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Asus has started rolling out the 2026 ROG Strix G18 globally, and the easiest way to describe it is as a slightly toned-down version of the ridiculous ROG Strix Scar 18. It keeps the same 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor but tops out at an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU instead of the Scar’s RTX 5090. (via Notebookcheck)
The Mini LED model gets the best balance
The top-end RTX 5080 configuration gets an 18-inch Mini LED display similar to the one found on the Scar 18. Its resolution drops from 4K to 2560 x 1600, but the panel retains a 240Hz refresh rate and offers more than 2,000 local dimming zones, up to 1,200 nits of peak brightness, and full DCI-P3 coverage. The lower resolution is also a better match for the RTX 5080, giving the GPU more room to push high frame rates in demanding games without losing much sharpness on an 18-inch screen.
Lower-tier configurations, ranging from the RTX 5060 to the RTX 5070 Ti, use an 18-inch IPS-level panel with a 2560 x 1600 resolution and a 300Hz refresh rate. They give up Mini LED’s deeper blacks and stronger HDR, though the faster panel may appeal more to competitive players.
It is cheaper, but certainly not cheap
Asus has not cut back much on cooling. The Strix G18 uses three fans, an end-to-end vapor chamber, liquid metal, and a full-width heatsink. RAM and storage are easy to upgrade through the tool-free bottom panel, and the laptop supports up to 64GB of memory and two SSDs (one slot occupied).
The RTX 5080 model is currently available in the UK for £3,699 (~US$4,973) but has not appeared in the US yet. Asus only lists a $3,299.99 configuration there with an RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and the 300Hz IPS-level display. We expect the Mini LED model to reach the US soon, although Asus has not confirmed when it will arrive.
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