Asus Republic of Gamers (ROG) has launched the 2026 ROG Strix G16 and Strix G18 gaming laptops, bringing updated processors, new display technology and a redesigned chassis to its mid-range gaming laptop lineup.
Both machines ship with Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (Core Ultra (Series 2) aka Arrow Lake) processor and can be configured with up to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU.
A flagship ROG Strix SCAR 18 model has also been confirmed for release in the second quarter of 2026, though Asus is holding back full specifications for now.
New silicon under the hood
The centrepiece of the refresh is Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, which Asus is pairing with Nvidia’s mobile graphics across both the 16-inch and 18-inch models.
The combination is aimed at competitive eSports players, AAA gamers and content creators who need strong multi-threaded CPU performance alongside GPU grunt for ray tracing and AI-accelerated workloads.
Nvidia’s DLSS 4 with Multi-Frame Generation is supported, which can push frame rates higher than native rendering alone would allow.
“These machines are built from the ground up for enthusiast gamers,” an Asus ROG spokesperson explained.
Both laptops support up to 64GB of DDR5 memory running at 6,400MT/s across two SO-DIMM slots, and come with 2TB of PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 storage.
Display upgrades on both models
The Strix G16 features a 16-inch 2.5K (2,560 x 1,600) IPS-level panel running at 300Hz with a 3ms response time – up from the 240Hz offered by the previous generation. The panel covers 100 per cent of the DCI-P3 colour gamut and carries Pantone validation.
The Strix G18 gets a more significant panel upgrade. Its 18-inch 2.5K display is the first in the Strix G series to use Mini LED backlighting, with more than 2,000 dimming zones. It runs at 240Hz and reaches 1,600 nits of peak brightness, which should translate to noticeably better HDR contrast and clarity compared to a conventional IPS backlight.
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Both panels use Asus’s ACR (Anti-Reflection) technology, which the company indicated helps maintain colour accuracy at off-angles as well as reducing glare in varied lighting conditions.
G-Sync and Dolby Vision are supported on both screens.
Cooling and chassis redesign
To keep the new processors and GPUs running at sustained clock speeds, Asus has equipped both laptops with its latest Intelligent Cooling system. This includes a tri-fan layout, a full vapour-chamber cooling solution and a sandwiched heatsink design.
The thermal system is intended to let the hardware maintain stable performance over extended gaming or rendering sessions rather than throttling under load.
The physical chassis has also been reworked. Asus has introduced a tool-less access design that uses spring-loaded tabs instead of screws, making it straightforward to reach the SSD and RAM modules for upgrades.
The SSD bays support Asus’s Q-Latch system for screwless drive swaps.
“These are the machines for gamers that like to tinker and upgrade their hardware over time,” the company noted.
Both models come in Eclipse Gray and Volt Green colour options and feature a full-surround RGB light bar with Aura Sync support and per-key RGB backlighting.
Connectivity and other specs
On the connectivity front, both the Strix G16 and G18 pack two Thunderbolt 5 Type-C ports with DisplayPort 2.1, Power Delivery 3.1 and G-Sync support. There are also three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, a 2.5G Ethernet jack, HDMI 2.1 FRL output and a combo audio jack.
Wireless connectivity comes via WiFi 7, and both machines carry a 90Wh battery paired with up to a 380W AC adapter.
Audio features include Smart Amp Technology, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res Audio certification and two-way AI noise cancellation.
The Strix G16 weighs in at 2.7 KG with dimensions of 354 x 264 x 30mm, while the larger Strix G18 tips the scales at 3.5 KG and measures 399 x 294 x 32mm.
Both ship with Windows 11 Pro.
SCAR 18 teased for later this year
Asus has confirmed the ROG Strix SCAR 18 will arrive later in 2026 as the top-end model in the Strix family.
The SCAR 18 will also use the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor but will support GPU configurations up to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU – one tier above what the G16 and G18 offer.
Asus indicated the SCAR 18 will have a higher total system TDP than the 2025 model, giving the hardware more thermal headroom.
Pricing and detailed specifications for the SCAR 18 have not yet been disclosed.
Last Updated on 5 April 2026 by Nick Ross
