simply’re going to like this show for all use circumstances — from modifying an intensely vivid image in Photoshop, to watching the neon greens shine off the display throughout Cyberpunk 2077.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 keyboard and touchpad
The Strix Scar 16 tells a story as previous as time relating to gaming laptops: the keyboard feels nice, however the touchpad isn’t a precedence.
Don’t get me incorrect, it’s not unusable. The big floor has a pleasant, easy high quality in your fingers to glide over, and also you’ll discover assist for Home windows 11 contact gestures. However the click on response feels relatively mushy to the purpose the place you’re not really certain whether or not your enter is acquired — extra like pushing down on a sponge than a strong swap.
In the meantime, the low profile Chiclet keys are a pleasure to kind on with 1.7mm of journey, to the good dimension and dish of every key, this supplies a wonderful typing expertise. I scored a mean of 85 phrases per minute on the 10fastfingers.com typing check, which is above my standard 80 wpm.
Plus, as you’re employed/play lengthy into the evening, RGB shines by every key brightly and supplies an excellent luminosity throughout the whole board.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 audio
The quad audio system on the ROG Strix Scar 16 pack Dolby Atmos assist, and in contrast to the Zephyrus M16, you’ll discover a respectable quantity of bass complementing that well-rounded definition to the highs and mids.
4 12 months Sturdy’s cowl of “Bittersweet Symphony” blasted the audio system at full quantity with zero distortion, whereas preserving the small print of the crunchy guitars and hovering vocals, and offering a pleasant thump to the bass kick.
This interprets properly into gaming, too, with the operatic stream and chaotic SFX of Halo Infinite being dealt with with an nearly professional precision to ship that dramatic affect. After all, they’re laptop computer audio system, so don’t anticipate tremendous excessive ranges of heat, however for what you get, these audio system are nearer to the 14-inch MacBook Professional aspect of the speaker high quality scale.
And whereas that is extra about efficiency than audio, it’s price noting that the fan sound is fairly substantial. Not that it takes away from the general expertise, however you may inform these new internals are actually pushing the boundaries of thermal administration inside this chassis.
After all, for the very best audio expertise, try our record of greatest gaming headsets.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 gaming and graphics
Let’s be sincere, that is the half most of you got here to see, proper? You wish to see how an RTX 4080 laptop computer stands up in opposition to the cream of the crop within the 4090. Nicely, I’m right here to say that not solely does it carry out admirably, this GPU is powerful sufficient to supply (arguably) the very best price-to-performance ratio throughout the whole RTX 40 sequence.
As a result of when going for something lower than the prime quality, you’re trying to squeeze sufficient juice out of these specs to be worthwhile. And the RTX 4080 laptop computer GPU, with 232 Tensor cores and 58 ray tracing cores, greater than holds its personal.
Inevitably, it annihilates the earlier technology Alienware m17 R5’s AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT, however simply have a look at how shut it will get to the extra highly effective Strix Scar 18.
| 3DMark Benchmark | Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 | Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | Alienware m17 R5 (AMD Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fireplace Strike | 31761 | 33138 | 28255 |
| Time Spy | 16976 | 18327 | 12089 |
| Fireplace Strike Extremely | 11142 | 12655 | 8156 |
| Time Spy Excessive | 8842 | 9513 | 5654 |
| Port Royal (Ray Tracing) | 11359 | 12345 | 5819 |
It will get much more uncomfortable for Asus’ $3,700 18-inch monster if you run a easy value/profit evaluation right here. Taking the 3DMark Fireplace Strike outcomes for instance, the Scar 16 comes out at 9 cents per efficiency level, whereas the Scar 18 prices 11 centsper level.
A small distinction if you break it all the way down to such a granular quantity, however positively impactful if you take note of the overall costs. Issues get much more juicy if you really get into the video games.
| Gaming benchmark | Decision | Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 | Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | Alienware m17 R5 (AMD Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 1080p | 147.3 FPS | 152.4 FPS | 103.9 FPS |
| Row 1 – Cell 0 | QHD+ | 112.5 FPS | 132.1 FPS | 32.7 FPS (4K) |
| DiRT 5 | 1080p | 111.4 FPS | 179 FPS | 105.5 FPS |
| Row 3 – Cell 0 | QHD+ | 86 FPS | 146.7 FPS | 48.8 FPS (4K) |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 1080p | 181 FPS | 180.7 FPS | 99 FPS |
| Row 5 – Cell 0 | QHD+ | 143 FPS | 124 FPS | 43 FPS (4K) |
Now, I may discuss how the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 is a pleasure to play video games on. Given the quantity of pure horsepower underneath the hood, setup is a cinch throughout all graphically-intense AAA titles I examined.
The vivid and easy mini-LED show presents each sport with attractive constancy and colour. And the chiclet keyboard is oh-so inviting no matter style you play — from hitting the WASD for shooters to personalised shortcuts in technique titles.
However likelihood is you already knew all of that based mostly on these outcomes, so let’s break them down identical to we did for the 3DMark numbers. Taking Grand Theft Auto V for instance, the Strix Scar 16 prices $25.76 per body per second, whereas the Scar 18 is a flat $28.
And I’ll maintain reminiscent of this, because it’s the identical throughout the board. You might be getting extra in your cash with the RTX 4080 on this machine than you would in pricier RTX 4090 programs. This turns into much more evident if you dip into the Armory Crate and activate Turbo mode (cranking the TGP as much as 175W), and activate Nvidia’s DLSS 3.0.
| Gaming benchmark | Balanced Common | Turbo Mode | DLSS 3.0 (balanced) | Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (DLSS 3.0 balanced) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forza Horizon 5 (Excessive settings QHD+) | 69 FPS | 63.1 FPS | 89 FPS | n/a |
| Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing: Extremely WHD+) | 35.1 FPS | 36.5 FPS | 79.9 FPS | 108.8 FPS |
After all, this supersampling is on the market on RTX 4090 too, so it’s solely truthful we do the identical value breakdown right here, and that is the one half the place the upper spec pulls forward in worth. Not solely did the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16’s RTX 4090 break the fabled 100 fps barrier for Cyberpunk 2077, the price per body is about at $32, and the Scar 16 at $36.
But when AI body technology is the one place the place the 4090 pulls forward, it may be argued that these GPUs are rather a lot nearer than Nvidia suggests in its advertising and marketing materials. For you, which means it can save you large and nonetheless get an superior gaming expertise.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 efficiency
We flip our consideration to the remainder of the Strix Scar 16: an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD.
Given this is similar CPU as you’ll discover within the Scar 18, the numbers are principally neck and neck, whereas the Alienware m17 R5 is in a really distant final place.
| Efficiency benchmark | Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 | Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 | Alienware m17 R5 (AMD Benefit) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5 (single-core) | 2014 | 2066 | 1516 |
| Geekbench 5 (multicore) | 19291 | 19233 | 9851 |
| Handbrake (transcoding 4K film to 1080p) | 02:50 | 02:49 | 05:30 |
And that CPU (which destroys the premium gaming laptop computer geekbench common of 8,533) paired with a speedy NVMe SSD implies that this powerhouse transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in a lightning fast 2 minutes and 50 seconds on our HandBrake benchmark, which blazes previous the class common (6:38), the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX-armed m17 R5 (5:30) and practically matches the Scar 18 (2:49).
With that massive quantity of DDR5 RAM, real-world use was lightning quick and not using a trace of decelerate. The M16 held its personal in opposition to my most intense multitasking situation — Forza Horizon 5 working within the background, 20 Google Chrome tabs, together with a number of movies, a RAW photograph edit in Photoshop, and a posh system working on an enormous Excel file. Not solely that, however issues get a bit of sooner if you activate Turbo Mode.
| Efficiency benchmark | Balanced Common | Turbo Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 5.4 (multicore) | 19291 | 20819 |
This all proves one key factor. Whereas the first goal of this machine is gaming (from the laptop computer’s aesthetic to port choice, that a lot is apparent), you cancrush quite a lot of performance-intensive duties on right here too. So if you’d like one thing that may be a video modifying workhorse by day and your go-to gaming system by evening, that is the one to get.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 battery life
Initially, I’ll rapidly point out we haven’t lab examined the battery in right here but, so these will probably be based mostly on my hands-on impressions. Nonetheless, the battery life is definitely a bit of higher than I feared.
Don’t get me incorrect. It is a thirsty gaming laptop computer — like “getting sexy on most important” ranges of thirst, however one factor works to the Strix Scar 16’s favor right here. First, it shares the identical dimension 90 WHr cell because the Scar 18, so with a smaller show to energy, it ought to logically last more. Whereas it may very well be argued that the RTX 4080 has much less energy dependency, it sports activities the identical TGP because the 4090, so the variations right here can be negligible.
On an informal day of use, together with Chrome, Photoshop and a few Spotify listening, the effectivity cores aren’t actually doing that a lot, as I make it by from 9 a.m. to roughly 1 p.m. earlier than I have to plug in or lose my work. That’s significantly longer than my previous experiences with gaming laptops, and I’m pretty assured you’ll see that mirrored within the impending outcomes.
Overlook all that relating to gaming. In case you have been ever as daft as to attempt to play Cyberpunk on the battery (turning graphics settings all the way down to medium and lowering the decision to 1080p), I managed to get simply over an hour out of it. Any greater settings and you’ll drain it in 45 minutes simply.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 webcam
What’s the very first thing an organization sacrifices on the altar of creating a belter gaming laptop computer? The webcam, and that is no totally different with the ROG Strix Scar 16, which produces the image high quality equal of the digital camera attachment I linked to the underside of my Sony Ericsson T310.
Simply have a look at that image… Holy potato, Batman! Colours are largely correct, aside from making me appear to be I’m completely blushing). And with an amazing mushy look to all pictures in all circumstances, together with extra noise than your common household Zoom name throughout lockdown in low gentle, you’re greatest off avoiding embarrassment and trying out our greatest webcams web page for a greater digital camera.
Not solely is it a foul webcam, however with out Home windows IR capabilities, it’s a pointless, dangerous webcam.
Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 warmth
We don’t have lab outcomes for thermal administration but, however the chunky exhaust vents across the again and sides present loads of room for the Tri-Fan expertise, liquid steel on the CPU and GPU, and 7 heatpipes to dissipate warmth rather well — to the purpose that there was no discomfort touching the keyboard or touchpad, and that I noticed no thermal throttling to efficiency.
In case you do go in search of spice, you will discover it. The underside heats up rapidly underneath gaming stress (don’t use this on a pillow), and when the followers kick as much as a loud, excessive gear, the air exhausted may very well be its personal warmth supply and be the reply to these sky excessive fuel payments.
Your shiny new Scar 16 is gasping for air, so ensure you use it in a means that provides it good circulation!
Asus ROG Circulate X16 software program and guarantee
Crucial app onboard the ROG Strix Scar 16 is Armoury Crate. Throughout the app, you may configure efficiency, monitor your parts’ thermals, change fan pace, regulate show colour, and even customise the RGB lighting results. There’s additionally an “Aura Wallpaper” with lighting results that may be utilized to the laptop computer’s background.
It’s a neat trick, however because it takes up GPU assets to make use of, I didn’t wish to impede on the M16’s efficiency. There’s additionally the MyAsus app, which provides you entry to your guarantee info, updates for parts and varied battery choices.
To guard your buy, the Scar 16 comes with a one-year restricted guarantee. See how Asus carried out on our Tech Assist Showdown and Greatest and Worst Manufacturers rating.
Backside line
Satisfied by my large declare up prime? You need to be. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 isn’t just an important gaming laptop computer, it affords spectacular worth throughout the crop of recent RTX 40-series programs.
The combo breaker of spectacular graphical and compute efficiency makes this a critical pace demon, it doesn’t matter what you throw at it. And when these comparisons to the far dearer RTX 4090 laptops just like the Strix Scar 18, you’re getting extra in your cash (even when that value is a bit of steep).
Pair that with a mouthwatering mini LED show, stellar keyboard, and a ton of I/O, and this can be a tremendous strong all-rounder. No matter my small points, if you wish to bounce into the RTX 40 sequence household, cease and assume earlier than you spend an excessive amount of, and contemplate the Strix Scar 16.
