Ryzen Ai 9 ROG Zephyrus G16 Review: Top 16” OLED Gaming Laptop?

Hey everyone, it’s ETA Prime back with another exciting review.  We’re going to be looking at the brand-new ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition today, and I have to say that this laptop is rapidly becoming into my favorite 16-inch gadget of 2024. Let’s examine the unique features that set this model apart.

Design and Display

To begin with, the G16 has a strong and elegant design. Because of its aviation aluminum alloy build, it has an all-metal construction that gives it a high-end appearance. One of the most notable features is the 16-inch Nebula 2.5K OLED display, which has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 240Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms reaction time, and 2560 x 1600 resolution. With its bright whites and deep blacks, the display is extremely dynamic, which makes it perfect for both content creation and gaming. It also improves the entire visual experience by supporting NVIDIA G-Sync, Dolby Vision, and DisplayHDR 500.

Keyboard and Trackpad

Armory Crate offers a configurable RGB illuminated chicklet-style keyboard for the G16. Even though it just has one zone of illumination, it’s still quite useful and stylish. Another standout feature is the enormous trackpad, which offers a snappy and responsive input experience.

Performance and Cooling

The new AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU, which is built on the Zen 5 architecture, powers the G16’s internal components. It performs exceptionally well, with a base clock of 2 GHz and a boost clock of up to 5.1 GHz. It has 12 cores and 24 threads. Moreover, this processor has the AMD XDNA NPU, which provides up to 50 TOPS of AI performance.

The GPU is a laptop version of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, with a 105 watt maximum boost voltage and 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM. This combination guarantees optimal performance for demanding tasks and gaming. Additionally, the laptop has 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM that operates at 7500 MHz; but, if you would rather have it for less money, you can also have it with 16GB.

The new Tri-Fan cooling system, which consists of three fans and a sophisticated heat pipe system, manages cooling. Silent mode allows the fans to be entirely switched off, which is a nice feature for quiet operation. Even with large loads, the new liquid metal thermal compound aids in maintaining low temperatures.

Connectivity and Battery Life

The G16 has an extensive port array, making it well-equipped for connectivity. A USB4 Type-C connector with DisplayPort 1.4 and Power Delivery 3.0, HDMI 2.1, a USB 3.2 Gen 2 port, and a 3.5mm audio jack are located on the left side. An SD 7.0 card reader, an additional USB 3.2 port, and a USB 3.2 Type-C port that supports DisplayPort are located on the right side.

The laptop has a 90Wh battery, which has a respectable amount of runtime. It can play videos for up to 10 hours and 28 minutes or play games for about 3 hours and 20 minutes on the integrated GPU. In just 30 minutes, the 200W charger that comes with the battery can raise its 50% capacity.

Performance Benchmarks

The G16 performs exceptionally well in both real-world gaming and benchmarks. The Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 receives scores of 1537 in multi-core testing and 291 in single-core testing on Geekbench 6. Impressive GPU benchmarks, such as 2630 in Steel Nomad and 12125 in Time Spy, are achieved by the RTX 4070.

With gaming, the G16 performs incredibly well with contemporary titles. Mortal Kombat 1 plays flawlessly at 2560 x 1600 Ultra, Forza Motorsport runs between 71 and 109 FPS, while Starfield averages about 81 FPS in urban areas. Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 both run smoothly with high frame rates and good graphics settings.

Gaming benchmarks?

Based on tests with its NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 and AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370, these are the gaming benchmarks for the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition:

1. Forza Motorsport (2560 x 1600, Ultra, DLSS Quality)
   • Average FPS: 86
   • Range: 71 to 109 FPS
2. Mortal Kombat 1 (2560 x 1600, Ultra, No DLSS)
   • Performance: Excellent, smooth gameplay with no issues.
3. Starfield (2560 x 1600, High, DLSS Balance)
   • City Areas Average FPS: 81
   • Planet Exploration Average FPS: 98
4. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 (1440p, Ultra, DLSS Balance)
   • Average FPS: 124
   • 1% Low FPS: 58
5. Cyberpunk 2077 (2560 x 1600, Ultra, DLSS Auto)
   • Average FPS: 83

These benchmarks demonstrate how well the G16 handles contemporary AAA games at high settings and resolutions. A smooth gaming experience with high frame rates and superb graphics fidelity is ensured by the combination of the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and the RTX 4070.

Thermal performance under load?

Because of its sophisticated cooling system, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition exhibits remarkable thermal performance under load. Here’s a thorough examination of how it manages heat:

Cooling System

The G16 is equipped with a Tri-Fan cooling system, which consists of three fans. This system is essential for preserving ideal temperatures when gaming or working hard. To improve cooling efficiency, it also includes an improved heat pipe system, liquid metal thermal compound, and an ArcFlow fan design from the second generation.

Thermal Performance

1. Under Gaming Load:
   • GPU temps: For a high-performance laptop GPU, the RTX 4070 keeps its temps between 70 to 80°C when gaming hard.
   • CPU Temperature: During demanding workloads, like as gaming, the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 usually maintains a temperature between 75°C and 85°C. For high-end laptop CPUs, this falls within the typical range.
2. Thermal Throttling:
   • Significant thermal throttling did not occur with the G16 during testing, even in taxing titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Forza Motorsport. By successfully preventing the system from overheating, the cooling system guarantees reliable operation.
3. Silent Mode:
   • The fans can be fully turned off in silent mode. Because zero DB action is possible in this mode, the laptop is extremely silent. The device did not experience thermal throttling when handling less demanding games and tasks, even in the absence of active cooling.
4. Idle and Low Load:
   • Because to the effective cooling design, the system maintains a temperature well below 60°C whether it is idle or operating at low load.

The cooling system of the Zephyrus G16 functions brilliantly overall, striking a balance between excellent performance and efficient temperature control. A comfortable gaming experience with little thermal concerns is made possible by the sophisticated cooling systems and the option to switch down the fans in silent mode.

Battery life in gaming?

The battery life of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition in gaming scenarios varies based on the game’s intensity and the particular settings employed. This is an overview in general:

• Integrated GPU (AMD Radeon 890M): You should allow around three hours and twenty minutes for gaming on the integrated GPU. This mode is better suited for games that don’t require a lot of power.
• Dedicated GPU (NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070): Battery life will be much reduced while using the dedicated RTX 4070 GPU. While the precise amount of time might vary, you can play for 1.5 to 2 hours during high-performance gaming sessions before needing to recharge. The longer battery life is impacted by the dedicated GPU’s higher power consumption.

You may wish to utilize a lower resolution or change the performance settings for extended gaming sessions away from a power source in order to save battery life.

Price and availability?

The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition is now offered for sale by a number of merchants, including Amazon, major electronics retailers, and ASUS’s official store. Prices may differ depending on the area and configuration, but generally speaking, you should anticipate the following:

• Base Model (16GB RAM, 1TB SSD, RTX 4070): Around $2,299
• Upgraded Model (32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, RTX 4070): Around $2,499

For the greatest bargain, it’s wise to compare costs from a few different suppliers as these can change depending on availability and specials. Additionally, be on the lookout for any discounts or bundles that could be available.

Conclusion

All things considered, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition is one of the strongest candidates for 2024’s finest 16-inch gaming laptop. Its impressive OLED display, efficient cooling, sturdy construction, and potent performance are all combined. The G16 is unquestionably a laptop to take into consideration if you’re searching for a high-performance device that excels at demanding tasks like gaming.

Check out the links below for more information, and leave a comment if you have any questions or need any particular testing. I appreciate your time, and I hope to see you in the future review!

Video review of ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ryzen AI Edition