ASUS ROG Strix G15: 2021 Gaming Laptop Review
Hey guys! Today, let's dive deep into the ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) gaming laptop. If you're in the market for a new gaming rig that blends power, performance, and aesthetics, this might just be the one you've been waiting for. This comprehensive review will cover everything from its design and display to its performance and overall value. So, buckle up, and let’s get started!
Design and Build Quality
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 boasts a sleek and aggressive design that screams "gamer." The lid features a bold ROG logo and a textured finish that not only looks great but also provides a nice grip. Opening the laptop reveals a well-laid-out keyboard with customizable RGB lighting and a spacious trackpad. One of the standout features is the wrap-around light bar at the base, which adds a cool ambient glow. This isn't just about looks, though. The build quality is top-notch, with a sturdy chassis that feels durable and well-assembled.
ASUS has clearly paid attention to the details. The hinge feels robust, and the laptop doesn’t exhibit excessive flex, which is crucial for a gaming device that’s likely to endure some heavy use. The materials used give it a premium feel, setting it apart from some of its competitors in the same price range. The matte finish helps to resist fingerprints, keeping your laptop looking clean and professional even after long gaming sessions. All in all, the design and build quality of the ROG Strix G15 are impressive, making it a visually appealing and durable choice for gamers.
Furthermore, the keyboard is designed for comfort and responsiveness, essential for both gaming and typing. The keys have a decent amount of travel, and the feedback is tactile, which makes typing a pleasure. The trackpad is smooth and accurate, providing a reliable alternative to using a mouse when you’re on the go. The strategic placement of ports around the laptop also adds to its practicality, allowing for easy connectivity without cluttering your workspace. The overall design philosophy emphasizes both aesthetics and functionality, making the ASUS ROG Strix G15 a well-rounded package.
Display
The display on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is another highlight. It features a 15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) panel with a high refresh rate, typically 144Hz or even 300Hz depending on the configuration. This high refresh rate ensures smooth and fluid visuals, which is crucial for fast-paced gaming. The screen also boasts excellent color accuracy and wide viewing angles, thanks to its IPS panel. Whether you're gaming, watching videos, or creating content, the display delivers vibrant and immersive visuals.
The anti-glare coating is a welcome addition, reducing reflections and allowing you to game comfortably in brightly lit environments. The brightness levels are also adequate for both indoor and outdoor use. Color accuracy is particularly important for content creators who need to ensure their work looks consistent across different devices. The ROG Strix G15 doesn't disappoint in this area, offering a color gamut that covers a significant portion of the sRGB color space. This means you can expect rich and accurate colors, making it suitable for tasks like photo editing and graphic design.
The thin bezels around the display contribute to a more immersive viewing experience, minimizing distractions and maximizing screen real estate. The fast response time of the panel also helps to reduce motion blur, ensuring that fast-moving objects appear sharp and clear. Overall, the display on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is a major selling point, providing gamers and content creators with a visually stunning and highly responsive experience. The combination of high refresh rates, accurate colors, and wide viewing angles makes it a top-tier display in the gaming laptop market.
Performance
Under the hood, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) packs some serious power. It’s typically equipped with an AMD Ryzen 7 or Ryzen 9 series processor, paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series graphics card. This combination delivers exceptional performance in both gaming and productivity tasks. Whether you're playing the latest AAA titles or running demanding applications, the ROG Strix G15 can handle it all with ease. The ample amount of RAM and fast SSD storage further contribute to its smooth and responsive performance.
The Ryzen processors are known for their multi-core performance, making them ideal for tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and multitasking. The RTX 30 series GPUs provide excellent gaming performance, with support for features like ray tracing and DLSS. Ray tracing adds realistic lighting and shadows to games, while DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) uses AI to boost frame rates without sacrificing image quality. This means you can enjoy stunning visuals and smooth gameplay even in the most demanding games.
Furthermore, the cooling system is designed to keep the laptop running cool and quiet, even under heavy load. The ROG Strix G15 features multiple heat pipes and fans that efficiently dissipate heat, preventing thermal throttling and ensuring consistent performance. The laptop also comes with ROG's Armoury Crate software, which allows you to monitor system performance and customize fan speeds. This level of control is essential for maximizing performance and maintaining optimal temperatures. The combination of powerful hardware and an effective cooling system makes the ASUS ROG Strix G15 a performance beast.
Keyboard and Trackpad
The keyboard on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is designed for both gaming and typing comfort. It features a per-key RGB lighting system, allowing you to customize the colors and effects to your liking. The keys have a good amount of travel and provide tactile feedback, making typing a pleasant experience. The layout is well-spaced, and the inclusion of dedicated function keys adds to its practicality. The anti-ghosting technology ensures that every keypress is registered accurately, even during intense gaming sessions.
The trackpad is smooth and responsive, providing accurate cursor control. It supports multi-finger gestures, making it easy to navigate through applications and web pages. The trackpad is also large enough to comfortably use without feeling cramped. While most gamers will likely prefer using a dedicated mouse, the trackpad is a reliable alternative when you're on the go. The integrated buttons provide a satisfying click, and the overall feel is premium and well-built.
Additionally, the keyboard's durability is noteworthy, as it’s designed to withstand millions of keystrokes. The keycaps are made from high-quality materials that resist wear and tear, ensuring that the keyboard looks and feels great even after extended use. The RGB lighting is not just for aesthetics; it can also be configured to highlight important keys or to provide visual cues for different functions. The combination of comfort, responsiveness, and customization options makes the keyboard and trackpad on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 a standout feature.
Audio
The audio quality on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is surprisingly good for a gaming laptop. It features dual speakers that deliver clear and balanced sound. The volume levels are adequate for most situations, and the bass response is decent. While it may not compete with a dedicated sound system or high-end headphones, the built-in speakers are more than capable for gaming, watching videos, and listening to music. The laptop also includes a headphone jack for those who prefer a more immersive audio experience.
ASUS has incorporated smart amplifier technology to enhance the audio output, providing louder and clearer sound without distortion. The speakers are strategically placed to deliver sound directly towards the user, creating a more immersive experience. The laptop also supports virtual surround sound, which can enhance the sense of spatial awareness in games. Overall, the audio quality on the ROG Strix G15 is a pleasant surprise, offering a balanced and immersive sound experience that complements its excellent visuals.
To further enhance the audio experience, the laptop comes with software that allows you to customize the sound settings. You can adjust the equalizer to fine-tune the audio to your preferences, and you can also enable or disable various audio enhancements. The microphone array is also of good quality, making it suitable for voice chat and online meetings. The combination of decent speakers, smart amplifier technology, and customizable software makes the audio on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 a valuable asset.
Battery Life
Battery life on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is typical for a gaming laptop. You can expect to get around 4-6 hours of use on a single charge, depending on your usage. Gaming will drain the battery much faster, so it's best to keep it plugged in when playing demanding games. For everyday tasks like browsing the web and watching videos, the battery life is adequate. The laptop also supports fast charging, allowing you to quickly recharge the battery when needed.
The battery capacity is decent, but the power-hungry components inside the laptop mean that it's not going to last all day on a single charge. However, ASUS has implemented various power-saving features to help extend battery life. You can adjust the screen brightness, disable unnecessary background processes, and switch to a more power-efficient performance mode to conserve battery power. These settings can be easily accessed through the ROG Armoury Crate software.
Additionally, the laptop's charging adapter is relatively compact and easy to carry around, making it convenient to charge the laptop on the go. While battery life may not be a standout feature, it's sufficient for most users, especially considering the high-performance hardware inside. The fast-charging capability is a welcome addition, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when you're in a hurry. Overall, the battery life on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is acceptable for a gaming laptop.
Connectivity
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 offers a wide range of connectivity options. It includes multiple USB ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. The USB ports support the latest USB standards, allowing for fast data transfer speeds. The HDMI port allows you to connect the laptop to an external display, while the Ethernet port provides a stable and reliable internet connection. The laptop also supports Wi-Fi 6, which offers faster wireless speeds and improved network performance.
The placement of the ports is well-thought-out, with most of them located on the sides and back of the laptop. This helps to keep the cables out of the way and prevents clutter. The inclusion of an SD card reader would have been a nice addition, but it's not a deal-breaker. The laptop also supports Bluetooth, allowing you to connect wireless peripherals like mice, keyboards, and headphones. The combination of wired and wireless connectivity options makes the ASUS ROG Strix G15 a versatile device.
Furthermore, the laptop's Wi-Fi 6 support ensures that you can take full advantage of the latest wireless networking technologies. This is particularly important for gamers who rely on a stable and low-latency internet connection. The Ethernet port is also a valuable asset, providing a wired connection for even more reliable performance. The variety of USB ports allows you to connect multiple devices simultaneously, and the HDMI port makes it easy to connect to external displays for a more immersive gaming or working experience. Overall, the connectivity options on the ASUS ROG Strix G15 are comprehensive and well-suited for both gaming and productivity.
Value
The ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) offers excellent value for its price. It delivers exceptional performance, a stunning display, and a sleek design. While it may not be the cheapest gaming laptop on the market, it offers a compelling combination of features and performance that make it well worth the investment. Whether you're a gamer, content creator, or student, the ROG Strix G15 is a versatile device that can handle a wide range of tasks.
The competition in the gaming laptop market is fierce, but the ASUS ROG Strix G15 stands out with its powerful hardware, high-quality display, and robust build quality. The combination of an AMD Ryzen processor and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics card ensures that it can handle even the most demanding games and applications with ease. The high refresh rate display provides a smooth and immersive gaming experience, and the customizable RGB lighting adds a touch of personalization.
In conclusion, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 (2021) is a top-tier gaming laptop that offers a compelling combination of performance, features, and value. While there are other options available, the ROG Strix G15 stands out as a well-rounded and capable device that is sure to satisfy even the most demanding users. If you're in the market for a new gaming laptop, the ASUS ROG Strix G15 is definitely worth considering.
