Thrill your senses!
What’s in the box:
- 1x ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 Laptop
- 1x power block
- 1x power cable
- 1x warranty card
- 1x welcome pamphlet
- 1x instruction booklet
Specifications:
- Processor-13th Gen intel ® Core ™ 9-13900h 2.60Ghz
- Installed Ram: 16.0 GB (15.6 GB usable)
- System type: 64-Bit operating systemx64-based processor
- Intel ® UHD graphics
- Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU
- HD keyboard device
- PC/AT enhance PS/2 keyboard (101/102 key)
- Realtek PCE card reader
- HD compliant mouse
- Realtek
- Display – 16″ WQXGA (2560 x 1600)
- Ports: 2xUSB Type
- Backlit keyboard
- Software: Windows 11 home
Aesthetics:
This laptop was designed to be absolutely breathtaking. The cover is black with a prismatic “punctured” design on the top of the lid. The lid spectacularly catches the light. The design is quite slimline and brings the futuristic design together nicely. This model seems to only come in black for now although a white model was rumoured to be available soon.
The underside of the laptop has holes for exceptional cooling and two rubber grip strips to ensure no slipping and also additional cooling for the laptop.
The laptop is equipped with ports on both sides to cater to all your requirements and beyond with ten ports altogether. With hinges on the lid, it can fold back completely, making screen sharing effortless.
Power buttons on newer ASUS laptop models have a more angular shape, which we like.
We did discover that this laptop’s surfaces retain smudges and fingerprints, so have a soft cloth handy in case you need to clean it periodically.
Comfort:
When it comes to comfort, this laptop provides an abundance of features. The trackpad boasts a soft and seamless surface, allowing your fingers to glide effortlessly over it.
As for the laptop itself, it is light and will fit comfortably on your lap, while the anti-slip design on the bottom prevents the laptop from overheating. Unlike many other gaming laptops, this one simply experiences brief temperature spikes before dropping back to normal. As a result, overheating is not a problem.
The laptop is incredibly lightweight, allowing for effortless and uncomplicated portability.
This laptop is so comfortable to use that you don’t even realize it is there and you can do your work or play without getting burned by a hot laptop. The laptop boasts a chiclet keyboard which is extremely comfortable to use.
The 16:10 screen is big enough for all of your demands, from watching movies to playing games, and it has a 94% screen-to-body ratio, so you can comfortably see every inch of the screen.
The screen brightness is excellent and will work in any lighting conditions with a dedicated key on the keyboard to adjust the brightness for low light conditions.
User Friendly & Functionality:
With Windows 11 already installed, the laptop is super easy to use and set up. The home screen has a pretty standard layout and is very logical to use. We also found that installing games was quick and effortless and there was no issue with space even with AAA titles such as Borderlands 3.
With its thin-and-light design, excellent inputs, and 16-inch 16:10 display, this laptop is a great thin-and-light laptop with powerful specs.
The keyboard is equipped with customizable RGB backlighting that can be controlled using the Armoury Crate software, and brightness adjustments can be easily made using the FN+F2/F3 keys.
While the keyboard does not include a numeric keypad, users quickly adapt to its absence. Additionally, the convenience of summoning the Armoury Crate software with a dedicated ROG eye key directly on the keyboard enhances its usability.
One issue we had with this laptop though was that it doesn’t have a dedicated key for taking screenshots, which means you’ll need to use separate software to do so.
The frame rate is amazing and your game will really benefit from the 130-160 fps.
Performance:
This particular model boasts a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 GPU which outperforms many of the other models in this range.
The RTX 4050 has 80 tensor cores, enabling robust DLSS 3 support. This includes frame generation that can significantly enhance performance in compatible games.
It has a 90Wh battery, but the battery life is average and nothing to write home about, and didn’t fair too well during power outages. With standard online browsing or content streaming, you can expect to receive roughly five hours of battery life from this laptop. We advise you to keep the device plugged in while gaming though.
We did discover that the speakers’ sound was just outstanding. The speakers’ impressive volume and clarity make them perfect for use in bustling environments or coffee shops where ambient noise levels can be quite high. Six Dolby Atmos® speakers and two force-canceling woofers will immerse you in surround sound. These will also enhance any type of entertainment.
In contrast to many ASUS laptops, this model includes a webcam, which is a terrific feature because so many people these days need a camera for meetings or streaming live. The webcam was more than adequate in our opinion and performed admirably in dim lighting.
The Zephyrus M16 also has a MUX switch like many of the newer ASUS model laptops. This switch lets you switch between Microsoft Hybrid Graphics mode and discrete graphics mode; If you’re doing simple tasks like documenting or browsing the web, switch to Microsoft Hybrid Graphics mode for longer battery life; if you’re going to play games or do GPU-intensive tasks.
When switching between integrated graphics and discrete graphics, the screen flashes and blacks out. This is clunky, and this applies to all laptops with Nvidia’s Optimus tech. You may also need to reenable HDR or specific colour profiles when it changes modes, depending on your settings.
Managing this can become tiresome, despite the automatic switching of Optimus based on whether you are using a power source or running on batteries. My solution was to stay connected to the GPU all the time and never touch it again.
Additionally, this laptop has an Ethernet connection that will enable you to have Wi-Fi 6 if necessary.
MGR Gaming’s Conclusions:
In our overall experience, thoroughly testing this remarkable laptop was an enjoyable endeavor. Without a doubt, the abundance of incredible features it offers makes it well worth the price.
You should consider the ASUS ROG Zephyrus if you are looking for a midrange gaming laptop with great specs and performance. Designed to handle hard work, this laptop will not let you down with the hardware it includes. During our testing, we found that the laptop didn’t get too hot at all due to its great cooling system.
It’s a big plus that the Zephyrus’s screen tilts all the way back allowing you to tilt it in many different positions. We found this particularly useful when screen sharing.
And also if you do decide to have it on your lap while sitting or even lying down you will always be able to see the screen comfortably.
One of the primary concerns we encountered was the absence of a dedicated print screen button, which is unusual for a specialized gaming laptop. However, there are always solutions available to address this problem.
The other issue we found was an average battery life which didn’t last very long. So we recommend you keep it plugged in if you are planning on a long gaming session.
Overall, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus stands as a formidable laptop, boasting an array of features that unquestionably justify its premium price tag.
