Just before the year ends, we get another ROG gaming laptop on our desk. This time, we review the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024, a gaming laptop filled with the latest and the most powerful hardware available. But then again, should you buy it? If so, how much is the Zephyrus G16 2024 and is it worth it? Let’s find out in this review!
| ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) GU605 | |
| Operating System | Windows 11 Home |
| Processor | Intel® Core™ Ultra 9 Processor 185H 2.3 GHz (24MB Cache, up to 5.1 GHz, 16 cores, 22 Threads); Intel® AI Boost NPU |
| Graphics | NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 4080 Laptop GPU (542 AI TOPs) ROG Boost: 1970MHz* at 115W (1920MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 95W+20W Dynamic Boost) 12GB GDDR6 |
| Neural Processor | Intel® AI Boost NPU |
| Display | ROG Nebula Display 16-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) 16:10 aspect ratio OLED Glossy display DCI-P3: 100% Refresh Rate: 240Hz Response Time: 0.2ms G-Sync Pantone Validated MUX Switch + NVIDIA® Advanced Optimus Support Dolby Vision HDR : Yes |
| Memory | 16GB*2 LPDDR5X 7467 on board(Rated speed of RAM module. Actual memory speeds may vary by CPU configuration.) Max Capacity: 32GB Support dual channel memory |
| Storage | 2TB PCIe® 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 Performance SSD 2x M.2 PCIe |
| I/O Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x HDMI 2.1 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery / G-SYNC 1x RJ45 LAN port 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (data speed up to 10Gbps) 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with support for DisplayPort™ / power delivery (data speed up to 10Gbps) 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 with support for DisplayPort™ / power delivery (data speed up to 40Gbps) 1x card reader (SD) (UHS-II, 312MB/s) |
| Keyboard and Touchpad | Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB Touchpad |
| Camera | 1080P FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello |
| Audio | Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification (for headphone) Built-in 3-microphone array 4-speaker (dual force woofer) system with Smart Amplifier Technology, 2 Tweeters |
| Network and Communication | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth® 5.3 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth® version may change with OS version different.) |
| Battery | 90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion |
| Power Supply | Rectangle Conn, 240W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 12A, 240W, Input: 100~240C AC 50/60Hz universal TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal |
| AURA SYNC | Yes |
| Device Lighting | Slash Lighting |
| Weight | 1.95 Kg (4.30 lbs) |
| Dimensions (W x D x H) | 35.4 x 24.6 x 1.49 ~ 1.74 cm (13.94″ x 9.69″ x 0.59″ ~ 0.69″) |
| Microsoft Office | Office Home and Student |
| Xbox Game Pass | Xbox Game Pass for PC_3 months (*Terms and exclusions apply. Offer only available in eligible markets for Xbox Game Pass for PC. Eligible markets are determined at activation. Game catalog varies by region, device, and time.) |
| Security | BIOS Administrator Password and User Password Protection Trusted Platform Module (Firmware TPM) McAfee® 30 days free trial |
| Included in the Box | ROG Zephyrus G16 Sleeve (2024) ROG Impact Gaming Mouse TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal |
The ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 has four variants. Aside from colors, the hardware also varies a bit. For more information on the different SKUs, visit the product page here.
| Resolution | 2560×1600 | Frame Rates | Notes | ||
| Games | Preset | Average | 1% | 0.1% | Notes (Score, etc.) |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Ultra High | 88 | 53 | 32 | 100% Render Scaling |
| Dota 2 | Best Looking | 114 | 56 | 47 | – |
| Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition | Extreme | 43 | 27 | 20 | – |
| Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker | Maximum | 135 | 67 | 37 | – |
| Rainbow Six: Siege | Ultra | 181 | 115 | 63 | 100% Render Scaling |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Highest | 145 | 98 | 46 | DLSS OFF |
| COD: Warzone | Extreme | 91 | 43 | 24 | DLSS OFF, 100% Render |
| Black Myth: Wukong | Cinematic | 54 | 42 | 29 | 100% Super Resolution |
| Total War: Warhammer 3 | Ultra | 71 | 52 | 42 | – |
| Space Marine 2 | Ultra Performance | 64 | 32 | 18 | – |
As shown in the table above, the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 is capable of running modern games without breaking a sweat on max settings. Recently released titles such as Black Myth: Wukong and Space Marine 2 may show lower numbers but then again, they have just been released a few months ago and are known to be very demanding games. Games the likes of Rainbow Six: Siege, Final Fantasy XIV, and Dota 2 run smoothly given that the games were made from mass hardware compatibility.
Note that the numbers above were taken with the games running on 2560 x 1600 resolution, meaning that you can further increase it if you lower the resolution to 1080p.
These benchmarks are meant to measure the device’s performance relative to other peoples’ machines. We plugged in a mix of CPU & GPU-intensive tests and other ones that measure the performance of both at the same 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.
3DMark Steel Nomad is a cross-platform, non-raytraced benchmark for high-end gaming PCs and Macs. It uses the DirectX 12 API on Windows.
Benchmark Score: 7,919
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.
Extreme performance and stability test for PC hardware: video card, power supply, cooling system.
wPrime is a leading multi-threaded benchmark for x86 processors that tests your processor performance by calculating square roots with a recursive call of Newton’s method for estimating functions. It then uses an iterative calling of the estimation method a set amount of times to increase the accuracy of the results.
Just one look at the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 and you’ll know that its a premium laptop. It’s not loud and fortunately not decorated with too much RGB lighting. ASUS ROG touts this chassis of theirs as 100% aluminum alloy with its hinge hidden from view. Impressive and undeniably clean.
A bit weird on the design side is that the LED indicators for HDD, power, and charging are all located beneath the screen. This makes the indicators only visible to the opposite side of the user, rendering them useful only to those sitting opposite to the user. Weird placement but we’ll roll with it.
The Slash Lighting Array is the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024’s external gimmick. Unlike the more popular AniMatrix which allows you to turn your gaming laptop into a black and white billboard, this feature grants you the ability to control an LED slash. Yes, they made it too simple this time that it’s bordering on “why bother?”
What’s really awesome with the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 is its hinge. The folding and unfolding of the laptop completely hides it. While neither a new feature nor a revolutionary one, it’s still cool to see as its keeps this gaming laptop clean and easy on the eyes.
As with all gaming laptops made to be wafer thin, the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 also has some hot spots. Thankfully, they are all not located in places that you’ll usually place your hands on. During testing and benchmarking for this review, the upper part near the power button got a bit too hot. Not warm to touch but almost to the point of scalding hot. Again, compared to old designs where heat is also channeled near the touchpad, things are different and better this time. It’s good that ASUS chose to redirect and manage heat in parts that the user would not find his/her hands lingering too much.
With its high-end processor and graphics chip, the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 brings with it performance that could rival its desktop counterparts. Not only that but you also have to praise its ROG Nebula Display which can also go toe to toe against very capable gaming monitors. It can output 2.5K resolution at 240Hz and is OLED, meaning that images are as crisp as they can get.
The ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 is fitted with the latest hardware that ASUS ROG can get their hands on. Not only that, but it’s also a clean-looking gaming laptop. It’s thin and looks premium (because it is), and the Slash Lighting array adorning its top side has that muted but still eye-turning look (though we can argue about it being a design choice). It comes with an OLED gaming screen that’s improved upon by years of experience with ASUS ROG using it on a large variety of premium laptops. And finally, despite its sleek design, the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 has no shortage in terms of compatibility or lack of ports.
While I do have a lot of praise for the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024, it does come at a price. Literally. This sleek tech can hold you back a lot and although it is a given with gaming laptops, this has a wall that few may seek to scale. Given that you can buy two to three gaming laptops, albeit with significantly less power, with its price, you really have to think it through if you wish to get something of this caliber. If you wish to go through with something of the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024’s hardware, prepare as your wallet (or credit card) may get nuked to kingdom come.
It’s without a doubt that the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 is a wonderful machine. It’s slim, comes with the best modern hardware that money can buy, and it looks impressive and cool. However, it does suffer from the ROG tax, making it pricier than most gaming laptops. Yes, you read that right, it’s one of those laptops that are even more expensive than your typical already expensive gaming laptops. However, if money is not a concern and you think you can use the hardware packed in here for your livelihood (or school?), then you’ll never go wrong with the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024.
The ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 is available in the Philippines and can be purchased either online or in-store. The model/version used during this review has an SRP of PhP 179,995. Note that the whole package comes with a gaming mouse and a sleeve to hold the ROG G16.
For more information about the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024, you can visit the official product page.
If you prefer a more affordable alternative, check out the ROG Strix G16 Review. For handhelds, read our ROG Ally X review.
