ASUS Unleashes a New Range of ROG Beasts on Australia
In my time as Editor here at Player 2 I have had the pleasure of watching ASUS’s Republic of Gamers (ROG) brand go from strength to strength. From a tentative newcomer in a space that was growing rapidly, to one of the best options regarding both innovation and performance, ROG Laptops have impressed me more and more each year. That trend looks set to continue with their new range which is launching in Australia as we speak.
ROG has, for a while now, split its laptop range into four different model types, each with its own target audience. For the people chasing pure power the Strix range is for you. Those who like a laptop that can game in between working have the Zephyrus. If it is ultra-portable gaming you are after then the Flow is the choice for you and should you require something that could withstand being dropped from a second story, look at the TUF models. Each of these model types has had new editions coming to the Aus market, all featuring the latest processors from Intel or AMD along with Geforce 40 Series Laptop GPUs.
Current RRP prices for each of these models are as follows:
- ROG Strix Scar 16 (G634) | AUD From $4,799 | Available Now
- ROG Strix Scar 18 (G834) | AUD From $4,999 | Available Now
- ROG Strix G 16 (G614) | AUD From $2,499 | Available Now
- ROG Zephyrus M16 (GU604) | AUD From $3,499 | Available Now
- ROG Flow X13 (GV302) | TBC | To be available soon
- ROG XG Mobile (2023) | TBC | To be available soon
- TUF Advantage Edition A16 (FA617) | AUD From $2,299 | Available Now
ROG Strix Continues to define gaming leadership
The Strix SCAR lineup has long stood as the performance flagship of ROG’s lineup, and 2023 is no different. The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 have been renamed, thanks to a chassis redesign that accommodates the larger 16-inch and 18-inch 16:10 aspect-ratio screens. These 16 and 18-inch panels allow gamers to see the enemy more clearly than ever before, and the 16-inch model can even be equipped with ROG’s new QHD, 240Hz Nebula HDR display with Mini LED technology.
ROG has also amped up the cooling performance of this new chassis, allowing more headroom for the CPU and GPU to boost for maximum frame rates. Now equipped with an extra thick full-width heatsink and Tri-Fan Technology, the new Strix SCAR 16 and 18 allow for much more efficient removal of waste heat. Combined with Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal, now applied to both the CPU and GPU, ROG has pushed the performance of the SCAR 16 and SCAR 18 even further for the high-end hardware inside.
The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 sport Intel’s top-of-the-line 13th Gen Intel Core™ i9 13980HX processor, with 8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores for unprecedented gaming prowess. Max out the machine with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU at 175 W, with the thermal headroom to allow the silicon to boost higher and longer than ever before.
The 2023 upgrades don’t stop with the SCAR family. The new Strix G16 are equipped with the same 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13980HX processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU for excellent esports performance and ready to rain fire down on the competition.
ROG Zephyrus melds power and portability
The Zephyrus lineup is all about exceptional performance in thin-and-light form factors that can easily travel anywhere. This year, the entire series has been elevated to new heights, with the Zephyrus M16.
Built for gamers and creators alike, the ultra-sleek M16 has been redesigned from the ground up, retaining a thin-and-light design but boasting an improved cooling system featuring Tri-Fan Technology and our full-width heatsink. This allows the 2023 Zephyrus M16 to run 25 watts higher compared to last year’s model — providing even more power to the Intel Core™ i9 13900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus in this flagship gaming machine. The 2023 Zephyrus M16 is also the first 16-inch device equipped with ROG’s iconic AniMe Matrix™ LED lighting array, allowing gamers to show off their creativity and unique flair wherever they are.
All those extra frames will look better than ever, since the M16’s display has also been upgraded to a 16-inch, QHD Nebula HDR Display with Mini-LED technology. With 1,024 dimming zones, double the amount of last year’s panel, stunningly deep blacks stand against 1100 nits of peak brightness for an HDR image that pops right off the screen, with contrast and detail never seen before on a gaming laptop. With a 240 Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, gamers can rest assured that all of their content will look its absolute best with the Zephyrus M16.
Ride the wave with ROG FLOW
The 2023 Flow X13 now features up to an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU — a huge upgrade over its predecessor. A dedicated MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allow the machine to intelligently route the display signal to get the highest performance in-game, and the best battery life for everything else. Liquid metal on the CPU lowers temperatures up to 13° C compared to traditional thermal paste, giving users more headroom for gaming and content creation alike. The Flow X13 comes equipped with up to 32 GB of ultrafast LPDDR5 RAM, which in addition to boasting a 50% faster data rate than last year’s model also uses 18% less power than LPDDR4, helping the X13 last all day.
The 2023 Flow X13 chassis has also had a complete redesign, shrinking its footprint by 10 mm while maintaining the 15-inch keyboard layout and increasing battery capacity from 62 to 75 Wh. The hinge was reimagined and now allows for more access to fresh air, in addition to adding a unique texture to the aluminium lid inspired by gravitational waves that adds grip for easy carrying. An FHD IR camera with Windows Hello support and a larger touchpad make unlocking and navigating the machine effortless. When combined with the Flow X13’s new touchscreen QHD, 165 Hz Nebula Display on a 360° hinge, this incredible convertible device is ready to game anywhere, anytime.
Of course, the 2023 Flow family is joined by a brand-new XG Mobile, this time with the incredible horsepower of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a maximum TGP of 175 W. Unlike other external graphics solutions, which are big and bulky, the compact XG Mobile provides loads of extra ports as well as a significant boost in graphical horsepower while being easily portable for travel and able to quickly dock and transform a Flow machine into a desktop-class experience anywhere.
Mechanised endurance, allied advantage
ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (FA617) is an all-AMD powerhouse that’s engineered for those who want to easily stream and play the latest games. It features the latest Ryzen 9 Zen 4 CPU, up to a Radeon RDNA3 GPU, and AMD Smart Access Graphics. It allows gamers to sink deeper into their favourite content thanks to slimmer bezels, a 90% screen-to-body ratio, and up to a QHD 240 Hz refresh-rate panel. It also comes with 84-blade Arc Flow Fans™ and up to seven heat pipes, plus four exhaust vents that efficiently push heat out of the system.
The A16 Advantage Edition also delivers next-gen hardware support with USB4®, up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 x4 storage, and DDR5 4800 MHz RAM. All RAM and storage slots are fully accessible. ROG’s new military-inspired Sandstorm paint, a large 90 Wh battery, and USB-C Power Delivery support are all built right into this rugged chassis. Dolby Atmos support ensures gamers get the most out of soundtracks and music, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation ensures clear communications in any scenario.
