If you look up the definition of "innovation," you might find Asus mentioned somewhere in there — that's what you'll find in the best Asus laptops.

Asus has been around since 1989, two years older than Laptop Mag, so the brand has accumulated a massive portfolio of laptops. With so many models to choose from, it can be hard to narrow it down to the best Asus laptop for you, specifically. But worry not; after reviewing dozens of laptops professionally for the last five years, I can help guide you to the perfect pick.

Plenty of Asus laptops regularly land a spot among the best laptops we've tested overall, along with more niche wins among the best 2-in-1 laptops and the best gaming laptops.

That's not to say every laptop Asus launches is a hit. There are plenty of Asus laptops that have only earned 3 or 3.5 out of 5 stars from us in a review. But for the most part, you can count on Asus to deliver well-constructed, high-quality laptops that'll last for years and come equipped with great quality-of-life features. And you can also depend on Asus for the occasional wildcard laptop with a bold new design or feature you never knew you needed.

Read on for a closer look at our top picks for the best Asus laptops in 2025, based on our testing and reviews.

Update log

5/16/2025: Added Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) as the best 2-in-1 option and updated benchmark comparisons.

The Quick List

Best Overall

I do not often get to crown a laptop that starts at under $1,000 as the best for a whole brand's page. That's right. The Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M) is a killer laptop with incredible battery life at a surprisingly affordable price. It's our best for students' laptops on our best laptops page, and it even made its mark on the laptops with the best battery life page for its incredible 15 hours and 52 minutes of battery life.

Madeline Ricchiuto writes, "The bonus to all of that battery is the laptop’s snappy performance, quality audio, comfortable keyboard, and stunning OLED display panel," in our review of the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M).

Despite its price, the Zenbook 14 is equipped with Intel's latest Core Ultra 7 155H, which offers enough power to handle a modest number of tasks. A Photoshop editing session combined with a couple dozen Chrome tabs and spreadsheets wasn't enough to slow it down.

It's not just performance and battery that takes this machine to the top. I love OLED displays, and my favorite part about the Zenbook 14 is its 14-inch, 1080p OLED display. This baby covers 79.8 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut, averaging 339 nits of brightness. That means the Zenbook 14 will be there for you at the end of the day when you want to stream your favorite shows on a gorgeous window.

That battery will get you through work or school, but what about the keyboard? Thanks to their pleasant click-to-pressure ratio, these 1.4mm deep keys will carry you throughout the day. Take comfort in the comfort that this keyboard graces your fingertips with.

Then we've got the bumpin' Harman Kardon and Dolby Atmos-certified super-linear speakers that had us headbanging subconsciously. The Zenbook 14 captured quality mids and highs along with a wide bass.

The device is also remarkably thin, sliding in at 0.59 inches. Slot this into a medium-sized purse, and you're good to go. You can't forget about the webcam privacy shutter, which is an excellent feature in this day and age.

See our full Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M) review.

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Best budget

The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 is not only the best Asus Chromebook, it's one of our favorite Chrome OS devices we've ever tested. Yes, it’s a bit on the older side, but it’s incredibly versatile thanks to its laptop-to-tablet nature, built-in stylus, and long battery life.

Sean Riley writes, "While Chromebooks can start to feel like an endless sea of nondescript budget laptops, the Detachable CM3 feels like a rogue wave of clever ideas," in our review of the Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3.

It lasted 11 hours and 41 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test. That’s enough time to outlast the average work or school day. You can even get some overtime or a head start on homework. Its weight and size make it much more portable, at 2 pounds (with keyboard and case) and 12.7 x 8.9 x 0.68 inches, respectively.

Speaking of its design — you can’t get more versatile than a durable 2-in-1 detachable. What makes it durable? It meets U.S. MIL-STD810H standards for bumps, shocks, and temperature changes. Otherwise, its design lets you use it as a laptop or tablet, and its cover lets you stand it vertically. And unlike some premium products, this Chromebook sports a built-in stylus, so you don’t have to pay extra.

Then we’ve got the 10.5-inch, 1900 x 1200 touchscreen display, which wowed us with its color and brightness. The Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 covered 93.6 percent of the DCI-P3 color gamut and averaged 386 nits of brightness, which is more impressive than some premium laptops we test.

Unfortunately, the MediaTek MTK 8183 processor, 4GB of RAM, and 64GB of eMMC storage don't deliver much performance. However, if you buy it directly from Asus, you can get it for cheap. Please don’t purchase this device for anything over its launch price, which started at $329.

Overall, the CM3 is a fantastic device for kids, students, or anyone who needs a rugged, portable device for a budget-friendly price.

See our full Asus Chromebook Detachable CM3 review.

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Best gaming

The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 may not come cheap, but it's worth the price of admission for the powerful new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and its Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 8GB GPU. So not only can you play the heck out of your favorite games but you can also dip your toes into the latest AI craze.

Rami Tabari writes, "There’s something about the gunmetal aluminum chassis that looks more svelte than the PC copycats trying to look like a MacBook," in our review of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16.

This monster of gaming laptops crushed our benchmarks. For the most part, it maintained a good lead on its Intel counterpart (Intel Core Ultra 9 185H). The Zephyrus G16 sped through on the Assassin's Creed Mirage benchmark with a scorching 94 fps, sliding past the Intel Zephyrus (84 fps). It reached 104 and 35 fps on Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk 2077, respectively, destroying the Intel Zephyrus' scores of 94 fps and 30 fps, respectively.

Meanwhile, the new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 scored 15,408 on the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test, which smoked the average premium gaming laptop at the time (10,857). Our video transcoding test was no match, as the Zephyrus completed it in just 3 minutes and 12 seconds, which flies over the Alienware m16 R2 (3:46) and Intel Zephyrus (4:06). However, the Zephyrus' 1TB SSD is a little on the slow side (1,233 MBps).

The chassis is stylish and reminds me of my favorite sci-fi films. But that's not the only shiny thing. The 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, 240Hz OLED display is rocking 82.1% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and 388 nits of brightness. Between its sharp visuals and smooth panel, you're getting a great package.

And with AMD's latest CPU, there are some other epic gains (by gains, I do mean battery life). The Zephyrus G16 lasted 9 hours and 14 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which is 2-3x as long as we typically see a gaming laptop last in our testing.

However, it's not without some sacrifices. I thought the keyboard was a bit cramped, so this may work best for those with small hands.

Despite that, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a great gaming laptop.

See our full Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (Ryzen AI 9) review.

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Best business

If you're looking for the best Asus business laptop — nay, one of the best business laptops, period — then you're going to want the Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405). Its price and quality professional features set it apart.

Sean Riley writes, "The pricing on the ExpertBook P5 almost feels like a tax loophole, but I won’t tell if you won’t," in our review of the Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405).

For context, that price starts at $1,099 at the time of writing. Now, most business laptops can skyrocket above $2,000. That's at least partly because they're marketed toward large companies with large bank accounts. The Asus ExpertBook P5 is a laptop for the people, small business owners who want an excellent laptop without wrecking their quarterly budget.

The Asus ExpertBook P5 even comes with a three-year limited warranty and one year of Accidental Damage Protection. We never see that in a consumer laptop. Even business laptops usually force you to pay extra for that kind of protection.

Packing into its sleek, modern design is a bright 14-inch, 2560 x 1600, 144Hz display, which is not something you'd find in the typical business notebook. It clocked in 77.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and averaged 465 nits of brightness. That means it's a bit dull in color but bright enough to take outside with you.

Ready for the performance? The Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor comes in with a score of 11,259 on the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test. Now that is a bit slower than the MacBook Air 13 (12,087, Apple M3) and the HP Elite x360 1040 G11 (12,857, Intel Core Ultra 7 165H), but it crushed the premium laptop average of 10,308.

We were pleasantly surprised with the keyboard as well. It featured 1.5mm key travel and well-spaced Chiclet-style keys, which let our fingers to fly across the keyboard with ease.

And if you want something long-lasting, the Asus ExpertBook P5 is the perfect laptop for you. The ExpertBook P5 lasted 14 hours and 22 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test. That's nearly two full workdays. Play your cards right and you won't need to freak out if you forget your laptop charger at home.

Apart from the somewhat dull display, the touchpad click is mushy, so I would recommend using a discrete mouse.

See our full Asus ExpertBook P5 (P5405) review.

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Best MacBook Pro alternative

Are you looking for a MacBook Pro equivalent for Windows that you don’t need to pay $3K+ to get? That’s why the Asus ProArt P16 is here. Starting under $1,999, you get quality performance, a colorful display, and strong speakers that a content creator could only dream of.

In our review of the Asus ProArt P16, Stevie Bonifield writes, "The Asus ProArt P16 is a superb creator laptop, boasting top graphics and AI performance, stellar audio, and a stylish design. "

Asus stacked the ProArt P16 with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB SSD, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU with 8GB of VRAM. The ProArt P16 scored 15,286 on the Geekbench 6.3 overall performance test and 24,284 on the 3DMark Fire Strike synthetic graphics test, which crushed the average laptop in its category.

Let’s move on to that beautiful 16-inch, 3840 x 2400, OLED display. The ProArt P16 reproduced 85.5% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and averaged 356 nits of brightness. That’s nearly on par with a MacBook Pro. The one advantage that the ProArt P16 has is its OLED panel, which presents deeper blacks and bolder colors.

For a beast of a machine, it’s relatively lightweight and slim as well. It weighs 4.08 pounds and measures 13.97 x 9.72 x 0.59 inches. And packed within that chassis are a pair of top-firing speakers, which showcase very discerning, clear audio with depth.

However, the only place where the MacBook Pro 14 dominates the ProArt P16 is in battery life. The ProArt P16 lasted only 9 hours and 32 minutes on our battery test. It can get you through the workday, but you’ll have to plug it in as soon as you get home.

Despite that, the Asus ProArt P16 is an excellent option. If you’re doing serious video editing, you’ll likely be plugged in to take full advantage of the GPU.

See our full ASUS ProArt P16 (2024) review.

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Best 2-in-1

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) is easy to recommend as the best 2-in-1 laptop from Asus because it’s our top pick as the best 2-in-1 across all laptop brands. Sure, it may have a slightly mushy keyboard and a dull webcam, but those are the only two negatives about it. In all other ways, this convertible laptop radiates star quality.

In our review of the Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607), Madeline Ricchiuto writes, “The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip stands out in this challenging landscape thanks to solid performance and power efficiency from its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake chipset, a stunning OLED display, smooth iGPU gaming performance, access to advanced Copilot+ AI features, and an oversized touchpad.”

Put simply, this laptop has a lot of favorable features.

This 2-in-1 laptop delivered a solid Geekbench 6 score of 10,987, seamlessly handled multiple tabs during a real-world usage test, and managed to stay at a cool and comfortable 85.8 degrees under pressure.

In addition to its reliable performance, the Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) scored extremely well on the Laptop Mag battery life test. It lasted a whopping 13 hours and 47 minutes, which is more than enough to tackle a full workday and then relax with a TV show or a casual game at night before needing to worry about plugging it in.

If you max out the brightness on this laptop’s gorgeous 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED display, you may find the battery drains a bit faster. But in exchange for seeing the “vibrant colors” and “lush, infinite contrast ratio,” we fully understand wanting to take in this display in all its stunning glory at max brightness.

With its larger 16-inch screen, this laptop isn’t the lightest 2-in-1 option you’ll find. It weighs 3.9 pounds, which honestly won’t feel like much more than some of the 2- and 3-pound convertible options with 14-inch displays. And if you plan to stream a lot of content on your 2-in-1 laptop in tablet or tent mode, you’ll be thankful for the extra screen real estate.

See our full Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) review.

Benchmark comparisons

Recently reviewed

FAQs

What's the best Asus laptop for students?

Unless you are going into graphic design, then the best Asus laptop for students is the one at the very top: Asus Zenbook 14 OLED. It offers everything you could possibly need: a great display, comfortable keyboard, and long battery life.

However, if you are going into graphic design (or you want to get some gaming in), you'll want to check out either the Asus ProArt P16 or the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16. Get whichever is more affordable (hint: wait for a sale).

Are Asus laptops good for gaming?

Yes! Asus gaming laptops are my favorite. In fact, I've been obsessing over the Asus Zephyrus G14 for years now.

But not all Asus laptops are good for gaming. And not all Asus gaming laptops are the best. Same logic goes for any brand with any type of product. See our reviews above. Our current favorite is the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16.

Do Asus laptops last long?

Not all laptops are created equal, but there are plenty of reliable Asus laptops, and many of them are on this page. I recently recommended the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M) a close friend, and he confirmed that it's a really good laptop, "reliable" even.

Which Asus laptop is best for coding and/or programming?

For coding or programming purposes, it’s going to be more important to have a solid CPU and plenty of RAM, though adding a discrete GPU to the mix certainly won’t hurt performance (you will sacrifice battery life, though).

Among the best laptops for computer science students, we named the Asus TUF Gaming A14 as a great pick with a discrete GPU and the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M) as a more affordable option.

How to choose the best Asus laptop for you

Do your intensive daily workloads require more RAM than the average Joe? Are you a video editor who needs extra storage? Are you a gamer who wants a powerful GPU? Sorting through the best Asus laptops to fit your lifestyle is tricky.

To simplify your shopping process, we put together some tried-and-true guidelines to help you find the best laptop for your specific needs.

Budget: What you get for the money.

A solid mainstream laptop from Asus will usually cost more than $800, and premium Asus laptops start at over $1,000. The best gaming laptops can cost $2.000 and up, but options like the Asus TUF Gaming A14 land on the more affordable side, earning a spot among the best gaming laptops under $1,500.

The CPU and GPU are among the most significant factors in the cost of any laptop, so don't pay for a premium gaming laptop from Asus if you're a casual gamer who prefers retro titles or spend up for an Asus ProArt content creator laptop with a 40 series GPU if you are going to be browsing the web and doing productivity tasks.

List the apps you use or games you want to play and start checking the PC requirements. You can likely take on anything non-graphic-intensive with a Core i7 or higher for traditional machines. In terms of gaming laptops, almost any with a 40-series GPU can play an indie game, but if you're dabbling in AAA titles, you have to decide which settings you're comfortable playing on and scale up to an RTX 4070 or higher as needed. RTX 50 series laptops are expected in late March or April, but you'll pay a premium to be among the first.

Screen Size: 12 to 14 inches for portability

Knowing a laptop's screen size tells you a lot about its portability overall. If you want to use your computer on your lap or carry it around a lot, go for one with a 12, 13, or 14-inch display. Asus does a great job of keeping laptops in these sizes thin and light regardless of the category.

If you want to use the computer on tables and desks and won't carry it around much, a 15-inch model may give you more value. Some gaming rigs, media machines, and workstations even have 17 or 18-inch screens, but steer clear of those if you need to tote this laptop in your bag daily.

Do you want a 2-in-1 or a clamshell?

Asus has some of the best 2-in-1 laptops with screens that either bend back 360 degrees or detach so you can use them as tablets. If you like using your laptop in slate mode for drawing, media consumption, or just standing it up, a 2-in-1 could be for you. However, you can often get better features or a lower price by going with a traditional clamshell-style laptop.

How much battery life do you need?

If you're on the go, you'll need to make sure you snag a laptop that lasts more than 10 hours. But if you're a homebody or tied to your desk all day, perhaps you can sacrifice some battery life and save money. If battery life is your top priority, check out our laptops with the best battery life list, which includes a couple of options from Asus.

Specs: 1080p / Core i5 (Ultra 5) / 256GB / 8GB are a good baseline

You can spend a lot of time delving into specs on Asus laptops, but here are the key components. If you just want good mainstream performance, go for a Core i5 (Ultra 5) CPU, 8GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD, and a 1080p screen. If it's within your budget, consider upgrading to 16GB of RAM, particularly if you like to multitask.

How We Test the Best Asus Laptops

We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing—both synthetic and real-world—before we send it to our reviewers. We evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

Now, Asus laptops are interesting because we're not only looking for the best but also the most innovative. We do that because Asus is leading in terms of innovation. That's why we also have the best MacBook Pro alternative (because Asus can do it better). No one test is explicitly more important than the other, however.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the laptop's display's brightness and sRGB color gamut. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 5 and 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop with converting a 4K video to 1080p resolution and duplicate a 25GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p resolution.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop. Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

Following these tests, the laptop is given to our expert reviewers for extensive hands-on testing. Our reviewers will spend days using the laptop as part of their typical workflow to get a sense of the real-world performance and live with the laptop to come away with a thorough understanding of the hardware and software experience. This blended lab testing and hands-on approach allows us to offer you a clear and comprehensive view of every laptop that comes through Laptop Mag.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over one hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Future Publishing, one of the world's largest technology publishers, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

A lot of what makes the best laptops for graphic design is similar to the best laptops for Photoshop, but the two most important are blazing performance and and a display that can produce a seemingly endless expanse of colors. These features are crucial when you are, say, designing marketing materials for Academy Award-nominated films like my fiancé used to do — sometimes as the awards aired on live TV.

If one of them won, he'd have to open the correct Photoshop file, edit and arrange the text, convert the file, and send it to the marketing firm so they could post it to social media before the award winner finished their 45-second speech. A slow processor would have been disastrous to that entire process.

But so would have a dull, lifeless display. The colors of those marketing materials often matched the overall color pallet used in the films themselves, so his job also relied on having a display with great color coverage and overall brightness.

Depending on where you spend the most time designing, a laptop with a shorter than average battery life might not be a dealbreaker; some of the best workstations and the best laptops for video editing also make fabulous graphic design machines. But unless you're desk-bound, ideally look for something that lasts at least 11 hours.

This page is regularly updated with our latest reviews to reflect Laptop Mag’s top picks for 2025.

Update Log

6/10/25: Added Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 as best budget option, Asus ProArt PX13 as best 2-in-1; updated the following sections: recently reviewed, FAQs, intro, and how to choose a graphic design laptop.

The Quick List

Best overall

If you're a professional graphic designer who needs a new laptop that won't bottleneck the second you add one too many layers to your latest Photoshop project, we recommend the newest 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro processor.

Laptop Mag's managing editor, Sean Riley, describes it best in his review: "It's almost simultaneously the most powerful premium laptop we've reviewed while also offering the second-longest battery of any laptop we've tested." Our benchmark numbers mostly speak for themselves.

With 20 hours and 46 minutes of battery life, it lasts 7 hours longer than the average premium laptop. It also outshines them all in the Geekbench 6 multicore benchmark with a score of 22,822 — over a 100% speed increase compared to the average premium laptop (10,492).

I realize numbers alone might not be convincing enough, so I asked a professional graphic designer (my fiancé) with over a decade of experience creating company logos, website wireframes, and user interfaces for video games how he felt about his new MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro. He didn't convey his excitement in words at first. He made happy grunting noises and told me it's the best laptop he's owned during his career. (If you are also upgrading from an M2 Max, you might need help picking your jaw up off the floor like he did.)

Everything else about this MacBook Pro is just as good or better than previous generations. It's still expensive, but it's our best overall pick for a reason.

See our full Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro review.

Best budget

15-inch laptops are increasingly rare these days, but as Laptop Mag managing editor Sean Riley writes in his review, the new Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 "deserves to be in the conversation." He gave it 4.5 stars for a good reason! It offers many of the same benefits for graphic designers as the pricier Pro M4, and its performance and battery life remain unparalleled among many of its budget competitors.

Its CPU multicore performance is nearly 38% faster than the 15-inch Air M3, according to our testing. In our real-world video transcoding test, the Air M4 converted a 4K video to 1080p in just under 5 minutes — 2 minutes faster than the Air M3.

The Air M4's display isn't the most vibrant or color-accurate screen you can get, but it covers a larger portion of the DCI-P3 color gamut compared to last year's Air M3 (83.5% versus 77.8%). For graphic designers on a budget who want the largest laptop display possible, that's less of a compromise between the Air M4 and 14-inch M4 Pro — and you still get Apple's True Tone technology, which adjusts how colors are displayed depending on the lighting.

Its max brightness is 476 nits, just like last year's model, and its battery still lasts 15 hours, too. The Air M4's other features have remained mostly the same or improved, which is especially notable considering Apple dropped the 15-inch Air M4's starting price by $100.

If you currently have an Air M2 or earlier, you're in the best position to get the most out of your money by upgrading.

See our full Apple MacBook Air 15 M4 review.

Best Windows

If you're more comfortable using Windows, the Asus ProArt P16 is a "stellar example of what a creator laptop should be: powerful, reliable, and stylish," as our reviewer, Stevie Bonifield, said. You don't have to pay MacBook Pro prices to get suburb performance in a thin and light chassis with a beautiful design that's just as easy on your eyes as it is on your wallet.

While I'd normally recommend a laptop with a wider color gamut for graphic designers, the ProArt P16 covers a high enough percentage of the DCI-P3 (85.5%). If you want this laptop for professional video editing that could be more of a concern, where the AdobeRGB color gamut is more useful for graphic designers.

Just as important as color accuracy is performance; this laptop's AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, 32GB of RAM, and Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card powers it to a Geekbench 6 multicore score of 15,286, way beyond the average premium laptop. Commonly used graphic design programs like Adobe Illustrator load in a snap, and the ProArt P16 has the right amount of RAM and CPU cores to prevent the system from getting too bogged down with all the processes Photoshop runs in the background.

That stellar performance played out in Laptop Mag's Handbrake benchmark, transcoding a 4K video to 1080p in 3 minutes and 15 seconds, much faster than the average premium laptop (7:58). (Yes, the ProArt P16 also makes a fantastic video editing laptop.)

Its battery life is a letdown, though. Expect up to 9 hours and 32 minutes if you use this laptop for web browsing, with the display brightness set to 150 nits. If you're manipulating images with dozens of vector masks at full brightness (356 nits), the battery will drain much faster. Just something to be mindful of if your workspace doesn't have a nearby outlet.

See our full Asus ProArt P16 review.

Best 2-in-1

If you start your design process with hand-drawn sketches on a tablet but are tired of importing them to a separate device, the Asus ProArt PX13 is "a top choice for creators looking for a compact laptop," as Laptop Mag contributing writer Stevie Bonifield, sums up nicely.

This laptop's 13.3-inch display offers almost the same amount of space as a standard-sized piece of paper, so it keeps a good balance between portability and having enough room to draw. It weighs 3 pounds, which is heavier than the average 100-page sketchbook, of course, but that's incredibly lightweight for a laptop — especially a 2-in-1.

If you draw directly inside a graphic design program, you won't have to worry about your lines lagging behind your stylus. The ProArt Px13 performed exceptionally well in our PugetBench Photoshop and HandBreak video transcoding tests, meeting or exceeding what its competitors are capable of achieving. Coupled with a discrete RTX 4050 graphics card and 32GB of RAM, you likely won't have to manually adjust the memory allocation to your graphic design program.

Graphic designers who work with the DCI-P3 color gamut might find the display's coverage on the low side with 80% of that color space in our testing. While this is below the recommended 85% minimum, it's important to note that OLED displays typically underperform on this test, so the true number is almost certainly above 85%.

What might be a concern for anyone considering this laptop is its battery life: 9 hours and 49 minutes. That's not terrible for a creator laptop, but it's less than the 11-hour minimum we recommend.

See our full Asus ProArt PX13 review.

Best gaming

If your graphic design work takes you into the realm of video game UI (like my fiancé's did for a period of time), you most likely will need a gaming laptop — one with "powerful performance, smooth graphics," and a "stunning display," as our staff writer, Madeline Ricchiuto said in her review of the Legion Pro 7i Gen 9.

Those are its stand-out features, especially at a price compared to some competing gaming laptops that are less powerful. For under $2,500 (on sale), you get an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU with 12GB of VRAM. Combined with 32GB of system memory, this laptop spiked into the high-90s and low-100s in our gaming benchmarks.

Its display is also suitable for UI design work, averaging 108.7% of the DCI-P3 color gamut — way beyond what most graphic designers probably would need. It also gets super bright, averaging 456 max nits in Laptop Mag's testing. It does only have a 1600p native resolution, but that may or may not be a deal breaker based on the kind of work you primarily do on your laptop.

Just keep in mind that if you go with this laptop, it's chunky, 1.01 inches thick, and weighs 5.7 pounds — definitely a desktop replacement. You can technically carry it around if you want to, but after a week (at most) of doing that, I can imagine the process becoming a hassle.

See our full Lenovo Legion Pro 7i Gen 9 review.

Benchmark comparisons

Recently reviewed

Not every laptop can make our best laptops for graphic design page. (We wouldn't be doing you that much good if that were the case!) We review new laptops every week and over 100 laptops yearly, so here's a look at our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make this page either due to a fault, battery life, performance, or something else.

How to choose a laptop for graphic design

CPU: The faster your processor, the faster certain features will work in programs like Illustrator and Photoshop. (Not to mention opening the program itself!) Look for a laptop with either an Intel Core Ultra 200 series, AMD Ryzen AI 300 series, or Apple M4 CPU if you want your workflow to move as efficiently as possible.

GPU: If you work primarily work with static graphics, you might be able to do your work just fine on a laptop with integrated graphics. But if you work with motion graphics or UI, you might use a lot of intricate filters, 3D effects, generative AI, or similar resource-heavy tools.

For those of you in the latter camp, we recommend a laptop with either an RTX 40- or 50-series discrete graphics card — especially if you want to take advantage of any hardware acceleration features that your graphic design program offers.

RAM: If you're looking at a laptop with a discrete GPU, it should also have a bare minimum of 16GB. Though in our experience, 32GB (or more) is the ideal for professionals. It ensures the program won't lag if certain features like drawing and editing in real-time or animated zoom are active.

Storage: Our recommended minimum is 512GB, though if you regularly work with massive vector or other types of files, definitely go for at least 1TB.

Display: Most laptops span 95% or higher of the sRGB or AdobeRGB color gamut, but if DCI-P3 is more important to you, look for a display with at least 85% coverage. Color accuracy is also important; a laptop with a display Delta E (dE) level of 2 or less produces the most true-to-life colors.

Portability: Not all great graphic design laptops are thin and light. If you're constantly working between your home, the office, planes, or trains, look for a laptop that weighs 3 pounds or less and is around half an inch in height. Those will be less of a hassle to put in and remove from your bag several times a day.

FAQs

Q: Are gaming laptops good for graphic design?

A: Yes! Any laptop with a discrete graphics card lets you take advantage of Hardware Acceleration, a common feature in popular image and video editing programs. Instead of relying on the CPU and RAM to do all the work, Hardware Acceleration uses the GPU to perform the same tasks much faster.

Gaming laptops' GPUs also work with Nvidia Studio Drivers, which provide more stability and reliability for content creation. Workstations usually come with Nvidia's RTX A-series or Ada Generation graphics cards, which are designed specfically for professional workstations and have better data integrity and stability. (They're more expensive, too!)

Q: What GPU should I get for graphic design?

A: It depends! If you want high frame rates and stunning graphics, then an RTX 5080 or RTX 5090 are your best bet. Those graphics cards make the most out of high refresh rates and OLED displays. If you are willing to compromise on one or the other, look for gaming laptops with an RTX 5070, or RTX 4090 or lower.

Nvidia's DLSS Multi Frame Generation is only supported on 50-series cards, but all other DLSS technologies are accessible on both the RTX 50-and 40-series.

Q: Do I need a discrete GPU for graphic design?

A. Not necessarily! In general, graphic design leans heavily on the processor, so regardless if you get a MacBook, Windows, or Windows on ARM laptop, you'll be in fine shape.

MacBooks have been the de-facto graphic design machine for a long time. (My fiancé, who is a professional graphic designer, won't use any thing else.) But Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite chips can process the same, common design tasks just as efficiently.

Q: How much RAM do I need for graphic design?

A: It depends! With a discrete GPU (which has its own on-board video RAM) and Hardware Acceleration, you can get away with at least 16GB if you're not working on anything resource-intensive. But if you're a professional graphic designer, we recommend a minimum of 24GB — though if you have the budget for 32GB or more, that would be ideal.

If the graphic design laptop you have your eye on has unified memory (RAM that is built into the CPU itself), you probably want to configure it with at least 32GB of RAM. The RAM in these laptops is shared between the CPU and integrated graphics; if you don't have enough total RAM, then the integrated graphics might not have enough resources to load or convert large design files.

Q: Is a laptop that's good for graphic design also good for video editing?

A: Most laptops that are good for graphic design will also work for video editing, but you'll also want to be aware of the audio quality of a laptop when choosing a video editing machine. So not all the laptops on this list will be ideal for editing video or audio files.

Video editing can often demand more RAM and GPU resources than photo editing, so you may want to opt for a laptop with a discrete GPU if video editing is going to be a large part of your workflow.

Q: Why don't we recommend a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite laptop for graphic design?

A: On the hardware-side, a Snapdragon X Elite laptop is an excellent machine for running editing programs like Photoshop — but few native Windows on Arm versions of Adobe programs exist overall.

Currently, only Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Photoshop Lightroom can run natively on Snapdragon X Elite laptops. This might not be an issue if you only use Photoshop, but if you also use Adobe InDesign or Illustrator, those can only run via emulation.

It's a similar concept to running a virtual version of Windows 95 on a Windows 11 PC, but the computer will use more resources running both the emulator and program at the same time, which could slow down various editing tasks. If you don't have enough available RAM or video RAM, the entire program could crash.

How we test graphic design laptops

We put each laptop through extensive benchmark testing — both synthetic and real-world — before they end up in the hands of our reviewers. We evaluate every aspect of the laptop, but to find the best laptops for graphic design, we pay extra close attention to performance, graphics, and the display.

Performance testing includes Geekbench 6, which evaluates the laptop’s ability to handle a variety of different tasks and continue running smoothly. For laptops with discrete graphics cards, we use the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark, and for integrated graphics we use 3DMark Night Raid.

To determine real-world performance, we convert a 4K video to 1080p resolution and duplicate a 25GB file. For gaming performance on integrated graphics, we use Cid Meier's Civilization V: Gathering Storm benchmark at 1080p resolution and Medium graphics.

For discrete graphics, we run benchmarks in Red Dead Redemption 2, Assassin's Creed Mirage, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Borderlands 3, Far Cry 6 (and more) in full-screen mode with vertical sync disabled at 1080p and the laptop's native resolution.

We use a Klein K10 colorimeter in our display testing to measure overall brightness, as determine the DCI-P3 and AdobeRGB color gamut color accuracy.

For our battery test, we continuously web surfing over WiFi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 10 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered longer than 5 hours deserve praise.

We also run heat tests by playing a 15-minute full-screen video (or playing a video game) and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop.

We complement these tests with extensive hands-on testing from our reviewers, who critique everything from the laptop's materials to the feel of its touchpad.

See this page on How We Test Laptops for more details on our benchmarking procedures.

Why trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over a hundred different laptops every year, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100% independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades, and we continue to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Our editorial trustworthiness is enforced by one of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

Nothing is more cutting-edge in 2025 than the best AI PCs from Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Apple. Picking a new laptop is already tough, let alone when you want the latest and greatest technology, so I'm here to help you navigate these stormy seas.

I'll be your AI laptop deep-dive instructor as we find the best AI PC for you. As Laptop Mag's resident hardware enthusiast, I've lived and breathed AI PCs for over a year. I've spent hours going over AI PC performance and efficiency benchmarks, and I've reviewed over 30 AI PCs personally, while the Laptop team has reviewed over 100 laptops in this emergent category in our never-ending quest to find the best laptops.

We've seen all of this generation's AI processors from Qualcomm, Intel, AMD, and Apple, so this list presents the best of the best when it comes to AI-powered laptops with options to suit any need. Even if AI isn't part of your daily life today, it would be a mistake to ignore it as you buy a new laptop in 2025 as AI is more prevalent than ever.

If you want to jump straight to our top choices, our pick for the best AI PC overall is the Asus Zenbook S 14 UX5406, which pairs a stunning OLED display with outstanding performance and efficiency thanks to the Intel Core Ultra Series 200V chipset inside. If battery life is your priority, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 is your pick, with over 21 hours on our test. And for Apple enthusiasts, the MacBook Air 13 (M4, 2025) is the way to go for the best combination of value, performance, and longevity.

That's just entering into the shallows of our top picks; here's my promised deep dive into the best AI PCs in 2025.

The Quick List

Here's a quick rundown of our top picks for the best AI PC laptops. You can also follow the links to the full review to learn more about any of the computers on this list.

The best AI PCs in 2025

Best Overall

The Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) rocketed to the top to become our favorite AI PC laptop. This laptop is one of the first to feature an Intel Core Ultra 200V series processor and at just $1,499, you get a fantastic balance of performance, full-day battery life, a stunning 14-inch OLED display, plus enhanced storage and memory. So you can keep open your 57 'emotional support' Chrome tabs while still streaming music and running ChatGPT or Stable Diffusion.

In our review, Madeline Ricchiuto writes, "From its stunning design to its vivid OLED display panel, there’s plenty to appreciate about the Asus Zenbook S 14."

The Asus Zenbook S 14 lasted 13 hours and 51 minutes on our battery life test, so you should have no trouble leaving your charge cable at home while you head to work or to class. The Zenbook also features a scratch-resistant Ceraluminum ultralight chassis and Asus' quality customer support so you don't need to worry about any tech-related meltdowns.

The Zenbook S 14's 3K (2,880 x 1,800) OLED display is vividly colorful, capturing 82% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. at 342 nits of brightness, it can contend with most screen glare.

If you need to save money, Some of the Qualcomm Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs are a bit cheaper. The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x is one of our favorites of the Copilot+ lineup and starts at just $1,199, while the Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition starts at just $999 and features the same Copilot+ AI features as the Yoga Slim 7x. If you prefer an AI PC with a larger screen, the Samsung Galaxy Book 4 Ultra has a stunning 16-inch AMOLED display. The Galaxy Book 4 Ultra also offers excellent battery life and the powerhouse combo of an Intel Core Ultra 9 185H processor and Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU.

See our full Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) review.

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Best battery life

One of the most highly anticipated features of the Copilot+ AI PC platform was the extended battery life offered by AI optimization combined with Qualcomm's ARM-based Snapdragon X Elite chip, and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 has more than delivered on that promise.

In our review, Stevie Bonifield writes, "Battery life is one area where the Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 really shines. It lasted 21 hours and 3 minutes in our battery test, longer than any of its rivals — longer than any laptop we’ve ever tested."

The ThinkPad T14s lasted an astounding 21 hours and 3 minutes on our battery test, outperforming even the MacBook Pro 16 (M4 Pro, 2024), which lasted 20:46. It also stole the battery life crown from the Dell XPS 13 (9345), which had just claimed the title of laptop with the best battery life in July 2024.

But the ThinkPad T14s offers more than just incredible battery life, as it combines power efficiency with strong CPU performance thanks to its Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite (XIE-78-100) chipset and surprisingly light 2.72-pound chassis.

In fact, the ThinkPad T14s has more powerful multi-core performance than some of our favorite laptops, like the MacBook Air 13 M3 and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M). On the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, the ThinkPad scored an average of 14,486 compared to the MacBook Air's 12,807 or the Zenbook 14's 12,358. The T14s also has better battery life than both, making it the best choice for power and longevity.

So what are the downsides? The ThinkPad T14s suffers from a tired design, sub-par graphics rendering, and an inaccurately calibrated display, which hold it back from taking the top spot in this category. But if you don't plan to use your AI PC for a lot of photo or video work, the ThinkPad T14s more than makes up for its shortcomings in terms of battery life and performance. In fact, with this ThinkPad, you can even dare to leave your charger at home.

See our full Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 6 review.

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Best budget

AI PCs offer good power efficiency, strong performance, and lightweight designs, even on budget-friendly systems. The Acer Aspire 14 AI benefits from an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor with powerful Intel Arc 130V graphics and a 40 TOPS Intel AI Boost NPU all integrated into the chipset. It also features 16GB of unified memory on-package, a 2TB SSD, and a 14-inch 1920 x 1200 display. Plus, it lasted over 14 hours on the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test and weighs just 3.2 pounds. And you get all that for just $699.

Claire Tabari writes in our review of the Acer Aspire 14 AI, "The Acer Aspire 14 AI shines as a budget laptop, hitting an affordable price point for solid Lunar Lake processing speeds, excellent battery life, a satisfying keyboard, and a sturdy chassis."

Our testing revealed that the Aspire 14 AI "delivered a Geekbench 6 score of 10,043, which is fantastic for a budget laptop." The Aspire 14 also features a swift 1TB SSD, with a transfer rate of 1,746 megabytes per second.

While the Acer Aspire 14 AI's 14 hour and 15 minute battery life average is far from the most impressive on this list, it easily competes with our top AI PC pick overall, the Asus Zenbook S 14 (13:51), however, it is almost an hour behind our top Apple pick, the MacBook Air 13 M3 (15:13).

The Acer Aspire 14 AI does have a powerful second-gen Intel AI Boost NPU which offers 40 TOPS of performance. This means it is part of Microsoft's Copilot+ program and gets access to advanced AI features like Live Captions and studio camera effects.

See our full Acer Aspire 14 AI review.

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Best for business

Not everyone wants a 2-in-1 laptop, but the convertible form of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo makes it a handy, versatile tool. The Summit also features a Microsoft discrete trusted platform module (TPM) 2.0 and Microsoft Pluton security. So its versatile and secure.

Madeline Ricchiuto writes in our review of the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo, "There are plenty of reasons to recommend the Summit 13 AI+ Evo. It offers almost 17 hours of battery life, dependable performance, a bright display, a satisfying keyboard, sturdy hinges, and it comes with 2TB of storage space and a stylus for just $1,599."

MSI has also put the Summit's durability to the test through the MIL-STD-810H durability testing. The Summit 13 AI+ Evo can survive high altitudes, extreme temperatures, and exposure to dust and humidity. Making it the perfect companion for your pitch meeting in the middle of the Sahara Desert.

Like the other Copilot+ laptops, the MSI Summit 13 has full-day battery life, solid performance, and a bright, vibrant display. Even if security is not your top priority, you're still getting a solid laptop that lasted 16 hours and 52 minutes on our battery test. On our other lab benchmark tests, the Summit was competitive with the likes of the Asus ExpertBook P5 and HP EliteBook Ultra G1q, with a Geekbench 6 score of 10,895 compared to the ExperBook's 11,259 and the EliteBook's 12,717.

While you could use one of the other Copilot+ or AI PC laptops, like the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x or Dell XPS 13 (9350), as a business laptop, MSI offers additional security and durability features alongside a stellar all-around laptop experience.

With a starting price of just $1,499, most other business laptops can't compete.

See our full MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo review.

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Best for AMD fans

This AI powerhouse isn't part of the Copilot+ PC program, but with an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, it more than meets the requirements for NPU performance with 50 TOPS of AI processing power. So, if you want a top-of-the-line AI PC and Qualcomm's ARM chip won't work for you, the Asus Zenbook S16 is your best pick.

Rami Tabari writes in our review, "The Asus Zenbook S16 UM5606 has the makings of a great laptop, from its incredible performance and graphics to its long battery life and stellar design."

Of course, the Zenbook does have a few drawbacks, like an unsatisfying keyboard and slower SSD, but it makes up for those shortcomings by surviving an impressive 11 hours and 35 minutes on our battery test. And it starts at just $1,399.

The Zenbook S16 scored above most of its competition on Geekbench 6, with a multicore average of 13,282. That outpaces even the MacBook Air 15 M3's 12,052 average and the Intel Core Ultra-powered Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (Q425M), which scored an average of 12,717.

So, if you need a powerful AI PC that runs Windows 11 without needing software emulation, the Zenbook S16 is the most affordable, powerful option.

See our full Asus Zenbook S16 review.

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Best for Apple enthusiasts

We rarely give out 5-star ratings here at Laptop Mag, and the Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 is one of the chosen few. Starting at just $999, with education pricing dropping it to $899, the new 13-inch Air is a laptop we can recommend for just about any purpose. It's affordable, especially by Apple standards, and it features an excellent keyboard, fantastic performance, and outstanding endurance, which makes it a great laptop for just about anyone's needs.

In our review, Sean Riley writes, "The MacBook Air 13-inch M4 feels like the return of the original M1 Air. It's an undeniable value that will give you years of excellent performance, even if you pick up the base model."

With macOS 18, the M4 chips have access to Apple Intelligence, making the MacBook Air 13 M4 one of the most affordable AI PCs on the market, with features similar to those found in Microsoft's Copilot+ PC system, like image and text generation, email summaries, and in-call recording and summaries.

Outside of the fancy new AI features coming to Macs this fall, the MacBook Air M4 boasts the same kind of all-day battery life as the other AI PCs on this list, lasting 15 hours and 42 minutes in our battery life test.

The MacBook Air is more than competitive with other AI PCs when it comes to performance, scoring a Geekbench 6 multicore average of 14,849 which outperforms the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x (13,750) and Asus Zenbook 14 OLED (12,908).

Of course, you could choose the MacBook Pro 14 M4 instead. Thanks to its fan-cooled design and larger battery, it has better performance and longer battery life, but it has a much higher starting price: $1,599.

So, if you want to stick with macOS and get the best Apple Intelligence features at an affordable price, the MacBook Air M4 is the way to go.

See our full Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 review.

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Benchmark Comparisons

AI Benchmarks

We run all of our AI PCs through a series of AI-focused benchmarks, including the Geekbench ML and Geekbench AI test suites. However, because of how fast AI and machine learning is evolving, these benchmarks are often difficult to compare between versions.

Geekbench ML does not test the NPU at all, while Geekbench AI will test the NPU using the best AI inference software for that chipset, so it can be difficult to compare NPU results between chipmakers.

Though AI PCs are all identifiable by their integrated NPUs, AI workloads run off all three hardware accelerators, so we try to benchmark the CPU, GPU, and NPU in AI tests rather than just focus on the NPU alone.

But if you're curious as to how our best AI PCs stack up in the AI benchmarking stakes, here's a comprehensive chart of our testing data.

Recent reviews

We review dozens of laptops annually, and while some simply don't have what it takes to make our buying guides, others are still strong options that came up short for one reason or another. Here are some of our most recently reviewed laptops that didn't make the cut, which for this page could simply mean they aren't classified as "AI PCs."

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How to choose the best AI PC

There are several factors you should consider before buying an AI PC.

The benefits of AI laptops are multifaceted, but portability and battery life are some of the more tangible benefits of buying a laptop with a neural processing unit NPU. Courtesy of AI optimization, these laptops are more efficient than their non-AI counterparts, which helps shave off some weight with thinner, smaller batteries that can still last all day on a charge. Most AI PCs we've seen have lasted for more than 10 hours on our battery test, and many of the AI laptops we've reviewed and recommend go well beyond that, some even eclipsing 20 hours of battery life.

On-device AI is another key benefit of the AI PC platform, though we are still in the early days of generative AI, so those features will be upgraded and added as Microsoft, Apple, Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm flesh out their AI platforms. But at a minimum, all of the AI PCs have a dedicated NPU and can tackle on-device AI tasks like AI image and AI text generation. While some have more powerful NPUs than others, all of these AI PCs can run your favorite large language model.

Regarding minimum specs, we recommend a Qualcomm Snapdragon X Plus, AMD Ryzen 8000 series, Intel Core Ultra 100 series, or Apple M2. You'll also want to go for at least 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD minimum for extra memory and storage for your AI tasks.

Other deciding factors that can make your AI PC life even more successful are the same as most other laptops, including a comfortable keyboard, a sensitive touchpad, and a bright, vivid display. So you can enjoy your laptop for more than just its generative AI capabilities.

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FAQs

What makes a laptop an AI PC?

While there are many definitions for what counts as an AI PC, the one commonality between all laptops and desktops marked as "AI PCs" is the presence of a neural processing unit (NPU) machine learning core.

AI workloads will often use the CPU, GPU, and NPU of a machine, with certain tasks favoring one hardware accelerator over another. But to get the most use out of on-device AI, you'll want a computer with a strong chipset that has CPU, GPU, and NPU cores.

What does an AI PC do?

AI PCs are specialized laptops built to run AI workloads. They also offer great battery life and general performance. All laptops will be AI PCs at some point in the future, but for now, they're a bit more of a niche category. Essentially, any computer with an NPU machine learning processor is an AI PC.

You can use an AI PC to run on-device AI models like GPT-4 or Stable Diffusion. AI PCs can generate AI text and AI images and provide live AI translations or better video filters for your next Zoom meeting. One of the key differentiators is that these tasks are handled, at least in large part, by the NPU, which helps free up the CPU and GPU for other tasks.

You can also use an AI laptop for typical computing tasks like browsing the web, playing games, editing photos and videos, or productivity tasks if this is a work laptop. They're a versatile category of powerful, efficient laptops that fill various needs.

What specs do I need for a good AI PC?

While you can run generative AI programs like GPT-4, Stable Diffusion, or Dall-E on older processors, you'll want to opt for a newer, high-end CPU, GPU, and NPU combination if you plan to do a lot of on-device AI.

Different AI programs run through different hardware accelerators, so you'll want to have all-around powerful hardware.

An AMD Ryzen AI 300 processor gets you the most powerful NPU and a solid CPU and integrated GPU. Qualcomm Snapdragon X Series processors offer the best combination of powerful NPU and CPU performance with top-end battery life. The Intel Core Ultra 200V "Lunar Lake" series gives you a strong NPU with solid CPU and GPU performance for additional AI support and great battery life. The Apple MacBook Air M3 gives you access to the Apple Intelligence AI software suite, alongside Apple's fantastic build quality, performance, and battery life at an affordable price. The M4 is better optimized for AI workloads and will be the superior choice once the M4 chipset hits the MacBook Air line.

If you're using mostly cloud-based AI software, you can use a processor with a less powerful NPU because the cloud server will run the AI model for most of your AI usage. However, in that case, you'll still want a laptop with a decent processor and at least 16GB of RAM to get a timely response.

Do I need a Copilot+ PC to have a good AI PC?

While having a powerful NPU rated to at least 40 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) can make certain AI programs run more smoothly, the requirement for at least 40 TOPS of NPU performance was based on Microsoft Recall. That particular segment of Microsoft's Copilot+ AI suite hasn't fully launched yet, but it is available in Preview Mode for Windows Insiders.

AI PCs can do more than just Microsoft Copilot+. Many other AI workloads, including webcam background blur, AI audio effects, and generative AI can be handled by smaller NPUs or can be run through the CPU or GPU instead of the NPU. So you can still get a quality AI PC experience with a lower-spec NPU than you'll find on Copilot+ PCs.

But if you want an NPU that can last for the next few generations of AI and you want access to every AI feature, you'll want to opt for a Copilot+ PC.

Should you get a discrete GPU for your AI PC?

Depending on the AI you intend to use, you may want a more powerful GPU. However, the integrated graphics tiles on the Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200 series are powerful enough for some light gaming and get solid GPU-based AI performance.

Of course, if you're going to be getting into heavy on-device AI that requires high graphics demands, getting a laptop with an Nvidia RTX 40-series or RTX 50-series GPU wouldn't be a bad idea.

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How we test AI PCs

We put each laptop we review through extensive benchmark testing using synthetic and real-world tests before it goes to our reviewers. Our reviewers evaluate each aspect of the laptop, including its performance, battery life, display, speakers, and heat management.

In our benchmark testing, we use a Klein K10 colorimeter to detect the brightness and the sRGB and DCI-P3 color gamut of the laptop's display. For performance testing, we run the laptop through a gauntlet of benchmarks, including Geekbench 6 and 3DMark professional graphics tests. A Geekbench 6 multicore score of 10,000 or higher is needed for AI workloads. While AI PC laptops don't need to be great at gaming, a higher score on 3DMark benchmarks can indicate good image generation capabilities.

With AI PC laptops, we also use machine learning benchmark tests like Geekbench ML, Geekbench AI, UL Procyon Computer Vision, and UL Procyon Image Generation. These tests use real AI workloads and models to test a laptop's AI performance capabilities. Most of these tests can target CPU and GPU performance on AI workloads, but as NPUs are the defining factor of AI PCs, we tend to focus on NPU performance for these benchmarks.

To determine real-world performance, we task the laptop with compressing a 4K video to 1080p resolution and duplicating a 25 GB multimedia file. Our real-world graphics test is the Sid Meier's Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark with medium settings at 1080p and native resolution. On gaming laptops, we run additional benchmarks, including Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Cyberpunk 2077, and Assassin's Creed: Mirage.

We also test the laptop's cooling capabilities by playing a 15-minute 4K video and measuring temperatures in different areas of the laptop, such as the keyboard, touchpad, and underside, to determine whether it is too hot to be safely used on your lap or if it should be relegated to a desktop.

Last but not least, our battery test consists of continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi at 150 nits of brightness. For MacBooks and premium Windows 10 or Windows 11 laptops, a runtime of over 9 hours is considered a good result, whereas gaming laptops and workstations that can stay powered longer than 5 hours deserve praise. We expect over 10 hours of battery life with AI PCs, though many AI PC laptops get around 14 hours of battery life.

Following these tests, the laptop is given to our expert reviewers for extensive hands-on testing. Our reviewers will spend days using the laptop as part of their typical workflow to get a sense of the real-world performance and live with the laptop to come away with a thorough understanding of the hardware and software experience. This blended lab testing and hands-on approach allows us to offer you a clear and comprehensive view of every laptop that comes through Laptop Mag.

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Why Trust Laptop Mag

Laptop Mag reviews over a hundred laptops yearly, from paperweight ultralights to everyday workhorses to lumbering gaming notebooks that scorch the frame rates of even the hottest AAA games. We're not just experts in the laptop field, as we go one step further by meticulously testing smartphones, tablets, headphones, PC accessories, software, and even the latest in gaming.

We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. Laptop Mag has been testing and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced team of writers and editors scour the available information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

Future Publishing, one of the world's largest technology publishers, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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The best external DVD/Blu-ray drives thumb their noses at streaming platforms, granting you an internet-free gateway to some of your favorite games and movies and all of that digital rights nonsense that claims you don't get to own the things you buy through online services.

Whether you're disappointed by the increasing "streaming purges" on Disney Plus, Max, and other subscription services, or you're tired of paying for numerous streaming services monthly, a DVD drive is becoming a must-have piece of tech once again.

Sadly, not all physical media is made available digitally, and there's plenty of personal footage and data out there that you might only be able to watch via DVD.

My favorite example is 2010’s Transformers: War for Cybertron, an outstanding game practically scrubbed from existence on digital storefronts. You'll have to cough up an arm, a leg, and half an ear to get a legitimate game key from a gray market site, but if you already have the physical game, an optical drive can save you hundreds of dollars to play this hard-to-get gem.

Speaking of hard-to-get, one of the more obvious choices would be to invest in a laptop with a CD-DVD drive, but given the lack of any modern options, you'd be putting yourself at a great disadvantage in doing so.

If you’re looking to invest in an external DVD drive but don’t know where to start, you've come to the right place. We’ve scoured the market and compiled our shortlist of the best external DVD and Blu-ray drives. Let's dive in.

Best external DVD drives in 2025: The list in brief

The best external DVD drives in 2025

Best overall

The ASUS ZenDrive U9M is a solid choice for anybody looking to add an optical drive to their setup. Not only is its stylish, Zen garden-esque hairline finish striking, but the ZenDrive U9M also boasts decent performance with read and write speeds of up to 8x for DVDs and 24x for CDs.

Desktop compatibility is one of ZenDrive’s biggest strengths. The optical drive supports most major operating systems, such as macOS (10.6 and above), Windows (8 / 8.1 and above), and Linux.

The ZenDrive also comes with two cable options, allowing either a USB 2.0 Type-A or Type-C connection, depending on your available ports. It also completely supports the entire range of CD and DVD disc types for playback and writing and M-Disc support for unparalleled archiving of all your digital data.

The ASUS ZenDrive U9M is available for just $34.99, which is a fair price for what's on offer. Better still, the ZenDrive comes bundled with handy software like CyberLink’s Power2Go and PowerBackup.

Also included is Nero BackItUp and a 12-month subscription to the ASUS Webstorage Cloud Service. ASUS’s external DVD drive is a fantastic all-rounder that doesn’t just grant access to physical media but makes for an impressive tool for backing up and archiving your most important data.

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Best premium

Verbatim's UHD 4K Blu-ray writer does it all, allowing you to play and digitize CD, DVD, and Blu-ray content on Windows and Mac devices with ease (at least with the former).

While the external drive will work with Mac, you'll need to make use of third-party software to do much of the heavy lifting, as the bundled Nero Brun and Archive software isn't compatible with macOS.

Blu-ray playback is also something that requires third-party software for both Windows and Mac, which is standard for all Blu-ray drives.

Verbatim's drive particularly stands out due to its UHD 4K support, which is rarer to find in external drives of this kind, and reflected in its slightly higher $100+ price tag.

The 43888 Blu-Ray Writer is great for digital archiving, capable of storing up to 100GB of data on BDXL discs at speeds of around 27MB/s.

If you're looking for a one-stop solution to your physical media needs, then Verbatim's Blu-ray drive checks all of the boxes: wide compatibility, decent performance, and impressively portable.

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Best Budget

Looking for a reliable disc drive that won't break the bank? The LG GP65 Slim is the way to go. This no-frills portable disc drive gives you all the basics you need for less than $30. It's even available in four different colors: black, silver, gold, and white.

The LG GP65 Slim is a great option for anyone who just needs a basic drive for things like watching movies, where ultra-fast read/write speed isn't a huge concern.

Maybe you're getting back into physical media or found some old movies you want to revisit but don't have a DVD player around anymore. This portable drive is a good alternative that costs less than most DVD players.

The LG GP65 Slim is also a good pick for those who need to bring a disc drive back and forth to work. It's the most lightweight drive on this list and the low price means it won't be a big deal to replace it if you accidentally lose or damage this drive during your commute.

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Frequently asked questions

• Do I need an external CD/DVD/Blu-Ray optical drive?
  This one is entirely a question of preference. You'll notice that most modern laptops have completely omitted the optical drive for several years now, with media, games, and more now primarily available in digital or streaming formats. However, if you have a catalog of physical media you'd like to enjoy, then an external optical drive is a great way to make use of them on newer hardware.
  
• Do I need a special external drive for Mac?
  Possibly. If you're looking to use Blu-Ray disk for data storage, then as long as the drive you have in mind is compatible with macOS, you should be good to go. Blu-Ray media playback is not natively supported on Mac, so you'll need to make use of third-party software if you want to watch movies or TV shows from the disc.
  
• Can I burn CDs/DVDs/Blu-Rays with an external drive?
  Yes, as long as the drive is a "writer" that supports RE, RW, or R format. Just make sure the disks you're using are burnable and use your preferred format.
  
• Can I watch 4K UHD Blu-Rays using an external drive?
  Yes, but only through 4K UHD-compatible external drives. These are typically more expensive and harder to come by, and you'll need to use officially licensed software for playback.
  
• Can I use external optical drives to digitize my DVDs/Blu-Rays?
  Yes, but you'll need to make use of third-party "ripping" software to do so. Depending on where you live, making a digital archive of your physical media may fall into legally gray realms.

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How to choose an external DVD drive

Drive speed
The speed of the drive you pick determines how fast you’ll be able to read and write data within the drive. Speeds range from 1x (slowest) to 24x (quickest), with 1x speeds equating to a data rate of 1.385 MB/s. At this speed, it will take roughly an hour to write a single-layer DVD to capacity and 103 minutes for dual-layer DVDs.

Higher drive speeds indicate how much faster your drive will perform. This means if a drive states its speed as x20, it is twenty times as fast as the base x1 speed (1.385 MB/s * 20 = 27.7 MB/s). The most common read/write speed for an external DVD drive is x8, which results in a data rate of around 11.08 MB/s. The time it takes to write a single-layer DVD to capacity at this rate is just seven minutes, with a dual-layer DVD taking only thirteen minutes.

Connectivity
An important factor to consider when selecting an external DVD drive is the type of connection it uses. As laptops continue to follow the thin-and-light trend, legacy ports like USB Type-A are being phased out in favor of the smaller and faster USB Type-C port.

However, most external DVD drives continue to use Type-A connections because the data rate of even the fastest DVD drives (24x) is only 33.2 MB/s or 266 Mbps, which is well within the 60 MB/s or 480 Mbps bandwidth of a typical USB 2.0 Type-A connection.

While some modern external DVD drives do offer Type-C connections, most remain unchanged. If there are no legacy ports available, you may need a USB-A to USB-C adapter to connect the drive to your chosen device (especially a tablet or smartphone).

Compatibility
Commonly, most external DVD drives will work well with Windows and macOS right out of the box (as long as the Mac in question is a post-2008 model with no internal drive originally fitted). However, other operating systems like Linux, Android and Fire OS aren’t offered the same level of support.

If you are wanting to combine an external DVD player with a Linux or Android based device, make sure the manufacturer lists it as a compatible operating system before you make a purchase.

M-Disc support
Regular recordable DVDs are great for storing data as you move it from one device to the next, but if you want to store information long-term, you should use M-Disc DVDs.

All regular recordable DVDs have their data burnt into an organic dye layer that begins to degrade from the moment it is written to. This gives most standard recordable DVDs a limited lifespan that some estimate to be between two and five years. While it’s not too much hassle to make a new copy of your data within that window, the process can be time-consuming and tedious.

Enter the M-Disc DVD, a write-once optical disc that doesn’t use organic dyes to store data but instead uses a more powerful laser found in M-Disc compatible DVD drives to engrave data onto its glassy carbon surface.

Unlike the short lifespan of regular recordable DVDs, the material used in M-Disc DVDs offers a theoretical lifespan of 1,000 years. This makes drives with M-Disc support fantastic options for those seeking to create long-term backups of sensitive information or sentimental media without worrying about their data becoming lost or corrupted.

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We are 100 percent independent and have decades of experience to help you buy with confidence. In fact, Laptop has been testFuture Publishing, oneg and reviewing products for three decades and continues to deliver trustworthy reviews you can rely on.

Our experienced writers and editors scour information about the laptop and put it through its paces to determine which is best for you. But before they start, the testing team subjects each system to a rigorous regimen of synthetic and real-world tests to see how a system handles the type of work and games you’re most likely to throw at it.

One of the world's largest technology publishers, Future Publishing, enforces our editorial trustworthiness. As a company, we have unrivaled experience across every tech sector — and we're the group's specialist for all things mobile tech.

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The Steam Summer Sale is underway, and there are a lot of great games with big discounts.

This year's sale could arguably be considered the first sale where a gamer could buy a title that can be played on their home computer or laptop, a portable consoles such as a Steam Deck or ROG Ally, and thanks to cloud gaming services like GeForce Now, it can also be played on their phone, tablet, or directly on their TV with no cables or console needed.

Still, when it comes to PC gaming, a laptop is the best choice all-around as you can hook it up to a monitor to feel like you're at a desktop or take it with you on the go without losing graphics fidelity or needing good Wi-Fi.

Picking the right gaming laptop really comes down to what you're looking to play on the laptop. Do you want a machine that will play practically every game out there just fine, or do you want a monster of a computer to run any title at the highest settings without a single frame dropped? For me, I would pick these three laptops, but for different reasons.

For power and portability at a low price, there's the Asus TUF Gaming A14 

The Asus TUF Gaming A14 is the laptop to go with if I wanted to play a lot of games well, that's easy to carry and comes with great battery life.

It has solid gaming performance, a decently colorful display that can reach high nits of brightness, and a satisfying keyboard. With its portable 14-inch size, light weight at around 3 pounds, durable military grade toughness, and the best battery life we’ve seen on a gaming laptop in years.

Some of the games the Asus TUF Gaming A14 is able to play at the highest settings that are currently on sale in the Steam Summer Sale are Baldur's Gate 3, Red Dead Redemption 2, and all those games with deep discounts dropping them below $10.

If I didn't worry much about price but want portability then I would need to buy the Razer Blade 16

Razer continues to offer a lot of power in a small package. The Razer Blade 16 (2025) is an expensive laptop with various options, and the RTX 5090 gaming performance being very smooth. There is an option to go with an RTX 4090 or RTX 5080 to save on money while still being able to play games on the highest settings.

The Razer Blade 16 (2025) features a stunning OLED display, Razer’s superb build quality, over 7 hours of web surfing battery life, and almost 2.5 hours of gaming battery life. It’s incredibly portable at just 4.6 pounds and 0.59 inches thick.

Games like Cyberpunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and Forza Horizon 5 at the highest graphics settings could bring most computers to their knees, but the Razer Blade 16 can handle them with ease.

The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is the gaming laptop to buy if price is not a concern

Saying the MSI Raider 18 HX AI is expensive is an understatement. This laptop's price is approximately the same as the two previous laptops combined at $4,000.

Still, the Raider has strong general performance, fluid gaming performance, a bright MiniLED display, a comfortable keyboard, powerful audio, and more ports than needed even with a multi-monitor setup. It has a powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of VRAM, which offers the gaming performance one might expect from such a high-end spec. Its 18-inch MiniLED display is bright and vivid, and its 6-speaker sound system is powerful with high-quality audio. But this machine is staying home, as it weighs as much as the Asus TUF Gaming A14 and Razer Blade 16 combined.

The MSI Raider 18 HX AI is more than enough machine to take on the most graphically intense games, such as Monster Hunter Wilds and Alan Wake 2 at their highest settings.

When you're searching for the ultimate gaming laptop, it's easy to go for the best possible specs and assume that will deliver the best performance. You’re not wrong, but you might be wasting your money.

The Asus ROG Strix G18 is exactly the kind of gaming laptop you don't want to overlook. It's hard to miss with its enormous 18-inch display, but that's not the only thing it has going for it. While it doesn't come cheap, it offers far better value for your money than you might expect and punches way above its weight class, giving RTX 5090 laptops a run for their money.

It left me asking – why pay a premium for an RTX 5090 laptop when you can get competitive performance from an RTX 5080 laptop like the Strix G18? This might even be one of the best gaming laptops you can buy, especially if you've got your eye on a large display.

Here's a look at everything the Asus ROG Strix G18 has to offer and a few things you should know before making it your next gaming rig.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Specs and benchmarks

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Price and configurations

The Asus ROG Strix G815 is available in a few configurations starting at $2,499, which includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 (8GB) GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.

Our review configuration costs $3,059 and includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 (16GB) GPU, 32GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage.

That's certainly not cheap, but for a gaming laptop with these specs, that price is fairly reasonable. For context, the smaller Asus ROG Strix G16 costs a bit less at $2,499 for a configuration with an RTX 5070 Ti and 1TB of storage. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI, an 18-inch behemoth like the Strix G815, costs significantly more at $4,499 for a configuration with an RTX 5080 and 4TB of storage.

So, Asus's asking price is reasonable, especially if a large 18-inch display is a top priority for you.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Design

The Asus ROG Strix G18 is eye-catching, but more so because of its size than its design.

The plastic chassis isn't too over-the-top, sporting a dark steel-gray finish with a glossy ROG logo on the lid and a hidden RGB light strip along the bottom of the keyboard deck (which you can easily turn off if you want). The keyboard also features RGB backlighting, and a handful of keys have transparent keycaps, which not only look cool but help your WASD keys stand out.

I also appreciate that Asus separated the power button from the main keyboard and gave it a unique shape, making it unlikely you'll press the power button by accident. There are also a handful of additional media keys above the function row for quickly adjusting volume, muting your mic, swapping performance modes, and opening the Armoury Crate app.

The first thing I noticed about the Asus ROG Strix G18 was its weight. It's easily the largest laptop I've ever reviewed, an honor previously held by the enormous Acer Nitro 17. That's no surprise considering the huge 18-inch display, but you should keep the G18's bulky size in mind if you want to travel with it often, since it's too big to fit in most laptop bags.

The Strix G18 measures 15.71 x 11.73 x 1.26 inches and weighs 7.05 pounds. For context, here's how a few similar gaming laptops compare:

• Asus ROG Strix G16 (G624FR) (16-inch): 13.94 x 10.39 x 1.2 inches, 5.51 pounds
• HP Omen Max 16 (16-inch): 14.04 x 10.59 x 0.98 inches, 5.92 pounds
• MSI Raider 18 HX AI (18-inch): 15.91 x 12.11 x 1.26 inches, 7.8 pounds

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Ports

The Asus ROG Strix G18 includes a pretty standard set of ports for a gaming laptop:

• 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (supports up to 10Gbps)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (supports DisplayPort/power delivery/G-Sync)
• 1x USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 (supports DisplayPort/power delivery)
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x RJ45 Ethernet/LAN
• 1x 3.5mm audio jack

That was more than enough ports for my needs, but if you find yourself needing even more variety, you can always connect the G815 to one of the best laptop docking stations or a USB Type-C hub.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Battery life

Gaming laptops are rarely high performers when it comes to battery life, and the Asus ROG Strix G815 is no threat to the laptops with the best battery life, but it's notably better than most of the competition.

It lasted 7 hours and 45 minutes in our non-gaming battery life test, significantly longer than its rivals. Of course, the irony of good battery life on an 18-inch laptop like this is that it's so bulky you probably won't want to travel with it often. Even so, it's nice that you can get almost a full day of basic tasks done on the G815 on a single charge.

Conversely, the gaming battery life for the G815 is average at 1 hour and 34 minutes, but you'll get better game performance with it plugged in anyway.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Display

The huge 18-inch display on the Asus ROG Strix G18 is arguably its star feature. It's a roomy 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS panel with a 3ms response time and a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz.

This display is about as big as you can get without using an external desktop display. If your top priority is more screen real estate for gaming and watching movies, the Strix G18 could be the perfect fit.

While the Strix G18 isn't exactly portable, the giant display is nice for creating an immersive viewing experience. It made episodes of Andor even more of a visual feast than usual, drawing me into the moody shots of Ferrix back alleys and capturing sweeping shots of Chandrila in crisp detail and vivid color.

The Strix G18 didn't break any records in our display tests, but it didn't perform poorly either. It covered 78% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and reached an impressive average brightness of 511.8 nits. While I would have preferred a higher color gamut score, the brightness is notably higher than most of the competition, with the exception of the MSI Raider 18 HX AI.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Keyboard and touchpad

Considering it's an 18-inch laptop, it's no surprise the Strix G18 features a full-size keyboard. It's not as satisfying as my desktop mechanical keyboard (the Lofree Block), but it feels more like a mechanical keyboard than most other laptop keyboards. The Strix G18 also features per-key RGB backlighting, which can be customized in the pre-installed Armoury Crate app.

On the Monkeytype typing test, I scored 101 words per minute with 98% accuracy on the Strix G18, which isn't record-breaking for me, but it’s not bad at all, either.

The touchpad on the Strix G18 is huge, even larger than the display on my 6.6-inch phone. It's so big that I found myself moving my mouse accidentally with my palms from time to time while typing. The touchpad surface is smooth, and clicking has a decent amount of travel and feedback. You'll probably want to use one of the best gaming mice most of the time, but for moments when you need the touchpad, this one's not bad.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Audio

The Asus ROG Strix G18 features dual speakers located at the bottom front corners of the keyboard deck. Considering the size of the keyboard deck (and the amount of empty space on it), I would have really liked to see top-firing speakers on this laptop. Even so, the side-firing speakers sound really good with music, games, and video content alike.

"Welcome to the DCC" by Nothing But Thieves sounded punchy and detailed with impressive depth and a good balance of bass, mids, and highs. The bass could be a tad stronger, but it's not bad, either. The speakers get seriously loud, too (I could hear them from the next room at just 45).

The audio in games is also solid. I had a great experience with Avowed, where the Strix G18 delivered crisp dialogue and rich background ambiance while I wandered Dawnshore. I turned the volume up a bit for games, a little over half usually, but nothing sounded muddy or drowned out, even in combat.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Performance and heat

The Asus ROG Strix G18 is powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU (24 cores, 24 threads, max frequency of 5.4GHz). This chip won't have any trouble managing a couple of dozen browser tabs at once, multitasking, or running resource-intensive tasks like photo or video editing. I didn't experience any lag during basic tasks, even while running a few apps at once and downloading games on Steam.

The Strix G18 crushed our overall performance tests, although it couldn't quite top a couple of competitors. It scored 19,899 on the Geekbench 6 multi-core benchmark, just a bit behind the AMD-powered Asus ROG Strix G16. The MSI Raider 18 HX AI, powered by an Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX, easily outpaced both.

While gaming laptops offer top-tier performance, it can often come with the notable drawback of high temperatures. The Strix G18 ran warm even in our non-gaming heat test, where it peaked at 94.8 degrees, just a hair below our 95-degree comfort threshold. It soared to 114.4 degrees in our gaming heat test, which isn't as hot as the smaller Strix G16 got, but still noticeably warm.

A lot of that heat is getting pushed out through the vents along the back of the hinge, so the keys stay cool most of the time. I didn't notice the heat while gaming on a desk, but you can definitely feel it if you have the Strix G18 on your lap while a game is running.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Gaming and graphics

The Asus ROG Strix G18 runs on an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of VRAM. It offered fantastic performance in all of my hands-on testing, with seamless gameplay, quick loading times, stunning visuals, and no noticeable issues.

I played a round of Elden Ring Nightreign on the Strix G18 and had one display hiccup at first, although it wasn't due to the GPU itself. The game initially failed to recognize the G18's display resolution correctly, but everything ran perfectly after I fixed it in the settings.

After that, the moody, shadowy visuals of Limveld looked stunning, with good contrast, crisp detail, and flawless movement thanks to the high 240Hz refresh rate on the G18. I averaged 60 frames per second throughout with no lag or stuttering. I didn't win my run, but that's not the RTX 5080's fault.

Avowed ran great on the Strix G18, as well. The vibrant tropical forests outside Paradis looked flawless, and new zones loaded quickly. Combat was smooth throughout, even with many enemies and special effects on screen at once. I averaged just under 80 fps.

Considering the smooth performance I experienced in my hands-on testing, I wasn't surprised that the Strix G18 crushed our gaming tests. Interestingly, it outscored the HP Omen Max 16 across the board, despite the Omen having a more powerful RTX 5090 GPU.

The Strix G18 scored 13,074 on the 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra graphics benchmark, second only to the MSI Raider 18 HX AI (which also has an RTX 5080). The G18 bested the Raider in several games, though, including Assassin's Creed Mirage, Far Cry 6, Monster Hunter Wilds, Red Dead Redemption II, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.

The MSI Raider 18 HX AI and the HP Omen Max 16 each cost nearly $1,500 more, yet the Strix G18 outperforms both (especially the Omen). If you've got the budget for a high-end gaming laptop like this, the Strix G18 could be some of the best bang for your buck out there.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): AI features

While AI might not be a top concern when choosing a gaming laptop, it's worth noting that the Asus ROG Strix G18 comes with the Microsoft Copilot AI assistant pre-installed and has a dedicated Copilot key on the keyboard.

The Copilot app includes basic generative AI features like text and image generation. Copilot also powers Windows Studio Effects, which uses AI to enhance your webcam video quality.

While those AI features might be nice from time to time, many gamers will probably be frustrated that the Copilot key replaces the right control key. Luckily, there are workarounds to remap the Copilot key so it functions like a normal right control key instead, but it may still be an unwelcome change for some.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Webcam

Laptop webcams usually disappoint me, and unfortunately, that includes the Asus ROG Strix G18. The built-in 1080p FHD webcam isn't as sharp as its resolution suggests, with visibly grainy, blurry video quality that lacks detail and struggles to properly balance shadows and highlights. It's fine for casual tasks like Zoom meetings or Discord calls, but if you want to use the camera for anything more, you'll be better off with one of the best webcams.

With that said, the built-in mic is pretty good. It captured my voice well and did a good job of blocking out the background noise from my air conditioner. The quality is more than enough for in-game voice chat and other casual uses.

Asus ROG Strix G18 (G815): Software and warranty

The Strix G18 comes with Windows 11 Home and includes the standard suite of basic Microsoft apps like Microsoft Edge, the Microsoft Store, and the Xbox app. It also includes Armoury Crate, where you can see live system usage data, adjust your performance profiles and macros, and customize your RGB backlighting. The MyAsus app includes some similar features, but mainly serves as a hub for running system diagnostics and updates and viewing your settings.

The Strix G18 comes with Asus's standard limited 1-year warranty.

Bottom line

The Asus ROG Strix G18 delivers stellar performance across the board, even outpacing top-tier RTX 5090 laptops. The roomy 18-inch display and crisp audio quality make for a truly immersive gaming experience that's tough to beat at this price. Why pay $1,000 more for an RTX 5090 laptop when the Strix G18 offers competitive performance for less?

While I had a great time gaming on the Strix G18, it may not be for everyone. If you need something portable, this is not the best option. The 18-inch display is suitable for gaming and watching movies, but the G18 is too large to fit in most laptop bags and is relatively heavy, weighing over 7 pounds. A smaller 16, 15, or even 14-inch gaming laptop would be a much better fit if portability is a concern for you.

However, if you want a laptop that can effectively replace your desktop PC, the Strix G18 could be the perfect fit. You can also visit our guide to the best gaming laptops to compare it to even more alternatives.

The Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614) is our first system featuring the AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D “Fire Range” processor, which presents a perfect opportunity for some benchmark face-offs.

AMD claims it is the “fastest mobile gaming processor,” but is that strictly true? I turned to our lab test results for some recent gaming laptops to find out.

One caveat before I dig into the results: unfortunately, the ROG Strix G16 tops out at an Nvidia RTX 5070Ti Laptop GPU. It's a solid choice for price and performance when shopping for one of the best gaming laptops, but it means we don’t have a 1:1 competitor for gaming performance.

All of the RTX 50-series gaming laptops we’ve reviewed in this generation have come with RTX 5080 or 5090 GPUs. The Strix G16 is the first laptop we’ve reviewed with a Ryzen 9 X3D CPU or an RTX 5070Ti GPU.

This means I can only accurately compare the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D to the Intel Core Ultra 9 on general performance and battery life. Those tests won’t get the most benefit from the Ryzen 9’s 3D cache.

All that aside, if you’re going to use your gaming laptop for more than just gaming, do you want AMD or Intel inside?

AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D: Performance

To keep things as even as possible, we compared the Asus ROG Strix G16’s Ryzen 9 9955HX3D to the MSI Raider 18HX AI’s Intel Core Ultra 9 285HX and the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16’s Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX.

When we compared Intel’s Arrow Lake HX systems to other CPUs of this generation, we hadn’t yet tested any AMD Fire Range systems. Now that we have the Strix G16, does Intel hold onto its performance lead?

The answer is complicated, as Intel’s two CPUs outperform their counterparts in multicore performance, video conversion, and overall performance in the Crossmark suite. However, AMD’s Fire Range 9955HX3D has the strongest single-core performance.

Specific use cases benefit from stronger single-core performance. Some Photoshop filters, specific video editing tasks, and some older games are optimized for single-core performance over multicore. However, most modern uses, including modern games, are multicore workloads.

If your main use for your laptop is gaming, it may be worth opting for the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D instead. You’ll have slightly better single-core performance for older titles while still having competitive multicore performance, and you’ll get the 3D cache benefits for newer games.

But if you're going to use your gaming laptop as your daily driver, Intel’s CPUs are faster all around. After all, it's not like either Core Ultra 9 processor is a slouch at single-core performance.

AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D: Battery life

The GPU can impact battery life. After all, the power consumption of the Nvidia RTX 5070 Ti can be lower than that of the RTX 5080. The 5070Ti requires a subsystem power of 60-115 watts, while the 5080 is an 80-150-watt GPU. So, these comparisons aren’t the ideal showcase of the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D compared to its Intel Arrow Lake counterparts.

Though, if anything, that makes the Strix G16’s battery life look worse.

After all, the Gigabyte Aorus Master 16 features the power-hungry RTX 5080 but gets about 27 minutes more battery life than the Strix G16. Both Intel-powered gaming laptops last longer on battery life while running the PCMark 10 Gaming Battery Life test.

Bottom line

Thanks to AMD’s proprietary 3D CPU caching, you can often get quality performance out of the Ryzen 7 compared to the Ryzen 9. And, at least on desktop, the Ryzen 7 X3D is the top gaming CPU this generation.

Once we get an Intel Core Ultra 9 system with an Nvidia RTX 5070Ti or a Ryzen 9 X3D unit with an RTX 5080 or 5090, we’ll be able to make some gaming comparisons to really see if Fire Range’s 3D cache is worth it on a laptop.

For now, in terms of general performance and battery life, things can vary a lot by OEM implementation. However, Intel has a lead on multicore performance, while AMD has it beat on single-thread.

So, if you’re looking to use your gaming laptop for general use, content creation, or deep data analysis, it’s worth opting for Intel’s Arrow Lake chipset over AMD’s Fire Range. But for gaming, it may still be worth choosing an AMD-powered system.

We’d love to compare Intel’s Arrow Lake HX chipset against AMD’s Fire Range X3D in the same laptop with the exact same GPU. While there is a version of the Asus ROG Strix G16 with an Intel CPU, we haven’t received it yet.

We’ve done our best to compare the two chips, but as always, there is a lot of variation in benchmarks depending on how the chip is implemented into a laptop by the manufacturer. We look forward to a more direct head-to-head later this year, which just might give more weight to AMD’s claims of superiority.

More from Laptop Mag

• Nvidia's N1X Geekbench scores are impressive, but can they top AMD and Intel? We compared the results.
• Should the new Maingear Ultima 18 laptop replace your gaming desktop? Just look at the specs.
• Microsoft's clever new tool gives Windows laptops a surprise battery boost

The Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) brings something to the table that we haven’t seen yet in this generation of gaming laptops, and it gave me high hopes as I booted it up for the first time. Powered by AMD’s X3D variant CPU, it promises boosted gaming performance thanks to the company’s clever 3D caching tech.

You may not care about the how, but you will care about the results, and when the Strix G16 testing emerged from our labs, we were pleased to see its strong overall performance and solid Nvidia RTX 5070Ti graphics. The best gaming laptops have to deliver excellent performance, but it can’t stop there, and the Strix has plenty more to back it up with a bouncy keyboard, ports aplenty, and a bright and reasonably vibrant IPS display.

If you’ve been paying attention to the early RTX 50 series gaming laptops, you're waiting for the other shoe to drop, with a price tag north of $3,000. While the Strix isn’t cheap, starting at $2,399, it’s a value among its competitors, and upgrades aren’t prohibitively expensive either.

So, is the Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR) one of the best gaming laptops of this generation? Let’s find out.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Specs and benchmarks

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Price and configurations

Asus has multiple configurations of the Strix G16 available this year. From Intel to AMD models, with both new and older chipset variations, there is a Strix G16 that can suit your budget.

But if you’re looking for the Strix G16 (G14FR), there are two main configuration options, and they’re not too different in price.

The starting configuration costs $2,399 and gets you an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX processor with an Nvidia RTX 5070Ti GPU with 12GB of VRAM, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, and a 16-inch, 2560x1600, 240Hz, IPS display.

Upgrading to the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor variant jumps the price up to $2,499.

Our review configuration comes with the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and upgraded memory to 32GB for a total of $2,499. Essentially getting the RAM upgrade for free.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Design

The Asus ROG Strix G16 is a thick, high-end gaming laptop with the aesthetics to match. While the Strix G16 doesn’t have the wild AniMeVision cover panel LEDs of the Strix Scar models, but it does have a flashy RGB lightbar below the keyboard deck, and full RGB on the keyboard.

The top panel and keyboard deck feature classic Republic of Gamers branding, including a darkened ROG logo and “For those who dare” tagline on the top cover and ROG badging along the top of the keyboard deck.

Outside of the aesthetics, the ROG Strix G16 is a bit on the chunky side, which, from a thermal perspective, is ideal for getting the best performance out of its hardware, but it makes it less portable than thinner 16-inch gaming laptops like the Razer Blade 16 (2025).

Measuring 3.94 x 10.39 x 0.89~1.20 inches and weighing 5.51 pounds, the Strix G16 edges into that desktop replacement class of laptops, though it still maintains the portability of a 16-inch laptop chassis. So it can fit into most laptop backpacks for transport to your next in-person gaming session.

While the Strix G16 isn’t the lightest or thinnest 16-inch gaming laptop we’ve reviewed, it fits nicely in the same size range as other 16-inch gaming laptops like:

• Alienware 16 Area-51: 14.37 x 11.41 x 0.85~1.12 inches, 7.13 pounds
• Gigabyte Aorus Master 16: 14.05 x 10 x 0.91~1.18 inches, 5.5 pounds
• Lenovo Legion 7i Gen 9: 14.08 x 10.33 x 0.69 inches, 5.1 pounds

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Ports

Asus has made sure to include plenty of ports on the Strix G16, which should be more than enough for all your gaming accessories:

• 1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Power Delivery, Nvidia G-Sync)
• 1x USB 4 Type-C (DisplayPort, Nvidia G-Sync)
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
• 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL
• 1x RJ45 ethernet
• 1x audio combo jack

This should be enough ports for most people, though streamers may still want to invest in one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs to connect additional monitors, a professional webcam, a studio microphone, or a Stream Deck in addition to any gaming accessories.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Battery life

As we usually see with high-powered gaming laptops, the Strix G16 isn’t a threat to the laptops with the best battery life, but it does last long enough for you to work on battery power before needing to find an outlet.

I didn’t have much hope the Strix G16 would last more than a handful of hours when unplugged, at best. Just going about my usual workday meant I needed to hunt down a charger after just over three and a half hours of writing and video call meetings.

The Strix G16 lasted just 5 hours and 22 minutes on the Laptop Mag web surfing test, which is about what I expected from my hands-on testing.

Thanks to Nvidia’s investment in its BatteryBoost tech, the Strix G16 lasts a bit longer than previous generations while gaming. The Strix managed to survive for 1 hour and 22 minutes on the PCMark 10 gaming battery test, which is more competitive compared to other 50-series laptops, like the Alienware Area-51 compared to its 40-series counterparts.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Display

Our Strix G16 (G614FR) review unit features a 16-inch, 2560 x 1600, 240Hz matte IPS panel. Thanks to the Strix’s matte panel, it’s relatively glare-proof, which is ideal for gaming, so you don’t need to worry about missing your next shot because of a poorly placed lamp.

In order to test the Strix G16’s display, I booted up Avowed to see how well the Strix’s IPS panel handles the Fort Northreach beach with its broad color palette. While our lab testing indicated the display wasn’t super vibrant, I had no complaints about how well the Strix handled the corals along the shipwrecked shoreline, with bright, crisp reds and oranges bursting against the storm gray skies in a stunning contrast.

Our lab testing rated the Strix G16 at 79.7% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut, with an average peak brightness of 449 nits, which is bright and vibrant enough for most games.

While the Strix doesn’t have all the high-contrast benefits of an OLED or MiniLED display panel, its IPS-level LCD does have Pantone Validation for color, and supports Dolby HDR so it’s far from a disappointment.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Keyboard and touchpad

The Asus ROG laptops tend to have good keyboards, and the Strix G16 is no exception. While it is a Chiclet style keyboard, the Strix G16’s keys have a nice bounce to them and don’t feel mushy, with a satisfying level of key travel to each press, so you don’t bottom out your fingers on the keyboard.

Chiclet keyboards also tend to be quieter than mechanical switches, which can save your raid team from hearing each individual keysmash during tense encounters.

On the 10fastfingers.com advanced typing test, I averaged 86 words per minute (wpm) on the Strix’s Chiclet keyboard, which is just below my average of 88 wpm on the Apple MacBook Pro 14.

Asus has centered the touchpad on the keyboard deck, rather than on the space bar, which I prefer from an aesthetic point of view. And since the Strix’s touchpad is on the large side, measuring 5.4 x 3.4 inches, it’s got enough crossover with the spacebar that you shouldn’t have any kind of learning curve.

The touchpad offers a smooth feel with just the right amount of resistance for precise control. The very top of the touchpad isn’t clickable, though you can click just a half-inch down from the top edge, which isn’t too bad. Then again, I rarely click the top-half of a touchpad, so I didn’t notice it much in my day-to-day use of the Strix.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Audio

Asus equipped the ROG Strix G16 with a dual-speaker system with Smart Amplifier Technology, to get more volume out of fewer speakers. The sound system also boasts Dolby Atmos tuning, though the Strix’s Hi-Res audio certification is applicable for headphones so you might want to invest in a quality pair of the best headphones or an external sound system rather than rely on the built-in audio.

That said, the Strix’s audio is crisp. I was easily able to discern the individual string instruments that make up the orchestra behind Avowed’s title theme with perfect clarity. The volume wasn’t too explosive, but it was more than enough for some solid gaming immersion.

Though that also depends a bit on the game. Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is notorious for having a very high default volume, and I ended up having to drop the volume below 45 percent to keep the audio at a sensible level while still covering the sound of the Strix’s cooling system.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Performance and heat

As for all-around performance, the Strix features AMD’s most powerful gaming CPU for this generation, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D “Fire Range” chip. Boasting desktop-quality performance, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor is more than sufficient for just about any task.

As for my hands-on testing, nothing I threw at the Strix really made the fans kick on. From e-mail and spreadsheet management with 20+ Chrome tabs open to Photoshop object selection, I had no hangups of slowdowns with the Strix G16.

With its powerful Ryzen 9 and RTX 5070 Ti combo, the Strix is capable of handling any photo or video editing you might need, and it can also double as a solid choice for handling your STEM data sets if you need to use it for any engineering classes.

Once the fans do kick on, the Strix G16 can be a bit loud, but not to the same level as the MSI Raider 18 HX. But those fans are needed, as the Strix runs hot under pressure. While gaming, the Strix G16 hit a peak temperature of 127.1 degrees Fahrenheit near the F4 key while the center of the keyboard hit 92.8 degrees, which means you’ll want to be careful of your fingertips during long gaming sessions.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Gaming and graphics

The ROG Strix G16 is a 280W system, so it can drive plenty of power to its onboard AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D processor and Nvidia RTX 5070Ti GPU, which offers a smooth, solid gaming experience, especially at the Strix’s max resolution of 1600p.

The Strix G16 gets framerates well above 100 fps at 1080p resolution on games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Borderlands 3, and DiRT 5. More demanding titles like Black Myth: Wukong and Cyberpunk 2077 will see those frame rates drop to 53 fps.

With the Strix’s RTX 5070Ti GPU, you can also enable software upscaling like DLSS 4 and frame generation, which can offer a smoother experience with poorly optimized games like Avowed and Monster Hunter Wilds. This is especially useful if you’re gaming at max resolution, or if you use the Strix to power a high-res gaming monitor

With DLSS 4 enabled at max 1600p resolution and the Ultra graphics presets, I was easily able to keep a stable 85 fps in Doom: The Dark Ages. That rate jumped up to 187 fps with frame generation enabled. While 85 fps is certainly playable, it’s nowhere near as smooth as 187 fps.

I saw similar improvements in Avowed, going from 70 fps at 1600p on Epic settings with only DLSS 4 to 114 fps with frame generation also toggled on. Without either, the game was hitting about 43 fps in terms of just pure Silicon performance.

Of course, if you plan to play a lot of competitive games where super sampling tech like DLSS 4 or FSR can be problematic, dropping your game resolution down to 1200 or 1080p will get you better framerates, as will opting for more mid-range graphics presets.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): AI features

As the Strix G16 features an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D CPU rather than a Ryzen AI 300 series processor, it doesn’t meet the requirements for Microsoft’s Copilot+ suite of AI features. In fact, the Ryzen 9 9955HX3D doesn’t have an integrated NPU at all, so any AI you run off the Strix G16 will be using either the CPU or GPU to run the workload.

That doesn’t mean the Strix G16 can’t run AI. It has access to Nvidia’s various RTX AI features like ChatRTX and RTX Remix with its 50-series GPU after all. But it does mean the Strix won’t bother you with a chatbot unless you go out of your way to install one.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Webcam

The ROG Strix G16 features a 1080p webcam, so it's suitable for Windows Hello sign-in, and can handle the occasional video call or virtual meeting.

The camera feed is, as usual, on the dim and grainy side, with a tendency to drop a pink cast over skin tones, but it’s far from the worst we’ve seen. Most colors appear as they should on the webcam feed, just darker than I’d prefer.

If you plan to use the Strix for a lot of video calls or streaming, we’d recommend using one of the best webcams instead of the onboard camera.

Asus ROG Strix G16 (G614FR): Software and warranty

The Strix G16 comes with Windows 11 Home installed, which includes a number of standard Windows apps already installed, like Microsoft Copilot, Office 365, and the Xbox App. Asus has included the ArmouryCrate app to control your power profiles and settings and the MyAsus App for more general controls. Asus has also pre-installed the ROG Aura software for controlling your RGB customization, and the Aura Wallpaper Generator to create custom desktop backgrounds.

The number of pre-installed Windows applications is constantly growing, and Asus has installed a decent chunk of proprietary software. Between Microsoft, AMD, Nvidia, and Asus there are a lot of programs pre-installed. Most are utility-based, however, so this doesn’t really count as bloatware, but it’s far from a clean Windows installation.

The Strix includes a 1-year service warranty.

Bottom line

The ROG Strix G16 is the kind of gaming laptop that makes you wonder why other gaming laptops even bother. Sure, we’ve seen stronger performance from some of the other gaming laptops this gen, but many of those were nearly twice the price of the ROG Strix G16.

While the Alienware 16 Area-51 is our most affordable RTX 5080 laptop, it’s still a good $500 more expensive than the Strix G16. And the Strix weighs two pounds less, making it a much better choice if you need to travel with your gaming laptop occasionally.

Of course, if portability is your key requirement and you’ve got the cash to spare, then the Razer Blade 16 (2025) is still the way to go. After all, the Blade 16 is ultra-lightweight and sports a more powerful GPU, up to the Nvidia RTX 5090. And it gets far better battery life than the Alienware or the Strix.

But if you’re looking for the best balance of performance, price, and portability, it’s hard to do better than the ROG Strix G16 (G614FR).

Extended Memorial Day sales are going strong so don't miss this opportunity to buy a laptop at a great price.

The 2024 Asus Zenbook 14 OLED is one of the better laptops on sale right now as it's simply one of the best Windows laptops around. Best Buy has the Asus Zenbook 14 OLED on sale for $1,099, which is $200 off its regular price of $1,299.

Powering the Zenbook 14 OLED is an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, making it a powerful machine. It also comes with 32GB of RAM, 1TB SSD, and weighs a very light 3 pounds. As the name implies, this Zenbook 14 comes with a sharp, OLED touch screen that gives a beautiful picture to go with that performance.

Even with that big, amazing display, the Zenbook 14 OLED has great battery life. It lasts up to 16 hours on a charge. This makes for the perfect laptop for someone who wants great performance, long battery life, and needs a laptop with an exceptional screen to stream on.

Memorial Day Asus Zenbook 14 OLED deal

The best eGPUs (external GPUs) have always drawn considerable interest from laptop enthusiasts. The idea is brilliant: plug one into your thin-and-light laptop, and suddenly, you’re gaming at desktop-class frame rates.

The reality? Their clunky proprietary connections, limited bandwidth, and often sky-high price tags make them more of a niche solution. In 2025, though, that’s finally poised to change — thanks to Thunderbolt 5.

Thunderbolt 5 debuted on the Razer Blade 18 (2024) in April 2024, but as more laptops arrive with Thunderbolt 5 ports under the hood, we’re beginning to see a wave of new accessories built to take full advantage of that blazing-fast 80 Gbps bandwidth.

Asus’ new ROG XG Station 3 might be the best example of what Thunderbolt 5 can unlock for gamers, content creators, and remote workers who want power without giving up portability.

Asus ROG XG Station 3: True desktop power, for everyone

Let’s start with the basics. The ROG XG Station 3 is a Thunderbolt 5 eGPU, meaning you can slot in a full-size NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series or AMD Radeon RX 9000 Series GPU and connect it directly to your laptop with a single Thunderbolt 5 cable.

It’s plug-and-play, yes — but this isn’t just about gaming. With that level of horsepower on tap, this dock can turn a lightweight ultrabook into a machine that can handle 3D rendering, video editing, AI workloads, or 4K gaming.

If you’ve got a laptop that’s great for on-the-go work but struggles with GPU-heavy tasks, this is your cheat code.

Thunderbolt 5’s 80 Gbps bandwidth is the secret sauce. That’s double what Thunderbolt 4 offered, and it means less compromise when routing huge volumes of data between your GPU and laptop.

For gamers, it helps minimize bottlenecks. For creatives, it means smoother timelines and faster exports.

The rise of Thunderbolt 5

The XG Station 3’s release is well-timed. Over the last few months, Thunderbolt 5-equipped laptops have started to trickle into the market from the likes of Asus, MSI, and Lenovo.

Now, there's one caveat: this is still limited to primarily high-end gaming rigs that already feature an RTX 50 series GPU — albeit the mobile variety rather than desktop. I still want to see Thunderbolt 5 come to premium ultraportables to help unlock gaming for an audience that doesn't want to commit to a dedicated gaming laptop.

It's worth noting that you can connect a Thunderbolt 4 laptop to the XG Station 3 as Thunderbolt 5 is backward compatible, but you will take a significant performance hit.

While the ROG XG Station 3 is primarily aimed at gamers, it offers a taste of what you get from the best docking stations with three USB-C ports (each with 10 Gbps speeds) for accessories, external drives, or displays.

There’s also a Thunderbolt 5 passthrough port, allowing for daisy-chaining or adding even more connectivity. And because the unit provides power delivery, it can charge your laptop at the same time — no extra power brick needed.

Clean power

Beyond raw specs, Asus didn't skimp on the design. The ROG XG Station 3 includes support for BTF (Back-To-the-Future) edition builds, which help hide cabling and keep your desktop looking clean.

It’s a thoughtful touch, as a snarl of cables can really ruin your desk aesthetic. The XG Station 3 is large enough that it will dominate most desk setups, and it leaves the GPU itself exposed. You'll want to think carefully about which GPU you buy for it.

A look at what’s next

The XG Station 3 marks our arrival at a point where the performance potential of Thunderbolt 5 is starting to align with real-world demand.

More laptops can use it. More creators and gamers want portable performance. And more manufacturers are stepping in to offer the hardware to bridge that gap.

The last piece of the puzzle is Thunderbolt 5 extending beyond gaming laptops. You could be using a lightweight Zenbook or a convertible 2-in-1 and still benefit from a high-end GPU when you're docked. That kind of flexibility just hasn’t been practical until now.

If 2024 was about getting Thunderbolt 5 in a few laptops and accessories, 2025 is when we start to see the standard going into wide release. And with devices like the XG Station 3 leading the charge, we’re looking at a future where portable PCs no longer have to compromise on power.

You don’t have to settle for mobile GPU power in your laptop; you can go desktop-class without the bulk of a desktop.

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Whether you are an aspiring esports pro or just want to reach for the limits of your gaming prowess (and beat your friends), Asus just dropped a compelling new option at Computex 2025.

The ROG Harpe II Ace, a sequel to the original ROG Harpe Ace, is the latest addition to the company’s Ace lineup, which is a collection of hardware designed with esports players in mind.

This new model builds on the first Harpe and is based on feedback from actual pros, including 2023 Valorant Champions winner Max Mazanov, a.k.a. Demon1.

It’s not a flashy mouse compared to the often aggressive and RGB-laden designs of gaming peripherals. Asus was hyper-focused on refining the fundamentals that matter most to serious players: low weight, responsive clicks, reliable performance, and a shape that just feels right.

This all came through clearly even during my brief time with it, but let's take a closer look at the Harpe II Ace.

Designed with esports in mind

Building a great gaming mouse is already a challenge, but building a “pro-level” gaming mouse takes it to another level, inviting the critique of the most discerning gamers.

Asus got ahead of this challenge by bringing professional players into the process. Demon1 isn’t just a marketing face — he helped shape the Harpe II Ace's design.

In a video on the design process, Mazanov said, “I got to bring my experience as a pro directly into the design process — down to the shape, the clicks, the weight, everything.

"I’m genuinely excited for players to try it out, and I hope it becomes a go-to for pros who want gear that can keep up with them."

That level of involvement doesn’t guarantee greatness, but it’s a good sign when the people who rely on this hardware to win are involved from the start.

Ultralight and ultratough

One of the headline features is the weight. At just 48 grams, the Harpe II Ace is 6 grams lighter than the previous Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition.

That’s no small feat, especially when you consider the internal structure has been reinforced to prevent flexing. Asus pulled this off using a bio-based nylon that’s 70% more eco-friendly than traditional materials without compromising durability.

The end result is that it still feels solid in your hand, despite that featherweight shell. The matte finish is designed to offer a firm grip even after hours of gaming. It also avoids resistance with rounded edges on its PTFE feet that make it glide smoothly across your mousepad.

Get a grip

While the Harpe II Ace is a follow-up to the Aim Lab Edition, the exterior got a near-ground-up rethink. The mouse has a carefully crafted shape to suit claw and fingertip grips, with a lower hump for better fingertip control and tapered sidewalls to make it easier to lift.

The incline from the buttons to the middle of the shell creates better hand balance, and the side buttons are spaced and angled to reduce accidental misclicks.

These are subtle tweaks that don’t appear on a spec sheet but can be potential game-changers in real-world use.

It's what's inside that counts

Performance-wise, the Harpe II Ace checks all the right boxes. It features the ROG AimPoint Pro sensor, which maxes out at 42,000 DPI and includes track-on-glass technology.

Wireless performance is also a standout. The mouse uses Asus’ SpeedNova 8K technology to hit a true 8000Hz polling rate.

Typically, you have to turn to a wired mouse for that, but Asus has managed to deliver it over 2.4GHz with the help of its next-gen microcontroller unit (MCU) chip.

The optical switches are rated for 100 million clicks, and while I wasn’t able to actually game with it, the buttons certainly feel crisp and decisive.

Combine that with the low-latency wireless, and it’s going to be hard to blame the mouse for the occasional poor play.

Competitive advantage

Asus added a couple of features that are especially targeted at tournament players or anyone who regularly switches setups. Zone Mode lets you quickly configure the mouse for peak performance. When activated, it boosts the polling rate to 8000Hz, disables RGB lighting to save power, and puts the mouse in a constant active state for zero lag when you pick it up.

There’s also ROG Gear Link, which lets you tweak settings from a web browser — no software install needed. For esports players who regularly switch between PCs or use shared machines, this flexibility is a huge plus.

Is the Harpe II Ace gaming mouse for you?

The Harpe II Ace is a fairly unassuming mouse that may blow you (or your opponents) away. Asus was hyper-focused on critical basics: shape, speed, responsiveness, and durability. Asus’ engineers and input from pro gamers combine for a balance between raw performance and practical usability.

At 48 grams, it’s one of the lightest pro-grade wireless mice on the market. It feels great in hand and doesn’t compromise on build quality or features to get there.

For competitive players — or anyone who just wants a mouse that lets them play their best — the Harpe II Ace looks like one to put on your shortlist for 2025.

Pricing and availability information aren’t available yet, but it’s expected to arrive in the summer. The previous version started at $149, so hopefully, Asus can keep it right around that same price point.

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Asus is deploying Nvidia’s latest mobile GPU, the GeForce RTX 5060, across its most popular gaming laptops, with models starting under $1,500.

The refresh, announced at Computex in Taipei this week, touches every significant segment: the slim-and-powerful Zephyrus G14, the RGB-rich ROG Strix G16 and G18, and the battle-tested TUF series.

What makes this launch different isn’t just a new GPU. It’s a recalibration of what you can expect from a mid-range laptop in 2025.

Thanks to Nvidia’s new Blackwell architecture, the RTX 5060 brings cutting-edge features like DLSS 4, Multi Frame Generation, and AI-driven rendering to a broader price range than ever before.

For once, next-gen really does mean accessible.

Blackwell goes mainstream

The GeForce RTX 5060 is built on Nvidia’s Blackwell architecture and features a refined core design including fifth-generation Tensor and fourth-generation Ray Tracing cores.

It supports the latest DLSS 4 technologies, including Super Resolution, Ray Reconstruction, and Frame Generation, previously reserved for premium 70- and 80-class GPUs.

Performance gains aside, the real breakthrough lies in efficiency. With a max TGP around 110 to 115 watts in most models, the RTX 5060 is a natural fit for thinner, lighter gaming laptops. It’s capable of real-time ray tracing and AI-assisted upscaling without overheating or overcharging.

Using DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation and Nvida Reflex, GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPUs are more than twice the speed of previous-generation laptops, with enhanced image quality and more responsive controls.

Below is a comparison of the key RTX 5060-equipped models announced by Asus. All seven machines feature the 8GB version of the RTX 5060 at minimum and support Nvidia’s latest features, including Nvidia Broadcast.

Zephyrus G14: Small chassis, big ambitions

The Zephyrus G14 is the only model here that manages to look both like a gaming laptop and a creative tool. Its 14-inch OLED panel is bright, color-rich, and snappy, with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 2880 x 1800 resolution that’s ideal for work and play.

Paired with AMD’s Ryzen AI 9 270 processor, the G14 leans into hybrid performance, offering 50 TOPS of AI acceleration via AMD’s XDNA architecture.

The RTX 5060 maxes out at 110 watts in this chassis, which is still enough to push modern titles like Cyberpunk 2077 at high settings using DLSS and Frame Generation.

It weighs just 3.5 pounds and feels more like a MacBook Pro than a traditional gaming rig, but it has enough horsepower to render or ray-trace with confidence.

ROG Strix G16 and G18: RGB powerhouses

For those who prefer more screen and a bit of visual flair, the new Strix G16 and G18 offer the biggest bang-per-inch in this lineup.

Both models can be configured with either AMD or Intel’s latest HX-class chips, and both offer high-refresh WUXGA or WQXGA panels at up to 240Hz.

The G18, in particular, stands out with its expansive 18-inch 2.5K panel and support for up to 32GB of DDR5 RAM. Asus’s Tri-Fan cooling system and full-perimeter heat sinks ensure the RTX 5060 can stretch its legs, making this a serious option for high-FPS eSports gaming or creative workloads that don’t require the firepower (or cost) of an RTX 4080.

And yes, the per-key RGB and wraparound light bar are still here.

See also: I've reviewed 90+ gaming laptops, these are my top 5 picks for 2025

TUF Gaming: Rugged, ready, and under $1,600

The TUF Gaming line is where Asus really flexes its value muscles. These laptops are built to survive drops, jolts, and long hauls, all while delivering RTX 5060 performance in a chassis that wouldn’t look out of place in a server room.

The TUF F16 and A18 are the most affordable RTX 5060 laptops in the lineup. They start around $1,539.99 and offer solid 165Hz or 144Hz displays.

Despite its size, the smaller TUF A14 packs a 2.5K panel, a Ryzen AI chip, and support for up to 4TB of SSD storage, which is a rarity in this class.

Axial-tech fans handle thermals, and dual BIOS modes let you toggle between max cooling and quiet operation. If you’ve ever wanted a military-grade gaming laptop, these are the ones to watch.

Verdict: RTX 5060 changes the game (and the price)

The arrival of Nvidia’s RTX 5060 isn’t about raw performance dominance. It’s about bringing bleeding-edge technology, like AI frame interpolation and real-time ray tracing, to a price point where most gamers actually live.

With configurations starting at $1,499, Asus is doing more than refreshing its portfolio. It’s raising the bar for what mid-range gaming laptops should offer in 2025.

Between the portable elegance of the Zephyrus G14, the oversized firepower of the Strix G18, and the hard-wearing TUF series, there's a system here for almost every kind of gamer.

If you’ve been waiting for a smart upgrade, the wait might finally be over.

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On Monday, I was ushered into a room just off the lobby of Asus HQ in Taipei, Taiwan, to see and use the latest ROG hardware announced at Computex 2025.

Even after listening to a 30-minute presentation by Asus on what we were about to see, I wouldn't have guessed the device that would dominate my attention for most of my time there.

The ROG Falcata is a wireless 75% split gaming keyboard. It's an intriguing product even at first glance, but I've used some of the best gaming keyboards and, invariably, I retreat to a more traditional mechanical keyboard.

Gaming isn't enough of what I do to justify the often bulky size of a gaming keyboard in my setup, which typically offers an actuation point better suited to the precision capture of every keypress than tracking the flow of typing, and a multitude of features that go unused by me.

Based on my time with it so far, the Falcata is different. It offers a level of customization that is thrilling (if slightly overwhelming). Once you start tinkering with it, the customizations are intuitive and easily accessible via the scroll wheel and buttons on the left half of the relatively diminutive keyboard.

There's no question the Falcata is designed with gamers in mind, and it will serve them well, but even if you're a more casual gamer, it has a lot to offer.

If you've struggled to find a keyboard that perfectly fits the ergonomics or actuation point that best suits you, this may well be the answer; let me walk you through how it works.

• Hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switches
• ROG Hall Sensor
• Rapid Trigger Toggle
• Tri-mode connectivity (ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless, wired, BT)
• 8K polling rate
• Connect up to 5 devices simultaneously
• Four-layer dampening
• Detachable silicone wrist rests
• Variable actuation (0.1 - 3.5mm at 0.01mm increments)

The options are endless

Starting with the split keyboard design, you can position the keyboard virtually anywhere on your desk. For gamers, this could mean ditching the right-hand side of the keyboard, leaving the left side free to handle WASD movement, and granting you more space for your mouse.

For more general computing usage, this allows you to position the keyboard in whatever location is most comfortable for you, but it's not just the location of the halves.

On the bottom of the Falcata are five screw holes, and you can angle the keyboard with the included attachments at two distinct heights. Raise the keyboard in the middle, at the sides, or the back for a traditional typing position. You can also completely remove the built-in wrist rests if you prefer.

I've used numerous ergonomic split keyboards over the years, but they never perfectly fit, so the endless opportunity for customization here makes it hard to imagine anyone not finding a perfect configuration.

Take control of your keyboard

The physical customization options available on the Falcata are a compelling, ergonomic dream for any type of user, but that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to customization for this keyboard, and it can all be done from the buttons and scroll wheel on its left side.

The most notable is the ability to switch the actuation point for the keys anywhere from 0.1mm to 3.5mm in 0.01mm increments. That should cover anyone's typing or gaming style. And it's worth noting that you can get as granular as you want with that, setting actuation points on a per-key basis.

This is achieved with the multifunction button at the top-left corner of the keyboard, and the changes are easy to see thanks to the LED below reflecting your changes in real time. This also lets you control volume, media playback, keyboard lighting, and more while only taking up a tiny amount of space on the keyboard.

Flipping a switch at the top of the keyboard lets you toggle Rapid Trigger on or off when switching from a fast-paced FPS game to maybe an RPG.

Is this your next keyboard?

I had plenty of time to play with the keyboard and tweak the various settings to my liking, but I couldn't connect it to a laptop or desktop to really put it through its paces. Given that, it would be impossible to give a real ruling on whether it's something I'd recommend right now.

We're also missing some critical information, as Asus has not yet provided pricing or availability. I don't fault Asus; that's been a theme of Computex 2025 across the board, given tariffs and other concerns.

However, it's difficult to even speculate on the price, given that there aren't alternatives that duplicate everything on the Falcata, but I wouldn't be surprised if it were north of $300.

With all that said, it's certainly the most excited I've been about a keyboard in recent memory, so I'll be tracking it closely when Asus can get it shipped.

Asus paid for Laptop Mag's travel to and accommodations during Computex Tapei. The company did not see the contents of this article before publication.

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Asus kicked off its Computex announcements on Monday with “updated solutions” for creators, students, and businesses. But one laptop stands out from the rest.

The Asus ProArt P16 (H7606), a creator-focused laptop, has features that set it apart.

Let's dive in.

The ASUS ProArt P16 (H7606) packs serious power and local AI

ASUS’s ProArt lineup focuses on blending portability and performance for creative professionals. This year’s refreshed models appear to take that commitment even further and might be the company’s best devices yet for artists, editors, designers, and photographers.

Starting with the display, the ProArt P16 maintains the same specs as its predecessor (which Laptop Mag reviewed last year), featuring a 16-inch OLED touchscreen display, a 60Hz refresh rate, and a 3,840 x 2,400 resolution.

Ultimately, this means the laptop offers impressive color accuracy and sharpness. Though competitors like the Apple MacBook Pro are also constantly praised for their excellent displays, Asus's use of an OLED panel gives it a slight edge in contrast.

It comes in a classy matte black chassis, which ASUS refers to as the “Nano Black” colorway. The ProArt P16 model is powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor.

Given that this laptop is aimed primarily at creatives, a powerful GPU is usually more important than a strong CPU (which definitely still matters). ASUS pairs the powerful AMD Ryzen CPU with the newer Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU for that extra rendering muscle. Now, here's where it actually gets exciting.

This time, the ProArt 16 focuses on nailing local AI, which essentially means AI running directly on your device instead of the cloud. The laptop comes with two Asus-exclusive apps, StoryCube and MuseTree. The former is Asus's AI-powered digital asset-management tool, while the latter is more of a creative idea generator that can transform “inspiration into imagery.”

This brings three key benefits: Creatives can use AI even if they’re offline and don’t have a stable internet connection, they get faster responses, and using AI is more secure and privacy-friendly.

Since everything happens on the laptop itself and stays right where you can see it (instead of the cloud), any files you upload or prompts you give the AI don’t leave your device, so you maintain complete control of your data.

The on-device AI processing truly makes the Asus ProArt P16 stand out from the competition since companies have yet to integrate such powerful local AI capabilities into laptops. Think Apple — their Macs still rely mainly on cloud-based AI rather than fully on-device processing like this.

The ProArt P16’s powerful processor boasts 50 TOPS of NPU processing power, meaning it can easily handle on-device AI workloads. It packs all of this (and more) into an incredibly portable form factor—it’s just over half an inch thin and weighs 4.08 pounds.

The ProArt P16 is also a Copilot+ PC and runs Microsoft Copilot AI on-device. Copilot+ PCs are praised for their ability to run AI tools locally using an NPU, unlocking features that rely on this hardware, like the controversial Recall feature, which made a quiet comeback recently.

All this power comes at a hefty price tag

The 2025 ProArt 16 will start at $2,499 and will be available at the Asus Store (in-store and online) and Best Buy during Q2 2025, meaning it will hit shelves in late June.

If the price tag of the ProArt 16 made you reconsider your life decisions, or if you’re simply not a creative professional and don’t need that much power, thankfully, Asus has refreshed its other PC lines, too, including the Chromebook series (CX34, CX14, CX15) and ExpertBook series (B5, B1).

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Nintendo's next-generation handheld console, the Switch 2, is set to debut on June 5, with pre-orders already well underway (albeit with unpredictable availability across the board).

Priced at $449, or $499 if you opt for the Mario Kart bundle, Nintendo's latest handheld console boasts a 7.9-inch LCD screen at 1080p with HDR and a variable refresh rate (VRR) of up to 120 Hz.

Factor in its 4K-capable dock and a slew of popular third party titles like the entirety of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, Cyberpunk 2077, and the upcoming Borderlands 4 and you have a handheld suited to building on the success of the original Switch, which sold over 150 million units since its release in March 2017.

However, while anticipation and excitement build for Nintendo's latest hybrid console offering, a recent leak highlights that the Switch 2 will have to tackle a hurdle that the original never had to: serious competition.

And that competition seems to have Xbox's backing.

The ROG Ally 2 revealed

A slew of handheld gaming PCs from the likes of Lenovo, MSI, and more already unlock impressive gaming on the go experiences, with the Steam Deck still standing tall as the most accessible, console-like option of them all.

However, it's the Asus ROG Ally's successor that might pose the biggest threat of all to the Nintendo Switch 2.

Several recent leaks suggest that the rumored Z2 Extreme-equipped handheld could be nearing an official release.

As spotted by 91mobiles, a listing for the device, dubbed "Asus ROG Ally 2," has appeared on the Indonesian SDPPI Postel site, and an FCC listing that would suggest a pending Indonesian and North American release.

The filing, and images shared by X user @94G8LA, suggest that Asus' next-gen handheld will come in at least two models, a black SKU sporting AMD's Z2 Extreme APU, and a white SKU, interestingly opting for AMD's Aerith Plus APU. — a successor to the chipset used by the Steam Deck.

This particular APU was previously denied to be powering a potential Steam Deck 2 by Valve after being spotted in a shipping manifest in March.

It's likely that this model could run the Steam Deck's SteamOS platform, which is continually expanding to better suit third party devices — similar to the way Lenovo has approached OS flexibility with the Legion Go S.

However, the Z2 Extreme model appears certain be a Windows handheld. That said, it may be a very special kind of Windows handheld, as it has something others dont: a dedicated Xbox button.

This collaboration between Xbox and Asus has been long rumored, and often cited as Project Kennan. But it's not just a branding deal, it may be Xbox soft-launching its way into the handheld market, something strongly alluded to following the next-gen ROG Ally's first teaser trailer, released on April 1, 2025.

And that's quite a shake-up for Nintendo's handheld dominance.

ROG Ally 2: Nintendo's biggest competition to date?

If Nintendo's biggest challenge with the original Switch was proving that there was still life left in handhelds circa 2017, the challenge in 2025 is proving that its success wasn't simply down to there being very few other options available to match the Switch's performance, form factor, and playability.

The original Switch was practically unopposed. Sony had all-but given up on handhelds, Xbox seemingly had no interest in portable hardware, and the rational thought of a handheld gaming PC was still several years away — with Alienware's Project UFO being showcased during CES 2020, two years before Valve began shipping out the Steam Deck.

All that has changed.

While there's no denying that the popularity of the Switch will transition much of its momentum to the Switch 2, as a console, Nintendo risks falling victim to the same old problem home consoles have faced — PCs just do it better.

Not only do handheld gaming PCs like the ROG Ally 2 suggest more powerful devicees, they are more open devices, allowing for operating system flexibility, emulation, vastly expanded game libraries, wider access to various services, better customization, richer personalization.

And now, potentially more tightly integrated access to Xbox's secret weapons: Game Pass and a Windows platform that may be gently evolving to better suit this form factor.

What's next

Nintendo's ecosystem of beloved franchises and brand loyalty has proven to survive just about everything, JoyCon stick drift included.

The company's undereliance on cutting edge hardware over the last few generations only reinforces the notion that its fans care more about Zelda, Mario, and Pokémon than they do ray-tracing, resolutions, or frame generation.

In that light, the Switch 2 is better prepared for the competition than ever. It's bringing the kitchen sink of software and hardware features with it when it releases in June.

However, devices like the ROG Ally 2, are going to be immensely tempting as an alternative, and if a release of this Xbox-branded handheld gaming PC is as imminent as FCC filings may suggest, Nintendo may be heading into its first proper console-war (of sorts) in decades.

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As laptop prices get higher, even budget laptops are approaching what used to be premium pricing. This is a disheartening trend if you're shopping for one of the best laptops in 2025. However, I have one critical recommendation if you're looking at the best laptop deals and trying to stay on a budget.

I recently reviewed the Asus Vivobook 16 (2025) and found it good but not great. At $799, it's in what we would now deem budget laptop territory, but it's not the best value. I’ve seen the Dell G16 (7630), one of the best cheap gaming laptops with a mechanical keyboard, on sale for $949. However, that’s before tariffs.

In this economy, you may need to ditch the idea of “newer is better” and look to some slightly older premium laptops to find the best laptop values.

Let's dive into some key examples.

1. Asus Zenbook OLED 14

To bring it back to Asus, the Asus Zenbook OLED 14 is one of my favorite budget laptops because it's not only affordable but it offers the quality I'd expect in a premium laptop.

The OLED display alone kills it with its infinite contrast, flying far above the Vivobook 16 with its cheap screen. Both laptops offer long battery life, but the Zenbook OLED 14 scores an hour longer on the Laptop Mag test and it's even paired with higher performance.

One of my biggest pet peeves with the Vivobook 16 is its squishy keyboard. The Zenbook sports a smooth and comfortable keyboard. It’s tough to beat, and you can get the Zenbook 14 OLED as low as $569 on Amazon with its Intel Ultra 5-125H version.

2. Apple MacBook Air 13 M2

Yes, you can buy the Apple MacBook Air 13 M2 right now at Best Buy for $50 less than the Vivobook 16. In our MacBook Air 15 review, we complimented the laptop for its elegant design, colorful screen, and excellent battery life.

The Vivobook 16 falls short of its battery life and can’t keep up with its display or thin design (0.45 inches vs. 0.7 inches). You can also tap away on the MacBook Air’s keyboard, feeling satisfied thanks to its springy feedback.

The MacBook Air 13 M2 is nearly three years old, but for its current price, it crushes the Vivobook 16 no contest. The two biggest caveats are whether you need Windows, in which case see our previous or next recommendation, or if you need more than just the two USB-C ports available on the Air M2.

3. Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i

The Lenovo Slim 7i Gen 9 is a standout laptop from spring 2024 that holds up well against the current competition, and thanks to the inexorable march of time, you can now get this premium laptop for under $800 directly from Lenovo.

It easily beats the performance of the Vivobook 16 in our testing, and the vibrant, gorgeous OLED display of the Slim 7i would make the Vivobook's display look like it's in black and white.

Battery life is the biggest trade-off that you are making, with a little over 10 hours compared to 14 hours for the Vivobook 16, but the other quality of life improvements should make this a worthwhile sacrifice.

Chromebooks in the early 2010s weren’t something I would have recommended, but it has been over a decade, and the best Chromebooks are stronger than ever.

While in no way can these Chromebooks compete with the best Windows laptops in raw performance, there are perks of using them that simply make your life convenient.

When I first switched to a Chromebook back in 2017, my initial experience was pretty lackluster. Since I have been used to Windows OS and loved how I used to carry out tasks on my laptop for two decades, I never took the time to learn how many great utilities a Chromebook can offer.

A Chromebook isn’t just a cost-effective solution that you would want to invest in for the short term for just browsing the internet but something that you could look up to for several years for various types of work.

It can be one of your most rewarding investments, whether you are a student or someone who does lots of office work on your commute or even in the office.

Here are some of the reasons why downgrading to a Chromebook changed my life for good.

Gets most of the job done without needing dedicated applications

For those who aren’t familiar, Chromebooks run on ChromeOS and it’s a browser-based operating system that works just as you would expect it to run on a regular computer.

Therefore, Chromebooks cannot run Windows applications such as .exe files but since many Chromebooks can run Android applications out of the box, there is hardly anything you can’t do, except for intensive stuff regular Windows PC excels at.

From opening sheets to video editing, there are dedicated apps you can run on your Chromebook and do whatever you would be able to do on a regular laptop. At first, I was confused as to how I was supposed to run the classic Adobe Photoshop for my photo editing tasks or run my offline videos.

Just a quick search helped me learn that Adobe Photoshop does work on the web (available in the form of Photoshop Express), and although there are some limitations, it gets most of the job done.

Similarly, I could play my videos on the VLC media player in the browser itself. However, this isn't a concern you would be dealing with in the very beginning but getting used to the Chrome browser is the real challenge.

Imagine opening Chrome for everything; it might seem tedious at first, but when you organize everything in one place, you will be able to access all your apps faster and from a single place.

There are endless possibilities on Chromebooks if you try to step out of your comfort zone for a few days to learn the most used tools and utilities.

Technically, it’s possible to run it like a regular PC

Interestingly, you can run many traditional Windows-like apps on a Chromebook as well. Even though the app stack for ChromeOS is quite enormous, some users would like to leverage its full potential.

Thankfully, Chromebooks allow you to install Linux-based operating systems.

Chromebooks have the option to install Linux apps using the built-in Linux development environment called Crostini, but you can always install a full Linux distribution such as Ubuntu using Crouton, although the latter may be complex for beginners and isn’t recommended for everyone due to warranty-related issues.

Even though we aren’t here to compare the advantages or limitations of Linux over Windows, recent Linux developments have been significant, closing the gap between the two drastically.

Still, do keep in mind that the hardware limitations of Chromebooks won’t allow you to crunch large numbers or perform heavy 3D rendering since Chromebooks lack dedicated GPUs and offer entry-level specs.

There isn’t much storage as well but you can save everything on your favorite cloud platform or external storage just in case you want to secure larger files.

Gaming? Yes, you can install Steam

Don’t expect a Chromebook to run Cyberpunk 2077, but you can certainly play light games from your Steam Library.

Chromebooks are known for their limited gaming capability, and yes, even though you can play the Android games flawlessly from the Play Store, running Steam isn’t impossible on the device, assuming your Chromebook qualifies for it.

Unless you are buying a $150 Chromebook with an Intel Celeron, you are good to go even with a Core i3 processor.

Surely, it won’t be an ‘amazing’ gaming experience on entry-level hardware, but at least you will be able to run quite a lot of games from the vast Steam library. Moreover, there are emulators out there that can run iconic games from the PSP and NES era.

Still, just in case you want to enjoy your triple-A titles, you can subscribe to cloud gaming services such as GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

Cloud gaming hardly costs $10-$20 a month but gives you access to thousands of games, all running smoothly on your system since the entire load is on the server running the games. All you need is a reliable and fast internet connection, and you are good to go.

So lightweight that you won’t feel it in your backpack

Since Chromebooks don’t need a lot of horsepower, they often ship with smaller and lighter chassis than their Windows counterparts. For similar specs, they are cheaper, lighter, and highly portable.

Most Chromebooks tend to bring a screen size between 11 and 14 inches while traditional Windows laptops bring 13-17-inch screen sizes, bigger keyboards, and larger chassis.

They aren’t only bigger in footprint than Chromebooks, but traditional Windows laptops can weigh nearly 6 pounds. Still, considering such laptops also come with dedicated graphics cards, the ones that don’t also usually weigh between 3-4 pounds easily.

Chromebooks, on the other hand, are hardly two to four pounds, making them easier to carry in your backpack.

My personal experience would always compel me to carry my Chromebook for work instead of my heavier laptop.

Since I hardly play games outside, the Chromebook has always proved to be more convenient for executing tasks quicker and delivering better productivity.

A touchscreen for just $300 — and more!

Try finding a touchscreen Windows laptop for $299, and you will hardly find one even at $400, while you can have this handy feature even on a $344 Chromebook like Acer Chromebook Plus 514.

Touchscreens are one of the best ways to increase productivity, and when you learn how to manage tasks together with the keyboard, you become unstoppable.

Amazingly, not just a touchscreen but a high-quality IPS full HD display is common for sub-$250 Chromebooks, which is rare on Windows laptops. For almost half the price, Chromebooks also offer modern connectivity like WiFi 6E, fast SSD storage, and up to 8 GB RAM in most cases, which is everything you would want for your daily use.

In a nutshell, Chromebooks may appear weaker due to a less versatile OS and weaker hardware, but these are often sufficient for the masses, only if users can understand how to leverage their full potential.

Chromebooks may have had a bad reputation a decade ago, but things have changed remarkably. Of course, there are several areas where Chromebooks need improvements but in their current state, no one can deny their dominance in the entry-level market that wouldn’t be possible with Windows-based laptops.

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On April 1, 2023, Asus unveiled its greatest April Fools' Day prank to date: The ROG Ally. Except it wasn't a joke at all.

Following three days of confusion, Asus would confirm that the ROG Ally, a Windows handheld gaming PC powered by AMD's latest (at the time) Ryzen Z1 APU and embroidered with the company's signature RGB panache, was very much real — and every bit as impressive as its original reveal led us to believe.

In our May 2023 review of the ROG Ally, we awarded it four out of five stars, rating it as one of the best handheld gaming PCs to date.

Since then, we've seen a well-received mid-cycle refresh for the ROG Ally in 2024's ROG Ally X (which scored an even more impressive four-and-a-half stars during our review in July 2024), but a next-gen follow-up has yet to be seen. Until now, that is.

On the verge of Nintendo's first Switch 2 showcase, Asus has swooped in with a gaming handheld reveal of its own, teasing a faster, redesigned, and longer-lasting ROG Ally successor.

Not only that, it may be the first Xbox handheld to hit the market.

The new ROG Ally: Fresh look, faster speeds, marathon stamina

Handheld gaming PCs have exploded in popularity over the last few years, with Valve's Steam Deck spearheading the ultra-portable PC gaming charge since its February 2022 release.

Asus' ROG Ally would follow a little over a year later, and the ROG Ally X a year on from that, both offering a considerable performance upgrade over Valve's Linux-based handheld with a full Windows 11 experience to boot.

Since then, the Ally and the Ally X have been the handhelds to beat, fending off stiff competition from the likes of the Lenovo Legion Go and the MSI Claw 8 AI+.

Asus' freshly-teased handheld hopes to build upon that success, with the hardware's trailer promising a fresh look, faster speeds, more capacity, and marathon stamina.

The new ROG Ally's secret weapon?

While unconfirmed, key to these claimed upgrades could be AMD's new Ryzen Z2 Extreme APU, revealed during CES 2025, a next-gen version of the Z1 Extreme chip that powered the original Ally.

We've already seen the Z2 family of APUs (primarily designed for entry-level handhelds) in action through the Z2 Go of Lenovo's Legion Go S.

However, the Z2 Extreme is a different beast entirely, built on the Zen 5 architecture with RDNA 3.5, 8 CPU cores (16 threads), 16 GPU cores, a 24MB cache, and a cTDP of 15-35W.

As AMD's Director of Product Marketing, Adam Kozak tells Laptop Mag, on the difference between Z2 Go and Z2 Extreme performance, for "the guys who want to play the latest games with the full settings... It's night and day."

An Ally to the Xbox

Also of note from the new ROG Ally tease was a reply from Microsoft's official Xbox account, suggesting that the brand may somehow be involved with the new handheld.

It's been previously reported that Microsoft is working with Asus to develop an Xbox branded handheld ahead of a "true" Xbox handheld to be launched alongside a new generation of consoles in 2027.

While this means that the new ROG Ally will likely remain as a Windows gaming handheld, similar to the original, Microsoft's recent changes to the Xbox app that position it as a hub to access all games on a system could see it positioned as a front-facing launcher for the new Ally, and tie-in to the consoles "fresh look" claims alongside a redesigned chassis.

However, we'll need to wait to hear more from Asus or Xbox to be certain of how far this collaboration goes (if at all). There's still a chance that the new ROG Ally could be its own machine, with an Xbox-branded alternative available in the future.

Pricing and availability, along with the full reveal of the handheld console, remains to be seen.

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At Laptop Mag we love a good convertible laptop, but we are very particular about which make it to our best 2-in-1 laptops list.

All of our top picks are 4 to 4.5-star convertibles, and even then the competition is fierce.

Asus' recent Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607) 2-in-1 is the latest convertible worthy of consideration for our Best list, but where does it stack up against the competition?

While the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is our best 2-in-1 laptop overall, we were also very fond of the 16-inch model. So for this battle of the 2-in-1s, we'll be putting the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) against the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip to determine which 16-inch convertible is worth the investment.

So, let's break it down.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Pricing and configurations

There is just one configuration for the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip, which features an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor, integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics, 32GB of on-package memory, a 1TB SSD, and a gorgeous 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen. And it costs just $1,349.

The HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) does sport a discrete Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU option, so it offers a higher top-end price compared to the Vivobook 16 Flip, but the starting configuration for the Spectre is a more affordable $1,599.

Our review configuration costs a staggering $2,059 thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, discrete Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card, 16GB of memory, 1TB SSD, and 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, OLED touchscreen.

The Vivobook offers a newer, more efficient Intel Core Ultra 7 processor with increased RAM and a similarly luxe OLED display panel. So even if you just compare the base Spectre x360 model with the Vivobook, Asus is offering similar hardware at a lower price.

Because the Vivobook 16 Flip is a better value, it has a clear win here for pricing.

Winner: Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Design

Both 2-in-1 laptops sport sturdy hinges and portable designs, so this may come down to a matter of aesthetics.

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip weighs just 3.9 pounds and measures 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.67~0.69 inches. The HP Spectre x360 weighs 4.3 pounds and measures 14.05 x 9.67 x 0.78 inches. So the Vivobook is a bit thinner and lighter than the Spectre, but neither is going to be a burden to carry.

As for the aesthetics of the designs, I'm fond of the HP Spectre x360's minimalist design with the angled corners. And in the Slate Blue colorway, the Spectre is a bit more eye-catching.

The Vivobook is very minimalist, in a Matte Gray colorway, and is a little more understated and boring.

Of course, if you want a laptop that blends in, the Vivobook will be as unnoticeable as you need. But I like seeing laptops in different colors, and HP's Slate Blue is fun while still being mature and professional enough to fit into a variety of environments.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Battery life

Thanks to its Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU and 16-inch OLED display, the HP Spectre x360 16 (2024) doesn't have all-day-plus battery life.

That said, it did last for a respectable 11 hours and 7 minutes on the Laptop Mag web surfing battery test. While not record-breaking, it is a decent amount of battery life for a laptop with a discrete GPU and OLED display.

Meanwhile, the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip leveraged its efficient Intel Lunar Lake processor for extended battery life, lasting nearly 14 hours (13:47) on the same battery test.

The Vivobook offers longer battery life according to our testing, and while the Spectre does well given its specs, battery life holds a lot of weight with 2-in-1s. You don't want to be tethered to an outlet while streaming video, surfing the web, or using it as a tablet. And you don't need an Nvidia graphics card for that (unless you're a creator).

Winner: Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Display

Not all OLED panels are created equal, but the 2880 x 1800 OLED touchscreens on the HP Spectre x360 and Asus Vivobook 16 Flip are very similar. They feature the same screen size, display type, and even the same resolution.

Both OLEDs benefit from an infinite contrast ratio and look fantastic while streaming or gaming. They're both glossy and benchmarked similarly in our lab tests.

The HP Spectre's panel is a bit brighter at 376 nits and a bit more vibrant, covering 87.7% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, but the Vivobook's display offers a 120Hz refresh rate and is a bit more accurate, with a 0.22 Delta-E.

There are no real groundbreaking differences between the two, and the benchmark disparity in brightness, color gamut coverage, and color accuracy are within the realm of standard deviation.

Sure, the 120Hz refresh rate on the Vivobook does reduce screen flicker and can help offset eye fatigue, but that's not quite enough to push the Vivobook to victory.

Winner: Draw

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Performance

In terms of raw performance power, you'd expect the HP Spectre x360 (2024) to have the edge. Intel's Core Ultra 100H Meteor Lake series was a bit more powerful in multicore performance compared to Intel's 200V Lunar Lake series.

And that's true, to a degree. When it comes to multitasking, the Spectre does offer a slight edge over the Vivobook. However, it's not a massive difference and most people won't hit a performance wall with the Vivobook.

The HP Spectre x360 is also slightly faster at copying files, but it's slower at transcoding video, and it gets much hotter than the Vivobook.

While power users may prefer the raw computing edge of the HP Spectre x360, in terms of overall performance the Vivobook 16 Flip will easily keep up with the majority of tasks.

The Vivobook will perform well even when unplugged from an outlet, and it won't get hot enough to singe your legs or risk a fire if you put the convertible on your bed for a late-night Netflix binge.

Winner: Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip vs. HP Spectre x360 16 (2024): Graphics and gaming

From a pure silicon standpoint, there isn't a contest here. The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is powered by an integrated Intel graphics tile. The HP Spectre x360 leverages the power of an Nvidia RTX 4050 discrete GPU.

The RTX 4050 has a gaming edge over the Intel Arc 140V. Nvidia offers years of software support, supersampling, and frame-generation technology to increase graphics performance. However, the Arc 140V puts up more of a fight than we'd expect.

Based on our lab testing, the Asus Vivobook 16 Flip nearly matches the graphics and gaming performance of the HP Spectre x360's RTX 4050 GPU.

The Flip was just a few frames slower than the Spectre on the Civilization VI: Gathering Storm benchmark, and just 1,500 points off in the 3DMark Time Spy benchmark. The Vivobook even performed better than the HP Spectre x360 on the 3DMark Fire Strike benchmark.

This is honestly wild and just goes to show that the gaming performance of Intel's Lunar Lake platform is fantastic for an iGPU. It's why the new Intel-powered handhelds like the MSI Claw 8 AI+ opted for an AI PC chipset instead of something with a bit more power.

Winner: HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)

Bottom line

Convertible laptops like the HP Spectre x360 and Asus Vivobook 16 Flip are part of why we're so picky about our best 2-in-1 laptops. Both are powerful machines with stunning OLED displays. While they aren't budget convertibles in any sense, they're worth the investment.

Not a single one of these categories was an open-and-shut win for the Vivobook or the Spectre. Honestly, most of them could have been considered a draw. These are two very well-matched 2-in-1 laptops.

However, the Vivobook is cheaper and features better battery life, a gorgeous display, reliable performance, and gaming power that almost matches the Spectre's RTX 4050 GPU.

So while the Spectre looks a bit nicer, comes in a fun Slate Blue colorway, and supports a raw multicore performance and graphics edge, it just can't justify its price or lower battery life enough to take home the win.

Winner: Asus Vivobook 16 Flip

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Convertible 2-in-1 laptops require a careful balance of performance, battery life, and stunning displays. Since they’re a hybrid device intended for a wide range of situations, we at Laptop Mag tend to be picky about our 2-in-1s.

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip stands out in this challenging landscape thanks to solid performance and power efficiency from its Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake chipset, a stunning OLED display, smooth iGPU gaming performance, access to advanced Copilot+ AI features, and an oversized touchpad.

It's a compelling combination that could earn it a spot among our best Asus laptops and best 2-in-1 laptops. However, it's not perfect; I was disappointed in its mushy keyboard, inconsistent bottom-firing speakers, and sub-par webcam.

But its excellent features made me forgive those minor flaws. Read on to see if it does the same for you.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Specs and benchmarks

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Price and configurations

There is only one configuration available for the Vivobook 16 Flip at the time of writing. Priced at $1,349, the Vivibook 16 Flip (TP3607) comes with an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V Lunar Lake processor with integrated Intel Arc 140V graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU with up to 47 TOPS (trillions of operations per second) of AI power. Since the Vivobook 16 uses a Lunar Lake CPU, it features 32GB of memory-on-package, which cannot be upgraded. Asus also opted for a 1TB SSD and a 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen display.

While $1,349 is a little pricey for a Vivobook, as far as 16-inch OLED convertibles go the pricing doesn’t feel unearned. The Vivobook 16 Flip does offer 32GB of memory and a 1TB SSD to boot.

If the 16-inch display is a bit too much screen space for you, Asus offers the Vivibook Flip in a 14-inch variant. This model starts at $999 and features an Intel Core Ultra 5 226V processor with integrated Intel Arc 130V graphics and an Intel AI Boost NPU with up to 40 TOPS of AI power. The Vivobook 14 Flip also comes with 16GB of memory-on-package, a 512GB SSD, and a 14-inch, 1920 x 1200, 60Hz OLED touchscreen.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Design

Asus’ Vivobook line typically skews for a minimalist design, and the 16 Flip is no different. With a Matte Grey colorway and subtle chrome Asus Vivobook badging, the 16 Flip can fit into most environments.

The Vivobook 16 Flip is a 2-in-1 convertible laptop with sturdy hinges. Asus put the Vivobook through the MIL-STD-810H tests, so it is durable enough to survive extreme high and low temperatures, exposure to moisture and dust, and low pressures. You shouldn’t have anything to worry about when flipping between tent, tablet, and laptop modes.

As for portability, the Vivobook 16 Flip is rather light and thin, measuring 13.98 x 9.62 x 0.67~0.69 inches and weighing 3.9 pounds. This isn’t the lightest or slimmest laptop we’ve ever reviewed, but it's easy enough to cart around in a bag or backpack.

It is a bit chunkier than non-convertible laptops, but it’s still slim enough to compare to other 16-inch laptops like:

• Acer Swift 16 AI (Intel): 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.39 inches, 3.5 pounds
• Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7 (G7 QOY): 14.0 x 9.8 x 0.6 inches, 4.03 pounds
• Asus Zenbook S16 (UM5606): 13.92 x 9.57 x 0.47~0.51 inches, 3.3 pounds

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Ports

The Vivobook features a number of useful ports, with both USB Type-A and Type-C connections, so you shouldn’t worry about finding room for all your favorite accessories. The full list of ports includes:

• 1x Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.4, power delivery)
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A
• 1x HDMI 2.1
• 1x Audio combo jack
• 1x MicroSD card reader

But if you plan to use the Vivobook to power your home office, you may want to invest in one of the best laptop docking stations or USB-C hubs so you can connect a monitor, keyboard, and mouse without losing all of your ports.

Unless you’d rather opt to cut the cord and go wireless for all your peripherals.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Battery life

Intel’s Lunar Lake processors are part of Intel’s Evo platform, designed for enhanced power efficiency, and the Vivobook 16 Flip falls in line. I used the 16 Flip during my average workday with battery to spare, though more demanding applications and downloads did eat into my battery life while I was setting up the Vivobook, leaving it at about 30% after 7 hours.

Once my test applications were downloaded and installed, it had much better battery survivability, with the Vivobook 16 Flip at 40% battery life remaining after my usual 8-hour workday, complete with some light Photoshop use, an hour of video calling, and the occasional game testing.

The Vivobook 16 Flip lasted 13 hours and 47 minutes on the Laptop Mag battery test, which is pretty average for a Lunar Lake system. We have seen some Intel laptops hit the 18.5-hour battery life realm, but most tend to be in the 13-14-hour mark, including the Asus Zenbook S 14.

The Vivobook 16 Flip did outpace the AMD Ryzen AI-powered Zenbook S 16, which lasted 11:35, though the Vivobook was still well behind the Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 7, which survived an astounding 21 hours on the same battery test.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Display

The Vivobook sports a glossy 16-inch, 2880 x 1800, 120Hz OLED touchscreen panel, which presents that lush, infinite contrast ratio. It also means the Vivobook isn’t quite as bright as some competitors, with a max brightness of just 356 nits, but that is more than enough to cut through most glare, though harsh overhead lights can still interfere.

Considering its 1800p OLED panel, I had high hopes for the 16 Flip. I used the trailer for Disney’s live-action remake of Lilo and Stitch for my display testing, and I was not let down. While Hawaii hardly needs any help to look stunning, the high contrast ratio of the OLED display and the vibrant colors added the right level of cartoon styling to the trailer. From the lush greenery and bright Pacific beaches to Stitch’s bright blue CGI fur, the trailer is a visual feast.

The Vivobook’s OLED display also held up well under our lab benchmarks, with a reported 84.4% DCI-P3 gamut coverage. This is pretty good, considering most of the competition doesn’t hit the 80% mark and that OLED color testing is skewed lower than it presents.

A solid display carries even more importance for a 2-in-1 as one of the reasons you’d buy a 2-in-1 is for entertainment. And if you’re looking for a quality laptop to power your next Netflix binge, the Vivobook 16 Flip has a display panel gorgeous enough to fit the bill.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Keyboard and touchpad

Asus kept to a rather minimalist keyboard deck for the Vivobook 16 Flip, though the laptop does feature a compact full-sized keyboard, including a number pad. The keys are nicely spaced apart, and each key supports a solid amount of key travel to keep your fingers from bottoming out.

Unfortunately, the membrane feels mushy, and there’s no satisfying click activation. After a bit of use, this bothered me less and less, but switching between the Razer BlackWidow v4 Pro keyboard I use at my office desk and the Vivobook was a consistently jarring experience. So unless you’re very picky about keyboard feel, the Vivobook’s membrane keyboard isn’t likely a huge drawback.

On the 10fastfingers.com advanced typing test, I averaged 85 words per minute (WPM), which is just below my 88 WPM average on the Apple MacBook Pro 14. So, there isn’t much of a learning curve, and I typed as accurately as I normally do.

My only complaint with the keyboard size is that the “Ctrl” key is so far to the left that I sometimes can’t quite hit it with my pinky finger, as my hands are on the smaller side. But that’s hardly an issue I run into when using a laptop.

The touchpad on the Vivobook 16 Flip is oversized, measuring 6.1 x 4 inches, and features a nice silky feel, so it's comfortable under my fingertips. It is a bit off-center because Asus put a numeric pad on the 16 Flip’s keyboard, and the touchpad is centered below the spacebar.

However, since the touchpad is so oversized, my fingers still meet its surface in the center of the keyboard deck. Only the bottom half of the touchpad has a physical click, while the top half of the touchpad accepts only tap and swipe controls. While this isn’t out of the ordinary, the physical input does have a deep travel, which makes the contrast more jarring than usual.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Audio

Laptop speakers won’t get you theater-quality audio. Top-firing speakers do offer a bit more fidelity, but the Vivobook 16 Flip features bottom-firing speakers that sit below the laptop’s beveled sides.

The speakers target the surface it sits on when in laptop mode. at your desk or table. In tablet mode, however, the speakers face the top cover of the display. So tent mode is ideal for streaming sessions, not only because it props up the display at a nice angle but also because it frees the Dolby-tuned Smart Amp speakers to get you more volume and better audio quality.

I queued up Allegaeon’s “The Swarm” for my audio deep-dive, and while the Vivobook 16 Flip wasn’t going to be replacing my soundbar anytime soon, it got enough volume to fill a room, though audio quality suffered at volumes above 80%.

The frenetic bass drum beats were still identifiable, but the guitar riffs and bass line blended into an unintelligible mess. Below 80%, it was easier to differentiate between instruments in the complex, technical melodic death metal track.

Of course, this was less of an issue with Chappell Roan’s new country single, “The Giver,” which still had solid sound separation between Chappell’s twangy vocals and the clean guitar melody.

If you want an immersive streaming experience with studio-quality sound, I’d recommend connecting a set of the best headphones rather than using the built-in speakers. But they’re enough to get the job done, especially when in tent mode.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Performance and heat

Intel’s Lunar Lake chipset targets power efficiency, which means it suffers a bit when put to the test in demanding, multicore tasks. But it can keep up with most people's web surfing, email use, and light photo editing.

I opened over 10 Chrome tabs and several videos while running a game download and Photoshop in the background on the Vivobook with little slowdown. And that was on battery power. Intel’s Lunar Lake CPU takes less of a hit on battery compared to its predecessors.

On power, the Vivobook’s performance is similar, if a little faster, with high-intensity tasks like object selection in Photoshop. There’s a slight load time on battery in isolating an object with the selection tool, but nothing that would interfere with your photo editing workflow.

While the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V isn't going to deliver one of the best video editing laptops, it’s more than powerful enough for those looking to buy a good 2-in-1 laptop for general use.

The Vivobook also keeps cool under pressure, hitting just 85.8 degrees Fahrenheit when streaming videos or gaming. So you’ll have no trouble resting it on your lap or bed next time you need to stream the entire new season of Only Murders in the Building.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Gaming and graphics

As a 2-in-1 convertible laptop, you aren’t going to confuse the Vivobook Flip 16 for one of the best gaming laptops, and we wouldn’t recommend it for Monster Hunter: Wilds any time soon. But we did put the Vivobook through some gaming tests in case you need an all-in-one laptop that can flex from work or school to streaming and gaming.

At this point, I’m practically a parody of my worst self when it comes to gaming. I opted to run a few dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail to test the Vivobook’s performance in a game I am overly familiar with. I’ve queued up this game on several Intel Arc 140V systems, so I knew what to expect.

At 1080p resolution and “Standard (Laptop)” graphic presets, I had no trouble running my daily Expert Dungeon and Trial roulettes. The framerates were smooth and stable above 30 fps, even with the newer Dawntrail content. Running around the Solution Nine hub city was a visual treat with all the flashy cyberpunk lights and chrome structures. My frame rates peaked at 60 fps but mostly remained in the 45-55 fps range.

I also pulled up my Act One save of Baldur’s Gate III, and the Vivobook did well at similar Medium, 1080p settings as usual. The Act One Emerald Grove environment looked lush, the framerates were stable, and even picking a fight with the Owlbear looked smooth. At least in terms of frames, my party’s survivability was less so.

Lunar Lake’s gaming performance is pretty solid on battery power, so you don’t have the usual gaming laptop fps drop when you disconnect from an outlet. While the Vivobook 16 Flip is not a gaming machine, it can hold its own.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): AI features

As an Intel Lunar Lake laptop, the Vivobook 16 Flip does have access to the full Copilot+ suite of features, including advanced Windows Studio camera effects, Live Captions, and CoCreator in Microsoft Paint.

I’m still not sold on the Copilot+ suite of AI offerings, but it is nice to see that functionality on laptops powered by Intel and AMD processors in addition to the Qualcomm Snapdragon X series.

You can also opt for Intel’s AI Playground as your chatbot and image generator of choice, which supports most large language models (LLMs), including DeepSeek and Microsoft Phi 4.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Webcam

The Vivobook’s 1080p camera features a privacy shutter and is suitable for the occasional video meeting, as well as Windows Hello secure sign-in. The feed will be a little grainy when pulled up full-screen on the Vivobook’s 1800p display, but it is clear when the feed is minimized for a standard video call.

While I didn’t notice much color bleed from the webcam, the colors were distorted, with an overemphasis on warmer tones and a muted quality to cooler colors. My face looked pinker than usual, while my teal hair faded into the white walls of the Laptop Mag office. This color distortion was worse in Google Meet than with the Windows Camera application.

If you intend to use the Vivobook for frequent video calls or virtual presentations, we recommend using one of our best webcams instead.

Asus Vivobook 16 Flip (TP3607): Software and warranty

Asus preloaded the Vivobook 16 Flip with a handful of apps like MyAsus, CapCut, StoryCube, ScreenXpert, and GlideX. You also get a number of Microsoft programs pre-installed with Windows 11 Home, including Copilot, Microsoft 365, and Clipchamp.

You’re not really dealing with bloatware from Asus on the Vivobook, though the number of Microsoft applications installed does edge into that territory for some.

Asus has included a 1-year limited warranty on the Vivobook Flip.

Bottom line

The Asus Vivobook 16 Flip is not a perfect laptop. It has a mushy membrane keyboard and a slightly distorted webcam feed. Then there’s the bottom-firing speakers which can limit the volume and audio quality when in laptop mode.

That said, the Vivobook 16 Flip is a solid value. For just $1,349, you get a gorgeous 1800p OLED display, all-day battery life, reliable all-around performance, smooth iGPU graphics, and a responsive SSD. You can also access the full Copilot+ platform, Intel AI playground, an oversized touchpad, and a full-size keyboard.

It checks all the boxes we set for our best 2-in-1 laptops. It’s also durable and features an understated design that can fit in at the office. The only 2-in-1s you might consider over the Vivobook 16 Flip are the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024), which is our best overall 2-in-1 for good reason, or if you need a 2-in-1 for business, the MSI Summit 13 AI+ Evo might be the better option as it's a thinner and lighter solution designed for enterprise users and comes with the MSI Pen 2 alongside the laptop.

The latest gaming monitors offer a wide range of innovative and interesting features, catering to a variety of gamers with different needs.

There are monitors with super high refresh rates that are ideal for competitive esports. There are monitors with dual resolutions intended for those gamers who want to see their games at the highest fidelity or switch to a lower resolution but faster refresh rate when playing intense, fast-paced games. Then you have monitors that just do it all like these QD-OLED displays from Samsung.

Then there's Asus, which is taking a different approach to what a computer monitor can do.

The company announced three new VU Air Ionizer series of monitors with the interesting addition of having their air purifier on the back of the actual display. This purifier uses advanced nano-ion technology to ionize the air directly in front of the user, helping to reduce pollen, allergens, and other airborne pollutants. This helps reduce the pollen, allergens, and other pollutants in the air as well as reduce airborne dust by 90% in three hours. While this air-purifying monitor may not boast the absolute highest resolution or the fastest refresh rates on the market, it does promise to make a person’s room cleaner—and possibly even smell fresher.

What else is in the air purifier monitor?

Aside from the air purifier feature, these new Asus monitors still come equipped with solid specs. The VU Air Ionizer series is available in three different sizes: the 23.8-inch VU249HFI-W, the 27-inch VU279HFI-W, and the 34-inch VU34WCIP-W.

The VU249HFI-W and VU279HFI-W have FHD IPS panels that have 178° viewing angles, SmoothMotion technology for 100Hz refresh rates, and 1ms Moving Picture Response Time (MPRT). On the bigger VU34WCIP-W, it has a 1500R curved panel with the same 100Hz refresh rate and MPRT. The monitors also have TÜV Rheinland-certified Low Blue Light and Flicker-Free technologies to help with eye strain during long gaming sessions.

Both the VU249HFI-W and VU279HFI-W come with two HDMI ports, while the VU34WCIP-W has a DisplayPort, HDMI port, 4 USB-A ports, and a USB-C that supports both display output and charging.

Pricing for the VU Air Ionizer series starts at $129 for the VU249HFI-W, $159 for the VU279HFI-W, and the VU34WCIP-W comes in at $359.

Asus has had a hectic few years.

The Taiwan-based computer company has launched innovative laptops made of its proprietary ceraluminum material, expanded the AniMeVision LEDs on its gaming laptops, and delivered new pro-grade creator laptops with its ProArt series while dominating the handheld gaming PC space with the ROG Ally; Asus has been busy.

Shawn Yen, Senior Vice President of the Consumer group at Asus, has witnessed much of the company's evolution in person over 16 years in various roles.

In an expansive interview at CES in Las Vegas this month, Yen revealed various aspects of the company's philosophy, from engineering and design to the value of consumer feedback. It turns out that feedback may be the most crucial thing for Asus. Yen tells Laptop that the company focuses on segments of diehard users, known for their candid criticism, which drives rapid, meaningful updates across its product lines.

Yen said, "Our investments really focus on communities," before expanding on this foundational concept for Asus, "The community tells us, 'this experience is not good enough. Go and improve this. Go and improve that.'"

"We're finding a pattern: If we continue to focus on this specific group, we're going to get more feedback from them, and it's really going to help our products."

What's next for ceraluminum Zenbooks

Asus debuted ceraluminum — a hybrid metal made using ceramic and aluminum to create a durable but light laptop chassis — on the Zenbook S14 and Zenbook S16 laptops in 2024. It turns out that was only the beginning.

The company is expanding the ceraluminum chassis to even more Zenbooks in the line in 2025, with the Zenbook A14 being the lightest Copilot+ PC to date.

Yen tells Laptop Mag the decision was made to fit the Zenbook to its target customers: "those designers who appreciate aesthetics."

Yen says that viewpoint extends to material engineering, posing a rhetorical question that illustrates Asus's thinking: "How do we bring value to customers who want a laptop that is materially superior to any other laptops they have?"

That also led Asus to redesign the Zenbook ceraluminum chassis for the A14.

"Our approach is not to design the products and just swap the silicon for different price points and customers, but to make that whole experience shine," Yenb tells Laptop Mag. "That's why we completely redesigned the A14 with Snapdragon."

Yen's point is plain: Snapdragon remains the market choice for an unplugged laptop experience without performance degradation.

The ceraluminum Zenbooks originally came in Scandinavian White or Zumaia Black colorways, though the Zenbook A14 adds Iceland Gray and Zabriskie Beige. And Asus is considering other colors.

Yen explains that choosing a color for a ceraluminum laptop is a very intricate process: "It's not easy," he says. "It has one layer of a mineral-like texture, and it's very hard to do if you get the wrong color and the wrong consistency because every ceraluminum will look uniquely yours. It doesn't just standardize. So we have to make sure that we pick the right color."

So, while customers only have four colors of ceraluminum chassis available on the Zenbooks now, Yen teases: "Give us some time."

ProArt Updates

The ProArt line is one of Asus's newer product lines. Aimed at artists, engineers, architects, digital creators, and entertainment enthusiasts, the line encompasses laptops, tablets, desktops, monitors, projectors, and PC components like motherboards, GPUs, and AIO coolers.

Asus didn't update much of the ProArt for CES 2025, but the ProArt P16 did win a CES Innovation Award.

The focus on community for Asus is at work on the ProArt side, but it's also there for gamers, creative professionals, and designers.

Take the Asus Dial, a physical knob on some laptops that could be seen as as boon or a bummer for users, depending on how it's used.

"We are also getting a lot [of feedback] from the communities. 'How do you integrate the dial experiences better with the laptop?

"Right now, you use the dial to fast-forward videos or dial up the volume. In the creative apps, if you don't integrate them well, it becomes a negative experience, rather than an optimized experience."

What's next for ROG and AniMe Vision

Before his tenure as Senior Vice President of the Consumer group at Asus, Yen was the Vice President of the Gaming Business Unit.

"I'm a gamer myself, so yeah, ROG isn't just about building products for our gamers, but it is also building products for myself," he says.

And we had plenty of questions about those products.

The Asus AniMe Vision LED cover lights debuted on the ROG Zephyrus G14 laptops around 2020. However, the customizable lid LEDs disappeared from the Zephyrus once Asus unveiled the new, slimmer chassis for the G14 last year.

But the customizable LEDs haven't vanished entirely from Asus products, as they've made it to the Strix and Strix Scar models for this year and have been featured on headsets and keyboards since the initial release.

But why did the AniMe Vision LEDs disappear from the Zephyrus? Yen tells Laptop Mag, "The new [Zephyrus] 14, which we launched last year, did not have that because we were trying to innovate into a footprint that was never done before."

While Yen believes ROG customers would like an option for AniMe Vision to return to the Zephyrus, "we have to figure out how to do that because it takes up the space between the screen and the A cover. And then you sacrifice the thickness and the power consumption for that. Something we need to overcome before we bring it back to Zephyrus."

So, while we might see AniMe Vision LEDs return to the Zephyrus line, they likely won't return in the next generation. However, additional LED customization to work with your music and audio or to create festive decor for Halloween or Christmas, among other festivals, is possible.

As for the Strix Scar 16 and 18 laptops, the quick latch and easy upgradeability have been our major highlights of the redesigned Scar chassis. And we're not the only ones.

"One thing about ROG as a brand is that it is a very community-driven," Yen says. "So when you think about the new Strix design, one thing that we really [our answer to community questions was ] how do you make upgrades easy?"

Since Asus has products in multiple categories that use graphics cards, Yen says, "we can learn from each other" allowing Asus to take a "desktop experience" like upgradeability and put it into a laptop.

What's next for Asus

While Laptop didn't get any confirmation about an ROG Ally 2, we did get some hints that a new Asus ROG handheld may be coming soon.

After all, a whole new series of AMD handheld gaming PC CPUs is out there, waiting for handhelds.

Regarding the availability of those new chips, Yen would only say this: "I think we're looking at that as well. [We want to provide] the best performance for our gamers at the right power consumption level."

Asus has refreshed many of its laptops to keep up with the new chips from AMD, Intel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm on the Zenbook, Vivobook, and ROG lines. But we haven't seen major updates to the TUF Gaming or ProArt lineups at CES, so more news about those product lines will likely be coming at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan this coming June.

Asus's upcoming Zenbook, Vivobook, and ROG gaming laptops are expected to launch over the coming months, and as usual, we'll be doing our best to review them all.

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In April 2024, Quest headset maker Meta announced in a press release that the operating system and storefront that powers the standalone portion of its popular virtual and mixed reality headsets, Horizon OS, was going multi-platform.

Microsoft Xbox, Lenovo, and Asus ROG were among the first companies interested in adopting Meta's operating system for new hardware releases, suggesting that we could expect at least three Horizon OS headsets to make an appearance in 2025.

Unfortunately, since that time, word on third-party Horizon OS headset development has gone about as radio-silent as Microsoft whenever anybody mentions Windows 12.

In fact, within that span of time, Google announced its own operating system for virtual and mixed reality headsets, Android XR. Samsung's Project Moohan is reported to be one of the first devices to use the platform. A potential reveal of the headset is tipped for Wednesday's Galaxy Unpacked event.

However, according to one tipster, progress is well underway from at least one of the original trio of Horizon OS adopters, with Asus ROG's headset, codenamed "Tarius," reportedly offering eye and face tracking, and a considerable upgrade over the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S' LCD optics.

Asus' ROG Ally has tasted great success...

A little over a year after the Steam Deck's February 2022 launch, Asus unveiled its own handheld gaming PC, the ROG Ally. At the time, the announcement was so unexpected that its April 1 reveal was taken as a legitimate April Fool's joke. However, Asus' console has been anything but a laughing matter, offering an impressive Windows gaming experience on the go and spawning a popular mid-cycle refresh in the ROG Ally X.

Asus managed to get into the handheld gaming market early while the going was good, establishing itself alongside the Steam Deck as one of the major players long before saturation became a hurdle for manufacturers to clear.

Right now, the handheld gaming PC market is rife with options, with Lenovo, Acer, Ayaneo, MSI, GPD, and OneXPlayer all competing for the high ground. Still, Asus' early adoption keeps the ROG Ally in the spotlight, even without as of yet announcing new models designed to take advantage of AMD's latest Ryzen Z2 chips which were unveiled during CES 2025 (a follow-up to the Ryzen Z1-Series chips that power current models).

Following the release of the Meta Quest 3 and Quest 3S, Asus finds itself in a similar position, able to capitalize early on the availability of Horizon OS and bring its own VR/XR/MR headset to market before others can stake their claim. But is Asus ROG's rumored "Tarius" headset up to the task?

... But can the ROG "Tarius" headset do the same for VR?

According to information provided by tipster Luna, Tarius will offer more features comparable to the Meta Quest Pro than Meta's standard third-generation headsets, including face and eye tracking and potentially a quantum dot LCD (QD-LCD) if not uOLED display.

Should this information prove true, Asus already has a pretty formidable headset on its hands, and that's without knowing anything about its processor, which could stretch as far as featuring Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon XR2 Gen 3/XR3 chip, offering an impressive boost in performance over Meta's first-party hardware.

That said, Asus faces a unique problem if it chooses to target more powerful hardware. While the ROG Ally could outperform the Steam Deck, the results were far easier to spot, as Asus' handheld could effectively strive to offer improved frame rates, better graphical fidelity, and a higher resolution already available to Windows games.

When it comes to Meta's Horizon OS, much of Tarius' potential advancements may only matter if developers decide to incorporate them into their titles. Something that no doubt takes additional time and expense to do so.

However, the Tarius HMD's PCVR support may be where the majority of these advancements come into full effect, with its standalone mode mostly benefitting from improved resolution and smoothness.

What's next?

We're still without official word on what to expect from Asus' headset, but given the company's success in the handheld gaming PC market, it would make sense that its VR ambitions haven't been dampened.

With Horizon OS and Android XR both being viable platforms for future hardware to adopt, we're sure to see an influx of headsets released in the near future that can rely on Meta and Google's platforms in the push to bring this medium forward.

Exactly when we can expect this to begin, remains unknown. However, if these details prove accurate, then it would seem that we won't have long to wait before Asus ROG is ready to dazzle us all with a new hardware venture.

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We saw a lot of interesting trends at CES 2025, and on the gaming side, no trend was more obvious than a continued commitment to putting more and more RGB lights on gaming laptops.

But we're hoping we might see a different trend take off, thanks to the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 and 18.

The Strix Scar 18 was our winner for Best Gaming Laptop at CES 2025, in part because of the Scar's upgradeability and easy repairs. But we also loved the AnimeVision LED lights on the top cover panel and the full 360-degree light bar on the bottom side of the Scar 18.

But the Strix Scar 18 offers more than just customizable LED lights, a ton of RGB, and an easy-open latch for the bottom panel.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835L): Specs

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835L): Pricing and availability

Asus's updated line of ROG gaming laptops are set to launch in Q1 2025, though exact dates and prices are still unclear.

Based on what we know from Nvidia, the RTX 50-series laptops will launch in March 2025, and Nvidia expects laptops with the RTX 5090 to start at $2,899. The starting price for the Strix Scar 16 (G635L) and 18 (G835L) is $2,599 though we don't know the exact configuration of the starting model. It does appear that all models of the Strix Scar 16 and 18 will feature ROG Nebula HDR Mini-LED displays.

We can expect a higher price tag for models with the RTX 5090 and upgraded memory and storage, but the exact price isn't finalized yet. Asus will likely provide further information on pricing and specs as we get closer to the expected March launch date.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835L): Design