Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 2023 Review: You’ve Got To Pay To Play

When it involves the bleeding fringe of PC gaming laptops, there are a couple of choices to select from, particularly in case you contemplate the fashions with the newest Nvidia RTX 40 collection. Last month, Asus ROG unveiled its new lineup of high-end gaming laptops, powered by the newest Intel and AMD processors and Nvidia RTX 40 collection GPUs, particularly the ROG Zephyrus M16, ROG Zephyrus Duo 16, and ROG Strix Scar 16/17/18. We had the prospect to overview the ROG Zephyrus M16, and during the last month of testing, we discovered it to be a promising gaming laptop computer with some significantly spectacular {hardware}. However, the query stays: is it well worth the whopping Rs 3,64,990? Find out on this overview.

Design and Display: Top-Notch and Portable

Gaming laptops are notorious for being cumbersome and ginormous, however with the ROG Zephyrus M16, Asus has struck a very good stability of construct high quality and heft. The laptop computer weighs round 2.3 kg and is round 2 cm thick, making it simple to hold round, which is the only goal of a gaming laptop computer. The match and end have improved this 12 months, and the machine feels properly put collectively. This was evident from the wonderful keyboard suggestions and the standard of the keycaps as properly. I’m not a fan of the keyboard font, however that’s a tradeoff I’m keen to make.

Talking concerning the show, the ROG Zephyrus M16 makes use of a QHD mini LED panel with a 240hz refresh price, and let me let you know, it is without doubt one of the greatest panels I’ve used on a gaming laptop computer. Not solely is it buttery clean, however due to the mini LED know-how, the blacks are deep and inky.

Yes, it’s inferior to OLED, however it’s considerably higher than most gaming laptops on the market. Moreover, I’m fairly explicit about blooming and backlight bleeding, and I’m blissful to report that the Zephyrus M16 reveals no blooming and no backlight bleeding—one thing that may turn into an issue whereas watching darkish scenes. The bezels surrounding the panel are additionally minimal, due to the 92% screen-to-body ratio.

Moreover, using the AniMe Matrix outer show is a pleasant expertise. With the Armory Crate utility, customers can personalize what seems on the outer panel, together with textual content, symbols, and different graphics. This function provides a playful aspect that units the laptop computer aside from others.

Performance: You Get the Bleeding Edge, however at a Cost

The overview unit that I’ve is powered by a thirteenth Gen Intel Core i9-13900H Processor, clocked at 2.6 GHz, which has a lift clock of as much as 5.4 GHz and comes with 14 cores, out of which there are 6 efficiency cores and eight effectivity cores. For the GPU, there’s the top-of-the-line Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 with a max TDP of 150W when plugged in.

This interprets to wonderful real-world efficiency. I may max out most video games I performed on it, together with story-driven single-player titles like Returnal, racing video games like Forza Horizon 5, and aggressive shooters like Apex Legends. While plugged in, the laptop computer didn’t break a sweat. It may max out Apex Legends, and I used to be persistently getting upwards of 250fps. In Returnal, which is a really CPU-heavy title, I may push most settings, with DLSS enabled, and acquired round 100-120fps at QHD decision.

These numbers have been unprecedented earlier than the RTX 40 cell GPUs confirmed up.

But, as all issues include a worth, the warmth is the worth right here, not actually. Despite being in an air-conditioned room, on the most efficiency setting, the laptop computer acquired fairly heat and loud. I solely realized this after I eliminated the headphones after a cycle in Returnal.

With 32GB DDR5 reminiscence, clocked at 4800MHz and 2TB NVMe M.2 storage, the laptop computer flies, and utilizing it a pleasure, coupled with the 240Hz display is elegant. It stays buttery clean throughout the board.

Battery Life: Achilles Heel 

Over the years, if there’s an Achilles heel of any gaming laptop computer in existence, it’s battery life. And the identical is the case with the Zephyrus M16. On a full cost, on its 90Wh battery, it lasts round an hour and a half underneath average to heavy load, and through gentle utilization, you may prolong it by an hour.

So sure, as per my testing, the battery life isn’t nice, however contemplating you’ll have to remain plugged in to get respectable efficiency out of the machine anyway, the battery life angle crumbles—and you’ll have to carry the chunky energy brick all over the place you go.

Speakers: Underwhelming at Best

Speakers are often probably the most underrated a part of any gaming laptop computer — aside from the show, after all—and having good audio system—with good stereo separation and fullness—is paramount. And right here, the Zephyrus M16 underwhelms. The audio system sound muffled at full quantity, lack low finish, and contemplating the dimensions of the laptop computer’s chassis, are tinny.

I might say the audio system are probably the most underwhelming a part of the Zephyrus M16. In video games like Returnal, it was laborious to note the stereo separation as properly. But, as a comfort, I’d say, the headphone jack on the Zephyrus M16 sounds good and will energy my high-end gaming headphones.

Verdict: A Solid High-End Gaming Laptop That Comes at a Price

For Rs 3,64,990, the Zephyrus M16 is without doubt one of the costliest Windows laptops out proper now—due to its bleeding-edge {hardware}, an outstanding mini LED panel, and to not neglect the customizable AniMe Matrix outer show. Performance-wise, the laptop computer leaves little or no to be desired; it’s that good, and so is the construct high quality.

Yes, it does get heat and loud, and the audio system aren’t one of the best in comparison with the fast competitors, however as a complete package deal, the Zephyrus M16 is a fantastically made gaming laptop computer that does deserve an area in your gaming portfolio. You acquired to pay to play, so simple as that.

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