Who Is This For?
The ROG Strix G16 is a dedicated gaming laptop that doesn’t pretend to be anything else. It’s built for gamers who want:
- High-refresh competitive gaming: 240Hz means buttery-smooth action in Valorant, CS2, and Fortnite
- AAA gaming at native QHD+: the RTX 5070 Ti Laptop handles Cyberpunk 2077, Alan Wake 2, and Starfield at high settings
- A desktop replacement: plugged in at a desk most of the time, with the option to move it
If you need a laptop for school or work during the day and gaming at night, consider the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i instead. It has a webcam and better battery life.
Gaming Performance
| Game | Settings | FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | QHD+, Ultra, DLSS Quality | 95 fps |
| Fortnite | QHD+, Epic | 180 fps |
| Starfield | QHD+, High | 72 fps |
| Baldur’s Gate 3 | QHD+, Ultra | 88 fps |
| CS2 | QHD+, High | 300+ fps |
Display
The 16-inch QHD+ (2560x1600) IPS panel is a standout. 240Hz refresh rate with a 3ms response time means zero perceivable ghosting. Color accuracy is solid at 100% sRGB, though creators who need wide gamut should look at OLED options.
Battery Life
Don’t buy a gaming laptop for battery life, but for the record: expect 4-5 hours of web browsing and video, dropping to under 2 hours while gaming. The 90 Wh cell is reasonable for the class but can’t overcome the power-hungry CPU and GPU.
The Bottom Line
The ROG Strix G16 is a focused gaming machine at a competitive price. If gaming performance per dollar is your priority and you don’t mind the weight or missing webcam, it’s hard to beat in the $1,500-$2,000 range.