Asus is among the most renowned brands in gaming laptops, right there with Alienware and other industry heavyweights. With its TUF series and premium ROG (Republic of Gamers) line, the Taiwanese manufacturer offers something for everyone, from entry-level models to powerful machines packed with the latest GPU and CPU technology.
Despite its high-end specs, the ROG Strix Scar 16 is a portable machine. Its 17-inch screen has a 144Hz-240Hz refresh rate, and comes with 1080p resolution, which is adequate for a resonant experience. The battery can last for 6-8 hours with mixed use, and the fans are quiet even when the device is under stress.
The Scar 16’s design has certain gamer-inspired aesthetics but isn’t too flashy. The lid’s prismatic pipeline software design is the most striking feature. It catches light and shines through tiny openings to create the effect of a rainbow. The hinge for the display also lifts the back of its chassis, which increases airflow and also makes the keyboard tilt towards you. Asus calls it its ErgoLift hinge.
This laptop is ideal for gaming, but it can also handle other processing-intensive tasks like editing video or image manipulation. It’s equipped with plenty of ports — USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, HDMI 2.0b, 3.5mm combo jack and Gigabit Ethernet — and a dedicated SD card slot. The speakers are powerful, but can distort or become extremely loud when they are in high volume. It is recommended to pair them with headphones. You’ll need to remove some unwanted software, for instance McAfee Personal Security or the Dolby app.