ASUS ROG Zephyrus ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 GU605 16" WQXGA 240Hz OLED Review

This is a desktop-killing performance beast in a (somewhat) portable form. Only for those who need the RTX 5090 and have deep pockets.

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is a monster of a laptop that's basically a desktop replacement in a surprisingly portable package. The one thing you need to know is that this machine is built for one thing: obliterating any game or creative workload you throw at it, thanks to its top-tier RTX 5090 GPU and 64GB of RAM. It's not trying to be subtle, and it doesn't need to be.

The numbers don't lie. That RTX 5090 GPU lands in the 95th percentile in our database, which is just absurd for a laptop. Paired with a 240Hz OLED screen, games look and feel incredibly smooth. The Intel Ultra 9 CPU is no slouch either, sitting comfortably in the 84th percentile, so you won't have any bottlenecks. It's a pure performance beast.

At $4600, this is a 'shut up and take my money' proposition only for a very specific buyer. If you need the absolute fastest mobile graphics money can buy and money is no object, it's worth it. For everyone else, it's a ridiculously expensive luxury.

The most direct competitor is the MSI Vector 16 HX, which will likely offer similar raw power for less money, though maybe with a less stunning screen. If you're not purely gaming, the Apple MacBook Pro 14" with the M4 Max is a fascinating alternative. It'll crush creative apps, be way more portable, and have insane battery life, but you're locked out of most PC games. The Zenbook Duo is for a totally different multitasking crowd, and the Legion Pro 7i is last-gen tech at this point.

If you need to carry your laptop around campus or a coffee shop all day, skip this. It's heavy, power-hungry, and expensive. Look at a MacBook Pro or a high-end ultrabook instead. If you're on a budget, the MSI Vector or last-gen Legion models offer way more performance per dollar.

We recommend the ROG Zephyrus G16 if you are a professional gamer, a streamer, or a creator who needs the absolute fastest mobile GPU and has a budget to match. It's a no-compromise performance flagship. For anyone who values portability, battery life, or just doesn't need a $4600 laptop, there are better, saner options.