ASUS has unveiled its 2024 lineup of laptops, which includes the ROG Zephyrus and STRIX SCAR series. The brand’s premier gaming range is represented by the ROG STRIX SCAR series, of which the ROG STRIX SCAR 16 is available for review. The most recent 14th-generation Intel Core i9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 4080 GPU power this gaming monster. The gaming laptop is priced very highly, starting at Rs 2,89,990 in India, although it does have top-notch hardware. Let’s see if the gaming laptop can perform commensurate with its ultra-premium price in this review.
ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR 16 Rating: 8.5 / 10
Design & build
Let’s begin by discussing the build quality and design of this review. At 2.65 kg in weight and roughly 23 mm in thickness, the SCAR 16 is a large, hefty gadget. It is worth noting that the chassis is composed of robust plastic and exhibits very little bend in the keypad and very little wobbling of the screen. Points for that; even with its plastic structure, the laptop seems sturdy and high-end.
The laptop’s I/O ports are all located on the sides, and it has large exhaust vents on both sides and a broad exhaust vent on the rear. These exhausts have a great appearance and are intended to effectively cool the device’s powerful hardware. Two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, an RJ-45 Ethernet port, two USB-C ports, an HDMI 2.1 output, and a 3.5mm combo audio jack are located on the right edge of the device for communication. The two USB-C ports offer DisplayPort output and G-Sync compatibility for external monitors. One of the ports is a Thunderbolt 4 output, and the other is a USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C connection.
Regarding audio, the laptop’s back panel houses two down-firing speakers and two tweeters located just beneath the screen. The speakers have superb sound output because they are very loud, and they enable Dolby Atmos so you can adjust the sound to your taste. There’s also an HD (720p) webcam, which is a little disappointing because it doesn’t have protective glass or a privacy shutter.
Display
A 16-inch Mini LED panel with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 pixels (QHD+), 16:10 aspect ratio, 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color gamut coverage is included on the gaming laptop. The panel has a fast 3 ms (grey-to-grey) reaction time, and its maximum brightness is rated at an astounding 1100 nits (500 nits sustained brightness). Along with support for Dolby Vision, HDR, and G-Sync, the panel is also Pantone-validated.
The display has a matte anti-glare coating that combines well with excellent brightness levels and makes it easy to use outside or in strong light. Excellent color reproduction with outstanding contrast and deep blacks is provided by the pre-calibrated display. The display is robust enough to handle a wide range of use cases, including content creation.
Keyboard and mouse
The new Scar 16‘s trackpad and keyboard are, well, not that new. Not in a terrible way, the design is still essentially the same as the prior version. It’s commonly said to “don’t fix what ain’t broke.” The Armoury crate launcher, fan speed keys, and dedicated audio enhance the overall travel experience of the keys, which provides a nice tactile sensation.
The touchpad is positioned such that you won’t inadvertently touch it when immersed in your regular gaming sessions, which is always a nice bonus. It’s neat that the trackpad may be changed into a numpad by touching its upper right corner. With the RGB lights strewn all over, every key is illuminated.
Performance
Let’s get right to the point, or performance in this case. To what extent does the laptop perform as advertised in both artificial and real-world scenarios? To find out exactly how powerful this gaming machine is at its best, we ran all of the performance benchmarks (except for video playback and the PC Mark test) using the Ultimate GPU option with Turbo performance mode activated.
By using the benchmarks, you can see that the SCAR 16 performs admirably in comparison to the other laptops we tested it against (the MSI laptops are about twice as expensive as the SCAR 16 but have a better RTX 4090 GPU and more RAM). The performance output lags only marginally behind the MSI products, which now lead the benchmarks. That brings an end to the artificial benchmarks, but what about the performance in games, you ask? We utilized the laptop’s native resolution (QHD+) to play a variety of games at the highest graphical settings. These are the outcomes:
In light of the heat, the laptop performs admirably. It uses Thermal Grizzly’s liquid metal cooling technology for both the CPU and GPU, along with a triple fan system, to sustain the thermals over time. The laptop’s internal temperature reached a maximum of 80 degrees Celsius (for the CPU) even when operating in Turbo mode, which is fairly acceptable considering the high-performance components it uses and its rigorous cooling requirements.
Software
Windows 11 is pre-installed on the laptop, as is common these days. The Armoury Crate app, which lets you customize your usage to the last detail, is the true star of the show. In addition to many other capabilities, the app gives you continuous access to your GPU and CPU temps, fan speeds, and GPU modes for optimization. Additionally, you can choose and modify performance profiles to fit your tastes, and you can even change the display response time.
Battery life
ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR 16 The laptop is powered by a 90Wh battery and has a 330W power adaptor for rapid charging. As is often the case, gaming laptops have short battery lives, typically lasting only three to four hours when disconnected. The STRIX SCAR 16 is no exception.
It is noteworthy, therefore, that a device of this caliber with many power-hungry modules—such as the high-voltage CPU, GPU, and RGB lights—can achieve an outstanding 3 to 4 hours of average battery life. Additionally, you can extend the life of your battery by decreasing the screen refresh rate from 240Hz to 120Hz. This will increase the battery’s run time.
Verdict
One of the greatest gaming laptops on the market right now is the ASUS ROG STRIX SCAR 16. Let’s start with the drawbacks: the 720p webcam doesn’t appear very good, especially because it isn’t shielded. A 1080p webcam would be rather useful for many users instead. Additionally, there is no fingerprint scanner on the device, which is a lost opportunity as it might have provided consumers with a quick and easy way to securely log in.
Positively, professional image and video editors can find what they need in the laptop’s display in addition to casual users. With liquid metal cooling and a triple fan arrangement, the gadget provides excellent thermal management and flagship-level performance at a significantly reduced cost. It also has a 90Wh battery to support the device’s high power consumption. Given the expensive price tag, there is potential for improvement and the plastic body may not offer the level of longevity that one would want from a product of this caliber.
In conclusion, the STRIX SCAR 16 is unquestionably a highly recommended option given its asking price of Rs 2,89,990. It will delight both gamers and enthusiasts with one of the strongest performance-to-price ratios on the market right now.
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