ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 Ultimate Review: The definitive 16-inch gaming laptop

Forget hulking gaming rigs chained to desks. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025), armed with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090, screams portability without sacrificing face-melting performance. We wrestled with this beast for six weeks, pushing it to its limits. Can this thin-and-light champion truly deliver a top-tier gaming experience? Is it worth emptying your wallet? We’re diving deep to find out, but be warned: value is in the eye of the beholder (and the size of their bank account).

Dropping $4,600 on a laptop? Yeah, the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 with its fire-breathing RTX 5090 (120W GPU) isn’t for the faint of wallet. We’re talking top-tier gaming rig here, a machine that laughs in the face of maxed-out settings. Is it priced for the masses? Absolutely not. But if you’re hunting for the absolute cutting edge, the kind of performance that makes other laptops weep with envy, then buckle up. This review is your deep dive into the glorious excess of the Zephyrus G16. Let’s unleash the beast.

Table of Contents

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Specs
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Hardware and Design
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Display
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Performance
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Software
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Battery Life and Charging
Should you buy the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 (GU605CX-XS98)?

Specs

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 (GU605CX-XS98)

Display

| | | | — | — | | Size | 16 Inches | | Type | 2.5K (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) OLED | | Aspect Ratio | 16:10 | | Response Time | 0.2ms | | Refresh Rate | 240Hz |

Processor

| | | | — | — | | CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H 2.9GHz | | NPU | Intel AI Boost NPU up to 13 TOPS |

Graphics

| | | | — | — | | GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU |

Software

| | | | — | — | | OS | Windows 11 Pro |

Memory

| | | | — | — | | RAM | 64GB LPDDR5X 7467 on board | | Storage | 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe™ M.2 SSD |

Power

Audio

Connectivity

| | | | — | — | | Network and Communication | Wi-Fi 7(802.11be) (Triple band) 2*2 + Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Card (*Bluetooth version may change with OS version different.) | | I/O Ports | 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C support DisplayPort / power delivery / G-SYNC, 1x Thunderbolt 4 support DisplayPort / power delivery, 1x card reader (SD) (UHS-II, 312MB/s) |

Hardware and Design

View Device Specs

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Hardware and Design

Forget the spaceship monstrosities of yesteryear. Remember those gaming laptops that looked like they’d been ripped straight from a Transformers set? ASUS has thankfully evolved. While I’ve cringed at some of their past designs, the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 is a knockout. Forget gaudy vents and aggressive angles. This isn’t just the best-looking gaming laptop ASUS offers; it’s the best-looking, period.

Forget flashy, rainbow hues. This machine whispers power, not screams it. Clad in a cool, matte-finished metal, it’s as comfortable dominating a virtual battlefield as it is commanding a boardroom presentation. That’s the beauty of its design – understated elegance. Beyond the subtle glow of the backlit keyboard, RGB is banished. Call me a rebel, but I applaud ASUS’s audacity to defy the trend. Instead, a single, crisp white LED bar slashes diagonally across the lid – a minimalist statement that can be extinguished altogether. The result? A wolf in sheep’s clothing, a gaming titan disguised as a professional workhorse. It’s the kind of stealth that makes this laptop truly exceptional.

The Platinum White model is a study in understated elegance. The exterior shimmers with a whisper of silver, while opening it reveals a clean, matte white interior. The color harmony extends to the matching white keys and a generously-sized trackpad, creating a cohesive and visually stunning experience.

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The huge trackpad is awesome

The trackpad? Think runway, not postage stamp. Its generous dimensions redefine laptop navigation. For once, ditching the mouse for extended periods feels natural, liberating even. Dragging files and navigating complex workflows become fluid and effortless, thanks to the expansive surface area. Then there’s the power button: a seemingly insignificant detail elevated to a touch of luxury with its glass construction. It’s a small thing, yes, but that deliberate design choice speaks volumes about the overall commitment to a premium experience.

Top-tier build quality

The Zephyrus G16’s design screams premium, but ASUS backs up those visuals with rock-solid construction. This isn’t just a pretty face; it feels as luxurious as it looks. The chassis is a masterclass in build quality. The lid possesses a calculated flex, a touch of give that enhances, not compromises, its resilience. One-handed opening? Effortless. The G16 is a testament to design and durability in perfect harmony.

This thing is built like a tank; not a single squeak or groan emerges, even under pressure. The keys? A typist’s dream. Hours melt away as fingers dance across them, each keystroke delivering a deeply satisfying "thock" that’s music to the ears without being disruptive. Spacious and accommodating, the layout banishes cramped hands and unlocks a truly liberating typing experience.

The 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 laughs in the face of port limitations. ASUS squeezed every conceivable connection onto this razor-thin chassis like a tech-savvy contortionist. On the right, a USB-A and USB-C tandem stand ready, flanking a full-sized SD card slot for content creators on the go. The left side mirrors the USB arrangement, adding a legacy headphone jack for purists and a full-sized HDMI 2.1, future-proofing your external display needs. And, of course, the power port, because even digital athletes need to recharge. It’s a masterclass in efficient design, proving you don’t need bulk to be connected.

No toolless bottom panel

The ROG Zephyrus G16 is sleek and powerful, but it’s missing one key element: the toolless bottom panel. ASUS nailed it with the ROG Strix G18, and its absence here feels like a missed opportunity. Popping open the G16 isn’t difficult, but it does require the right tools a frustrating hurdle if you don’t already have them. It adds an extra step of finding, buying, and waiting, putting a damper on immediate upgrades or maintenance.

SSD upgrades are still on the table once you crack open the chassis. Sadly, the RAM is soldered tight, nixing any dreams of easy upgrades. Not a deal-breaker, but a feature I hoped ASUS would’ve kept in the mix.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Display

The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) boasts a stunning OLED display that’s easy on the eyes. While it might not be a full 4K experience, its 2.5K resolution is a surprisingly clever choice. Why? Battery life. A power-hungry 4K panel would have ravaged the already-tenuous battery, especially when that discrete GPU is roaring. Think of it as a devil’s bargain: breathtaking visuals balanced against unplugged freedom. Tame the GPU beast, though, and you might just squeeze out a decent run time.

Plugged in and ready to rock? Unleash the OLED’s brilliance! Crank that brightness to eleven and prepare for a visual feast.Borderlands 4‘s chaotic beauty exploded off the screen – a symphony of vibrant hues and dazzling effects brought to life. That OLED magic comes with a caveat: glare. Angle is everything; position is paramount to avoid unwanted reflections.

But the real kicker? This panel screams with a 240Hz refresh rate. In games that push those frame rates, prepare for buttery-smooth visuals. Assuming your graphics settings are dialed in, expect liquid motion. I consistently hit 400-500 nits – more than enough punch for immersive gameplay. Planning on taking this show outdoors? Seek out the shadows for optimal viewing.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Performance

Okay, here’s a revised take:

Truthfully, stuffing an RTX 5090 into the Zephyrus G16 gave me pause. I’d never truly put a Zephyrus through a marathon gaming session, and its razor-thin profile screamed thermal compromise. Could ASUS really unleash the full potential of a 120W RTX 5090 laptop GPU without hitting a performance wall? I was eager to find out.

Even though this laptop isn’t hitting its maximum power potential, its performance has been consistently mind-blowing. I threw everything at it, including the notoriously demanding Borderlands 4, and it didn’t flinch. Some players with powerhouse PCs are struggling with that game, likely a mix of optimization issues and Unreal Engine 5 quirks. I’ve personally had a smooth experience across multiple machines, but to be fair, DLSS and frame generation were enabled. In Borderlands 4’s case, any performance hiccups likely stem from the game itself, not this machine’s capabilities. Still, it’s a crucial detail worth mentioning.

In-game performance

Borderlands 4

Cranking Borderlands 4’s settings to "badass" on the ROG Zephyrus G16, I was floored. With multi-frame generation dialed to 4x, the game roared to life at a blistering 120-130 fps, often surging past 140. Without that tech boost, max settings became a stuttering slideshow. Sure, you could dial things back, but why settle for "good enough"? Multi-frame generation unlocks visual nirvana without sacrificing silky-smooth gameplay. Purists might scoff at its "artificial" nature, but honestly, who cares? When eye-popping graphics meet liquid motion, it’s a win, plain and simple. This laptop turns Borderlands 4 into a visual feast, and that’s all that matters.

Black Myth: Wukong

Beyond the Borderlands 4 frenzy, I pushed other visually stunning titles to their limits, and the results were impressive. Black Myth: Wukong, cranked to its cinematic (maximum) graphics settings, delivered a solid 70-80 FPS in most scenarios. That’s with multi-frame generation at 4x. Wukong’s graphical fidelity is insane, so the dip from Borderlands 4 was expected, though I’ll admit, I anticipated a bit more oomph. Interestingly, my frame rates were actuallylowerthan what I experienced on the ROG Strix G18, sporting an RTX 5080. The culprit? Thermal headroom, plain and simple. The Strix G18 is a behemoth, packing serious cooling power within its larger frame. Plus, its RTX 5080 boasts a 175W TDP, overshadowing the Zephyrus G16’s 120W 5090. Honestly, no surprises there.

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077: The New Crysis? This laptop had to face the neon-drenched streets of Night City. If Crysis once brought gaming PCs to their knees, Cyberpunk 2077 now holds that crown for modern gaming machines. Cranking everything to eleven, the ROG Zephyrus G16 didn’t just survive, it thrived. Path tracing on, DLSS multi-frame generation at 4x – the Zephyrus G16 delivered a surprisingly smooth 72-74 FPS average, with occasional bursts even higher. Combat felt fluid, the visuals stunning. Want more frames? Toning down the settings unlocks even smoother gameplay, but honestly, at 70+ FPS with eye-melting graphics, why bother? Night City never looked so good.

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater and Wuchang: Fallen Feathers

Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eateron this machine? A locked 60 frames per second, delivered flawlessly. Visuals popped, performance remained rock solid.Wuchang: Fallen Feathers, cranked to the absolute maximum, DLSS and frame generation dialed up to 4x? A blistering 200+ frames per second. The result? Stunning visuals and impossibly smooth gameplay.

Cranking through demanding games, the laptop delivered stellar performance. However, be warned: the cooling fans sing a rather loud chorus. My solution? A trusty gaming headset instantly silences the whir. Speaker users have options too: blast the built-in speakers, or better yet, hook up a soundbar and really pump up the volume. This mostly works, though a faint fan hum persists. It’s the price you pay for maximized graphics and frame rates on a gaming laptop. Beyond real-world gameplay, we unleashed a suite of benchmark tests. While your mileage may vary, these scores offer a solid glimpse into the laptop’s raw power.

Benchmarks

To truly gauge the ROG Zephyrus G16’s silicon prowess, we subjected it to a gauntlet of industry-standard benchmarks. First, Geekbench 6 and Cinebench stress-tested the CPU’s mettle, revealing its raw processing power. Then, we unleashed Geekbench 6 upon the GPU, followed by a barrage of 3DMark’s most demanding tests. The Zephyrus G16 battled its way through the visually stunning Speed Way, the brutal Steel Nomad, and the ever-reliable Time Spy, giving us a comprehensive picture of its graphical capabilities.

| Laptop | Cinebench Single-Core | Cinebench Multi-Core | | — | — | — | | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 | 124 | 1,173 | | ASUS ROG Strix G18 | 134 | 2,032 | | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | 135 | 1,879 | | ASUS ProArt P16 | 116 | 1,142 |

Cinebench

The ROG Zephyrus G16 2025: A Cinebench Story. Its single-core CPU performance clocked in at 124 points. While trailing behind the ROG Strix G18 and Lenovo Legion Pro 7i (sporting RTX 5080s) by a mere 10 and 11 points respectively, remember this: those behemoths boast significantly larger chassis and higher wattage GPUs designed for superior airflow. But the Zephyrus G16 flexes its portability muscle, achieving a respectable 1,173 in the multi-core CPU test. Considering its lightweight design, the G16 punches above its weight, delivering genuinely impressive in-game frame rates across the board. This isn’t just about raw numbers; it’s about power in a sleek package.

| Laptop | Geekbench Single-Core | Geekbench Multi-Core | Geekbench GPU | | — | — | — | — | | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 | 2,821 | 17,006 | 195,893 | | ASUS ROG Strix G18 | 2,946 | 18,945 | 203,350 | | Lenovo Legion Pro 7i | 2,852 | 13,878 | 117,636 | | ASUS ProArt P16 | 2,764 | 13,614 | 43,556 |

Geekbench 6

The laptop faced the gauntlet of Geekbench 6, its silicon heart and graphics engine put to the test. The CPU, in a sprint, clocked a respectable 2,821 in the single-core benchmark. Unleashing its full potential, the multi-core score surged to an impressive 17,006. The GPU, however, truly stole the show, blazing through the compute tasks to achieve a stunning score of 195,893.

3D Mark Tests

Let’s dissect those 3DMark scores, shall we? First up, Speed Way – a ray tracing gauntlet. The ROG Zephyrus clocked in at 5,237. Next, Steel Nomad, a test that pushes hardware to its limits, yielded a score of 4,868. Finally, Time Spy, a DirectX 12 benchmark, resulted in a score of 17,734. The verdict? These numbers are impressive. While not record-breaking, they place the Zephyrus firmly in the upper echelons of performance. More importantly, these scores translate to a buttery-smooth gaming experience across a wide range of titles.

Battery Life

To gauge unplugged stamina, I pushed this laptop to its limit, mirroring the methodology I used with the ROG Strix G18. I throttled performance, dialing the operating mode to "Silent" and the GPU to "Eco," while keeping the screen and keyboard backlight blazing at maximum brightness. After a week of real-world, workday usage, the verdict? Expect roughly 4 hours of untethered productivity before hunting for an outlet.

While it edges out the ROG Strix G18 in battery life – a predictable win given its smaller display and lower power draw – don’t expect all-day freedom. Need serious unplugged time? You’ll have to get creative. Dim the screen, kill the keyboard backlighting, and you might squeeze out an extra hour, perhaps even a few. The silver lining? If your laptop usage is intermittent – think a student juggling classes with downtime – youmightjust make it through the day. Still, pack that charger. Better safe than sorry.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Software

Firing up this ROG laptop feels familiar, like slipping into a well-worn mech suit. It’s Windows 11, alright, but the real command center is Armoury Crate. This is where you’ll fine-tune your war machine: crank up the fans to a roaring frenzy, unleash the GPU’s savage potential, and tweak a constellation of other settings. Think of it as mission control. Now, you might remember my deep dive into the ROG Strix G18. The core software experience here mirrors that one, save for a neat little trick: you can orchestrate the lid’s light bar. While the Strix G18 pulsed with RGB brilliance around its base, this subtle difference offers a touch more customization. Ultimately, the software is exactly what you’d expect: a seamless, user-friendly Windows 11 experience, honed to a razor’s edge for gaming domination.

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Armoury Crate is where you can tune and adjust performance and lighting

Armoury Crate: ASUS’s central hub is surprisingly user-friendly, offering a decent data stream at a glance. CPU and GPU vitals? Check. Fan speeds under control? Absolutely. Aura Sync RGB lighting begging for your artistic flair? Naturally. Macro creation is also present, but honestly, peripheral software reigns supreme for me in that department. Game library integration? A neat idea, letting you consolidate launchers. However, I find myself gravitating towards the native clients anyway why add an extra layer? Still, a unified game view is a plus for those who crave order. In the end, Armoury Crate delivered a stable experience, proving to be a reliable, if not revolutionary, piece of software.

Customizing the Slash Lighting

The laptop lid’s LED light bar? That’s the Slash Lighting, and it’s begging for a personal touch. Dive into the customization options and you’ll find a playground of effects. We’re talking pre-set themes, each bursting with at least four distinct animations, plus a classic static glow if you’re feeling minimalist. Want to keep the light show going when unplugged? You can, but beware – enabling Slash Lighting on battery power is a quick route to empty. Proceed with caution if you value longevity.

This laptop boasts a visual flourish, a dazzling display mostly for onlookers. While you, the user, remain oblivious to its charm, the effect adds a touch of undeniable panache. Gimmicky? Perhaps. Cool? Absolutely, if you crave that extra spark of head-turning style.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 Ultimate Review: Battery Life and Charging

Out of the box, the ROG Zephyrus G16 2025’s battery life might leave you wanting, barely pushing past a few hours. But don’t resign yourself to constant charging just yet. A few tweaks can drastically improve its stamina. The most impactful? Taming the dedicated GPU. By switching to integrated graphics for less demanding tasks like research, studying, or streaming videos, you can potentially unlock 8-10 hours of battery life. Suddenly, that all-day workload feels a lot more manageable.

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Unleash the ROG Zephyrus G16’s gaming prowess at your own risk when unplugged. While tempting to dive into demanding titles, prepare for a rapid battery depletion. For sustained, untethered play, stick to lighter, less resource-intensive games – think retro classics, not cutting-edge blockbusters.

However, for everyday productivity, the Zephyrus G16 shines. By disabling the dedicated GPU, I squeezed an impressive 9 hours of battery life, with the screen at 50% brightness and keyboard backlight off. Recharging is lightning-fast, taking just over an hour to go from zero to full.

Armed with a 90Wh battery and a 240W power adapter, the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 offers respectable unplugged freedom. Just remember to manage your power wisely and tailor your settings to match the task at hand. With the right tweaks, it’s a road warrior ready for anything.

Should you buy the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 (GU605CX-XS98)?

The ultimate decision boils down to this: are you willing to trade sheer portability for raw power? Cheaper, high-performance laptops exist, but prepare to lug around a beast. Think hefty 18-inch screens or bulkier 16-inch models. Sure, a backpack can handle the weight, but are you ready for that daily grind on your shoulders?

Craving ultimate portability without sacrificing power? The ROG Zephyrus G16 2025, armed with a top-tier GPU, delivers exactly that. Prepare to open your wallet, though. This level of engineering in such a slim chassis commands a premium. Think of it as trading a sliver of raw performance for unparalleled convenience. Yes, a chunkier, more aggressively cooled machine might squeeze out a few extra frames, but you’ll be lugging a behemoth. The Zephyrus G16 offers a sweet spot: potent gaming capabilities wrapped in a design that begs to be taken everywhere. If you value sleekness as much as sheer horsepower, and you’re prepared to invest, the Zephyrus G16 awaits.

You should buy the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 (GU605CX-XS98) if:

You want a really powerful gaming laptop
You’re looking for a gaming laptop that’s more portable and doesn’t weigh a lot
The price tag really isn’t a factor in your choice

You shouldn’t buy the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 2025 (GU605CX-XS98) if:

You’re looking for something even smaller and more portable
You don’t want to spend over $4,000
You want something with better performance and don’t mind it being bigger

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