Skilled Tip: Check out our Biggest Gaming Laptops attribute for an even bigger variety of gaming machines in numerous courses. The Asus Strix Scar 16 and Lenovo Legion Skilled 7i (Gen8) are the joint winners of the Biggest Premium Gaming laptop computer pc award, and for good trigger…
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 represents a serious leap forward throughout the realm of high-performance gaming laptops. This 2023 model, considerably in its Core i9 and RTX 4080 variant, stands out for a mixture of blistering effectivity, a aggressive worth stage, and an eye fixed catching mini LED present.
The 16-inch, 16:10 miniLED panel, which Asus likes to call the “ROG Nebula HDR” present, is a highlight. It provides a 240Hz refresh payment on the 2560×1600 show, fast response situations, 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 shade gamut safety, and 1,024 dimming zones. It may moreover attain over 1,100 nits of peak brightness, ensuring fantastic HDR effectivity. The vivid colors and brightness make it good for every gaming and media consumption.
The refreshed semi-transparent design of the Scar 16 is as sturdy as ever, offering one factor that feels secure and well-built if just a bit heavier than earlier fashions. The chassis choices blunted edges and corners which might be user-friendly, and the hinges allow for easy show adjustments. It’s also lined in RGB lighting.
The ROG Strix Scar is out there in two variations with the Nebula present: one with the RTX 4090 ($3,600) and the other with an RTX 4080 ($2,899.99). Every pack a Thirteenth-Gen Core i9-13980HX, and you will add as a lot as 64GB of RAM, too; the effectivity on present proper right here is monstrous. A less expensive mannequin with out the miniLED present (FHD 165Hz) is obtainable with an RTX 4070 for significantly a lot much less ($1699), whereas nonetheless sustaining the an identical Core i9 chip.
There are moreover a great deal of connectivity selections, along with Thunderbolt 4 help, though the ports are solely on the perimeters as a result of the rear is reserved for cooling. Completely different causes to buy embody a Dolby Atmos quad-speaker system, a digital numeric keypad on the trackpad, good battery life for a gaming laptop computer pc, and a built-in array microphone.
Some less-welcome elements embody the Strix getting pretty toasty after prolonged use. It moreover lacks biometrics choices like an IR digicam or fingerprint sensor, and the 4080/4090-only fashions are pretty pricey. However, that breathtaking show, cool design, top-tier effectivity, and secure assemble top quality make the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 an excellent different for a lot of who want a real gaming laptop computer pc.
A Worthy Joint Winner
Lenovo Legion Skilled 7i (Gen8)
If you would like a 16-inch laptop computer pc that offers the identical configuration as a result of the Strix with a a lot much less extravagant design and will dwell with out the miniLED show, strive the Lenovo Legion Skilled 7i (Gen 8). Identical to the Asus, the Legion could possibly be specced with as a lot as an RTX 4090, whereas all fashions embody an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor.
The place the two machines differ most is the present. The Legion has the an identical 2560×1600 (WQXGA, 16:10) choice combined with a 240Hz refresh payment, and it does look good. Nevertheless the five hundred nits brightness and HDR 400 certification illustrate the way in which it can not consider to the Strix’s attractive miniLED present.
On the time of writing, the $2,849 worth of the RTX 4080 model has been decreased to $2,249, so it is good value. It moreover has a further grown-up design, even with enough RGB lighting to meet followers.
Completely different choices embody the Coldfront 5.0 thermal tech, Lenovo’s regular fantastic keyboard, and a functionality to squeeze loads effectivity out of the RTX 4080 (150W TGP) that it might match some RTX 4090-powered laptops within the case of framerates.
The battery life is maybe on the weaker side, nevertheless the vitality and aggressive worth of the Legion Skilled 7i make it a worthy joint winner.