Professional Tip: Try our Greatest Gaming Laptops function for a bigger number of gaming machines in a number of classes. The Asus Strix Scar 16 and Lenovo Legion Professional 7i (Gen8) are the joint winners of the Greatest Premium Gaming laptop computer award, and for good motive…
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 represents a major leap ahead within the realm of high-performance gaming laptops. This 2023 mannequin, significantly in its Core i9 and RTX 4080 variant, stands out for a mixture of blistering efficiency, a aggressive worth level, and an eye catching mini LED show.
The 16-inch, 16:10 miniLED panel, which Asus likes to name the “ROG Nebula HDR” show, is a spotlight. It affords a 240Hz refresh price on the 2560×1600 display screen, quick response instances, 100% sRGB and DCI-P3 colour gamut protection, and 1,024 dimming zones. It could additionally attain over 1,100 nits of peak brightness, guaranteeing wonderful HDR efficiency. The vivid colours and brightness make it good for each gaming and media consumption.
The refreshed semi-transparent design of the Scar 16 is as sturdy as ever, providing one thing that feels strong and well-built if a little bit heavier than earlier fashions. The chassis options blunted edges and corners which are user-friendly, and the hinges permit for straightforward display screen changes. It is also coated in RGB lighting.
The ROG Strix Scar is available in two variations with the Nebula show: one with the RTX 4090 ($3,600) and the opposite with an RTX 4080 ($2,899.99). Each pack a Thirteenth-Gen Core i9-13980HX, and you’ll add as much as 64GB of RAM, too; the efficiency on supply right here is monstrous. A inexpensive model with out the miniLED show (FHD 165Hz) is obtainable with an RTX 4070 for considerably much less ($1699), whereas nonetheless conserving the identical Core i9 chip.
There are additionally loads of connectivity choices, together with Thunderbolt 4 assist, although the ports are solely on the edges because the rear is reserved for cooling. Different causes to purchase embody a Dolby Atmos quad-speaker system, a digital numeric keypad on the trackpad, good battery life for a gaming laptop computer, and a built-in array microphone.
Some less-welcome components embody the Strix getting fairly toasty after extended use. It additionally lacks biometrics options like an IR digital camera or fingerprint sensor, and the 4080/4090-only fashions are fairly costly. Nonetheless, that breathtaking display screen, cool design, top-tier efficiency, and strong construct high quality make the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 a superb alternative for individuals who need a true gaming laptop computer.
A Worthy Joint Winner
Lenovo Legion Professional 7i (Gen8)
In order for you a 16-inch laptop computer that gives an analogous configuration because the Strix with a much less extravagant design and might dwell with out the miniLED display screen, take a look at the Lenovo Legion Professional 7i (Gen 8). Just like the Asus, the Legion could be specced with as much as an RTX 4090, whereas all fashions include an Intel Core i9-13900HX processor.
The place the 2 machines differ most is the show. The Legion has the identical 2560×1600 (WQXGA, 16:10) decision mixed with a 240Hz refresh price, and it does look good. However the 500 nits brightness and HDR 400 certification illustrate the way it cannot examine to the Strix’s gorgeous miniLED show.
On the time of writing, the $2,849 worth of the RTX 4080 mannequin has been decreased to $2,249, so it’s good worth. It additionally has a extra grown-up design, even with sufficient RGB lighting to fulfill followers.
Different options embody the Coldfront 5.0 thermal tech, Lenovo’s traditional wonderful keyboard, and a capability to squeeze a lot efficiency out of the RTX 4080 (150W TGP) that it will probably match some RTX 4090-powered laptops relating to framerates.
The battery life could be on the weaker aspect, however the energy and aggressive worth of the Legion Professional 7i make it a worthy joint winner.