ASUS can’t keep on doing this. I’ve already declared that two of their laptops, the ROG Strix G15 and the ROG Zephyrus G15 as one of the best (probably) gaming laptops of 2022. However, they still managed to up the ante by releasing the ROG Flow X16. This laptop is looking like the be-all end-all solution to mobile gaming. It can fold, it has a touch-screen, and it’s incredibly thin and light. But is it worth it? Is it actually good? Let’s take the ROG Flow X16 2022 for a spin in this review.
| Operating System | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor |
AMD Ryzen™ 9 6900HS Mobile Processor (8-core/16-thread, 16MB cache, up to 4.9 GHz max boost)
|
| Graphics |
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 3060 Laptop GPU
ROG Boost: 1475MHz* at 125W (1425MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 100W+25W Dynamic Boost) 6GB GDDR6 |
| Display |
ROG Nebula HDR Display
16-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) glossy display DCI-P3: 100% Touch Screen Refresh Rate: 165Hz Response Time: 3ms Mini LED FreeSync Premium Pro Pantone Validated Support stylus: Yes MUX Switch + Optimus Support Dolby Vision HDR : Yes |
| Memory |
32GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM x 2
Max Capacity: 64GB Support dual channel memory |
| Storage |
1TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 Performance SSD
|
| I/O Ports |
1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.0b support HDMI switch, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC, 1x ROG XG Mobile Interface, 1x MicroSD slot
|
| Keyboard and Touchpad |
Touchpad
Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB Touchpad |
| Camera |
720P HD IR Camera for Windows Hello
|
| Audio |
Smart Amp Technology
Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification Support Microsoft Cortana near field/Far field Built-in 3-microphone array 4-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology |
| Network and Communication |
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.2 (*BT version may change with OS version different.)
|
| Battery |
90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion
|
| Power Supply |
ø6.0, 240W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal
|
| AURA SYNC | Yes |
| Weight |
2.10 Kg (4.63 lbs)
|
| Dimensions (W x D x H) |
35.5 x 24.3 x 1.94 ~ 1.94 cm (13.98″ x 9.57″ x 0.76″ ~ 0.76″)
|
| Security |
BIOS Administrator Password and User Password Protection
Trusted Platform Module (Firmware TPM) |
| Included in the Box |
ROG backpack
ROG Impact Gaming Mouse ASUS Pen |
There are different SKUs of the ROG Flow X16 available and what we have for review is the ROG Flow X16 (2022) GV601 GV601RM-M5120X. Although not listed on the official site, the unit comes with an ASUS Pen, an ROG backpack, and an ROG Impact Gaming Mouse (as is tradition). It’s also apparent that the ports listed on the official website do not meet the ones on the device itself. The one sent to us for review has a microSD slot whereas it is not listed on the official product page. It also sports only one USB Type-C port instead of the two on the product page.
Wondering where the RGB lighting is in this ROG gaming laptop? It’s all under the chiclet keyboard. It’s brightly lit and the key marks are distinct enough to work on even in the dark.
The left side is home to the power port, the HDMI 2.0b, a single port for USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C which supports DisplayPort, power delivery, and G-SYNC. Next to the sole USB Type-C port are the ROG XG Mobile Interface port (for external GPU) and the 3.5mm port for audio devices. On the right-most side are the LED indicators for HDD read and power.
Only four distinct features are located on the left side of the ROG X16 Flow. Located here are the power button, a microSD card reader, and two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports.
| Resolution | 2560×1440 | Frame Rates | |||
| Games | Preset | Average | 1% | 0.1% | Notes |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Ultra High | 40 | 29 | 22 | 100% Render Scaling |
| Dota 2 | Best Looking | 86 | 57 | 49 | – |
| Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition | Extreme | 40 | 22 | 15 | DLSS Performance |
| Apex Legends | Highest | 98 | 57 | 50 | – |
| Rainbow Six: Siege | Ultra | 146 | 102 | 81 | 100% Render Scaling |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Highest | 83 | 51 | 24 | DX12, DLSS OFF |
| PUBG | Ultra | 80 | 46 | 23 | 100% Render Scaling |
| Watch Dogs Legion | Ultra | 40 | 22 | 15 | DX12, DLSS OFF |
| Borderlands 3 | Ultra | 49 | 23 | 10 | DX12 |
| Total War: Warhammer 3 | Ultra | 42 | 30 | 28 | DX11 |
There’s not much to say about the gaming performance of the ROG Flow X16. On its own, it can punch and produce pretty decent frames even on a 2560×1440 resolution. It’s not bad but compared to its bigger brothers (ROG Zephyrus G15), it’s not remarkable. This may be due to its thin form factor, severely limiting its cooling and consequently affecting its ability to produce more frames. Again, it’s not a bad gaming laptop; it’s just not exceptional in terms of performance.
These benchmarks are meant to measure the device’s performance relative to other people’s machine. We plugged in a mix of CPU & GPU-intensive tests and other ones that measure the performance of both at the same time.
The numbers below will be quantified into an easy to read chart once we have compiled results from previous reviews. Please do check them out after some time.
3DMark Fire Strike Extreme is designed for multi-GPU systems and future hardware generations. In addition to raising the rendering resolution, additional visual quality improvements increase the rendering load to ensure accurate performance measurements for truly extreme hardware setups.
3DMark Firestrike Extreme but more demanding. Incredibly taxing to the system as the benchmark tests how your PC can render in 4K (3840 x 2160).
3DMark Time Spy is a DirectX 12 benchmark test for Windows 10 gaming PCs. Time Spy is one of the first DirectX 12 apps to be built the right way from the ground up to fully realize the performance gains that the new API offers.
3DMark Port Royal is the world’s first real-time ray tracing benchmark for gamers. It shows you how well your PC handles ray tracing effects in real-time.
Benchmark Score: 5066
Cinebench leverages the same powerful 3D engine found in the award-winning animation software Cinema 4D Release 20 to accurately evaluate CPU rendering performance capabilities across various systems and platforms.
Novabench is a free benchmark tool that allows you to see your computer’s overall performance. Its tests CPU, GPU, RAM, and Storage speeds, and gives you an aggregate score that you can use for comparison with other similar setups.
Extreme performance and stability test for PC hardware: video card, power supply, cooling system.
PassMark measures CPU, 2D & 3D GPU, Memory, and Disk speeds. Similar to Novabench, it gives you an aggregate score, giving you an idea on how your PC performs and how it ranks when compared to other computers around the world.
The ROG Nebula Display is back at it again. First seen in the ROG M16 2022, the ROG Nebula is a set of quality specifications that include high frame rates, low response time, Pantone validation, and adaptive-sync among other things. It’s back here in the ROG Flow X16 and it’s a marvel that it’s also a touch-screen now. Again, the clarity of these screens do not translate well on video or pictures so if you have an ROG or laptop store near you, best check these ones out for yourselves.
At more than 2kg, this nifty battle station can be brought to almost anywhere. It’s not too big and not too heavy and the best thing is that you can set it up to be a touch-tablet (if you can carry it), a screen-only unit, or as a secondary screen for your battle station. Talk about versatility. These things can all be done by this single unit and it’s armed to deliver when it comes to gaming. If you plan on going around, this is a good partner to have together with a controller and a gaming mouse.
Since we’ve talked about the touch-screen capabilities, might as well talk about the ROG Flow X16 as a tablet. While not the same size and weight as a conventional one, it can be used present in class or at work as a huge screen. If you plan on solely gaming on this thing, using the touch-screen may not be that much of a thing. However, it’s still good to have it on hand and ready to be used as such. Oh, and it’s also a bit warm when handled.
A common sickness apparent to thin ROG gaming laptops, or thin laptops in general, are the loud fans. The same can be said here. While playing intense games such as Total War: Warhammer III, you’ll likely here the systems going bonkers with the noise of the fan. This can be mitigated by playing with the laptop on tent mode with the keys behind the display. Yes, impossible when playing games such as Total War but it does lower the noise when playing games supported by controllers. On the other hand, you can get a gaming headset to completely do away with the noise produced by these fans.
There’s nothing much to be said about the ROG Flow X16 when it comes to outward appearance. It’s pretty neutral and it does not sport the aggressive aesthetic usually found in ROG gaming laptops. I personally find it a good point as you can use this laptop in the office. It doesn’t have those obnoxious ROG lighting and it won’t stand out during meetings as it doesn’t sport the large pulsating ROG eye logo anywhere. It looks so professional and plain that for students, you can even tell your parents that it’s something for school *wink* *wink*.
While it does not have incredibly impressive frame rates, the ROG Flow X16 comes with enough firepower to handle most recent games. The tests above were done in 1440p so doing it in 1080p would obviously net better numbers. With that said, it’s still a decent gaming laptop that can act as a very reliable entertainment device. Not to mention that it’s touch-screen and can be bent to appear as a stand-alone screen. Actual mobile gaming right here, folks.
Compared to other ROG laptops, the ROG Flow X16 has a lot of things that it can do but lags in terms of raw performance. With the same amount, or even a bit less, you can buy an ROG Zephyrus G15 with almost the same screen and hardware. The Zephyrus G15 2022 can come with a better graphics card in the Nvidia RTX 3070Ti. You get all of that hardware and power for less than what you’ll probably pay for the ROG Flow X16. On the other hand, you do pay a premium for the folding screen, touch-screen capabilities, the possibility for upgrades, and compactness in the ROG Flow X16. Is it worth it? It depends.
I have nothing but praises for the ROG Flow X16. It has good hardware in it, is expandable, and is remarkably versatile. You can say that it has the hallmarks of a true daily driver. You can use it during meetings, present with it using its sexy touch screen (that lights up like a star going supernova), and play without any hitches once you get back home. It can be used how you like it making it more of an incredible handy tool rather than just a thin laptop that can run modern games. There’s nothing much to complain here… except the price, of course.
The ROG Flow X16 is locally available in the Philippines and you can buy it either online or in-stores. It has an SRP of PhP 164,995.
For the full product details, check out the ROG Flow X16’s product page.
For our latest gaming laptop reviews, check out the below articles for some alternatives to the ROG Flow X16:
