What makes a laptop a gaming laptop? Is it the installation of a powerful graphics card? Is it a top-of-the-line processor? Or is it the inclusion of RGB lights and gimmicks? Or all of them? With the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 2022, you get the best of everything. A great processor and a powerful graphics chip, and an amazing display to boot. But is it worth it? Let’s find out in this review!
| CPU |
12th Gen Intel®Core™ i9-12900H Processor 2.5 GHz (24M Cache, up to 5.0 GHz, 14 cores: 6 P-cores and 8 E-cores)
|
| GPU | NVIDIA®GeForce RTX™ 3070 Ti Laptop GPU ROG Boost: 1085MHz* at 120W (1035MHz Boost Clock+50MHz OC, 100W+20W Dynamic Boost) 8GB GDDR6 |
| OS | Windows 11 Home |
| RAM | 16GB DDR5 on board 16GB DDR5-4800 SO-DIMM Max Capacity : 48GB Support dual channel memory |
| Display | ROG Nebula Display, 16-inch, WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 16:10, anti-glare display, DCI-P3:100%, Refresh Rate:165Hz, Response Time:3ms IPS-level, Adaptive-Sync, Pantone Validated, MUX Switch + Optimus Dolby Vision |
| Storage | 1TB M.2 NVMe™ PCIe®4.0 SSD |
| I/O Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort™ / power delivery, 1x RJ45 LAN port, 1x Thunderbolt™ 4 support DisplayPort™ / power delivery, 1 x card reader (microSD) (UHS-II) |
| Connection |
Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax)+Bluetooth 5.2 (Dual band) 2*2;(*BT version may change with OS upgrades.)
|
| Power |
ø6.0, 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
|
| Audio | Smart Amp Technology Dolby Atmos AI noise-canceling technology Hi-Res certification Built-in array microphone 2x 2W dual-force woofer with Smart Amp Technology 2x 2W tweeter |
| Weight | 2.0 Kg (4.41 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 35.5 x 24.3 x 1.99 ~ 1.99 cm (13.98″ x 9.57″ x 0.78″ ~ 0.78″) |
| Included in the Box | ROG Backpack ROG STRIX Impact mouse P303 TYPE-C, 100W AC Adapter, Output: 20V DC, 5A, 100W, Input: 100~240V AC 50/60Hz universal |
The ROG Zephyrus M16 2022 is available in 4 different models. All sport an Intel Core i9 but are differently only due to their graphics cards and on-board RAM. The unit that we have for review is the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 GU603ZW with 32GB of DDR5 RAM.
The right side of the Zephyrus M16 features a USB 3.2 Type-A port and a MicroSD card reader (rare, I know). On the left side are the ports for the power adapter, an HDMI 2.0b port, an RJ45 LAN Port, another USB 3.2 Type-A, a USB Type-C port, a Thunderbolt 4 port, and finally, a 3.5mm audio jack.
The rear features no ports.
The matte surface of the Zephyrus M16 2022 is prone to smudging and marks. Playing for an hour or so may leave undesirable spots on the laptop’s surface, prompting regular cleanups and wipes.
The only thing that lights with the Zephyrus M16 is its keyboard. Other designs like the back part of the display and the lower half of the laptop body do not light up. You can however, make use of ROG peripherals or ASUS Aura Sync-compatible devices for a more personal RGB experience.
| Resolution | 1440p | Frame Rates | ||
| Games | Preset | Average | 1% | 0.1% |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | Ultra | 60 | 43 | 31 |
| Dota 2 | Best Looking | 170 | 84 | 47 |
| Metro Exodus: Enhanced Edition | Extreme / Ultra | 38 | 16 | 9 |
| Apex Legends | Highest | 112 | 73 | 62 |
| Rainbow Six: Siege | Ultra | 190 | 120 | 102 |
| Warzone | Ultra | 82 | 60 | 46 |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | Ultra | 117 | 76 | 32 |
| PUBG | Ultra | 140 | 99 | 66 |
| Watch Dogs Legion | Ultra | 54 | 43 | 31 |
| Borderlands 3 | Ultra | 54 | 46 | 38 |
| Total War: Warhammer 3 | Ultra | 41 | 29 | 18 |
The Zephyrus M16 2022 plays acceptable framerates even at the highest settings at 1440p. Even the most demanding ones like Metro Exodus produced outstanding numbers. This also means that the laptop itself can produce better numbers if you run these games in a more modest 1080p. Note that these tests were done while the laptop was in “Turbo” configuration.
These benchmarks are meant to measure the device’s performance relative to other people’s machines. We plugged in a mix of CPU & GPU-intensive tests and other ones that measure the performance of both at the same time. Also, you can use these benchmarks as a reference to compare your current system or others online.
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. Why? Because the Zephyrus M16 can. We don’t usually try this benchmark given that it can still beat a decent gaming rig. But the Zephyrus just breezes through it with impressive numbers.
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: 7011
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.
There’s no doubt about it. Gaming with the Zephyrus M16 is a bliss. It can run the latest games and can produce decent framerates at even the highest setting, more so if you lower the resolution from 1440p. The Nvidia RTX 3070Ti is more than capable to run the latest hardware and you are probably all set for the next 3 years or so with this kind of setup.
Part of the new Zephyrus M16’s charm is its new ROG Nebula Display. If you think you have seen the clearest screen on a laptop, think again. So what is ROG Nebula Display? It’s a term coined by ASUS ROG to denote that the on-board screen display is capable of producing accurate colors, high refresh rates, and brightness. This also means that the device is rated to perform well when it comes to color reproduction and multimedia work productions.
With all the proprietary audio tech (Smart Amp Technology, Dolby Atmos, AI noise-canceling technology, etc.) that comes with the Zephyrus M16, you actually do get decent sounds here. The laptop does not sound like it forces sound waves out of the very depths of hell. Everything sounds crisp and you can actually play with it without needing a headset. This also means that you can use it as your daily entertainment device, say your Netflix driver at home (or at work)!
One thing very noticeable while playing with the ROG Zephyrus M16 2022 is that it is a hot machine. Although a given for gaming machines and not incredibly thin, it is still able to produce noticeable heat that radiates from the middle to the upper part of the keyboard. Despite it being a usual experience when playing with gaming laptops of this hardware, the heat itself is so apparent that you might have trouble playing very demanding games. I noticed this a lot with the ROG gaming laptops that I’ve reviewed but the ROG Zephyrus M16 is probably the hottest with its heat radiating from a critical location which is the middle of the keyboard.
If you are looking for a gaming laptop that blasts current benchmarks and can play the latest games, and ones for tomorrow, then the ROG M16 2022 is the laptop you are looking for. The Intel Core i9 provides enough horsepower to run even the most demanding programs and games. Accompanying it is the Nvidia RTX 3070Ti, although mobile, still packs a punch that can even give desktop PCs a run for their money. Couple that with the superb ROG Nebula Display and you have a complete set.
Considering the hardware that the ROG Zephyrus M16 2022 packs, it looks to be a tad cheaper than its PC counterpart. Although a bit weaker due to compromises done for mobility, the hardware here is almost comparable to a full-fledged gaming desktop. Minus the headaches of shopping for a monitor and other parts. Again, if you are looking for a gaming PC without having to trouble yourself with the displays, the gaming keyboard and the mouse, then this is a good package.
The ROG Zephyrus M16 2022 heats up ridiculously due to the power of its hardware when playing intense games or running demanding applications. The keys themselves can get to an acceptable 45°C. The problem is that between the keys and the cover, the temps can seep out, reaching up to about 63°C. Although still playable, it may be a somewhat uncomfortable to play on. More so if you reside in the Philippines where 28-32°C room temperatures are considered normal. Air conditioning is a must if you plan on playing with this for extended periods of time.
Yes. As mentioned above, the ROG Zephyrus M16 2022 is the ace of gaming laptops and is currently the highest performing gaming laptop that we have reviewed. And we review a good number of gaming laptops. Not only that but the ROG Nebula Display itself is a banger. I asked some friends to try it out and they all marveled at it. It is definitely noticeable and different from the usual gaming laptops with high refresh rates. Best try it out in stores if you have the chance.
Even with all the praises, the Zephyrus M16 comes at a price. If you are planning on buying a gaming desktop PC, then consider getting this one as it is an all-in-one package. No need to install or assemble anything. If you are also looking for a gaming laptop that can last you for a good number of years, this might be it. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is without a doubt, a powerful machine that is good to go out of the box.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 2022, depending on the hardware, has an SRP that ranges from PhP 139,995 to 229,995. The one reviewed has an SRP of PhP 169,995. It and its other variants are available in stores and can be ordered online. For more info on the pricing and places to buy, check out this official list from ASUS Philippines.
For a possible cheaper but still formidable version, you can check out the 2021 version of the ROG Zephyrus M16. Read our review of that here.
