Welcome, gamers and tech enthusiasts, to a deep dive into what might be the most audacious gaming laptop of the year. Picture this: a machine that you can upgrade without even touching a screwdriver, a laptop that doesn’t just top the performance charts but completely rewrites them, and a device that blasts out a glorious, almost ridiculous, 360-degree wave of RGB lighting. ASUS has clearly decided that subtlety is overrated.

The machine in question is the brand-new ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025). ASUS has a reputation for pushing the boundaries, and they’ve packed this laptop with features that seem to scream “more is more.” From the customizable AniMe Vision lid to the record-shattering CPU performance, the Scar 16 is designed to be the undisputed king of the hill.

But with great power comes a great price tag. So, we’re here to answer the big question: Is the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 a revolutionary leap forward in portable gaming, a true powerhouse worth its premium cost? Or is it just an overpriced, albeit spectacular, glow stick? Let’s break it down in this comprehensive review.

Key Specifications at a Glance

Before we dive deep, here’s a quick look at the powerhouse specs of our review unit:

• Model: ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025) G635
• CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24 Cores / 24 Threads)
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop (24GB GDDR7, 162-175W TGP)
• RAM: 64GB (2x 32GB) DDR5-5600 (Upgradable to DDR5-6400)
• Display: 16-inch QHD+ (2560 x 1600) 16:10 Mini-LED, 240Hz, 10-bit color, 2000+ dimming zones, Pantone Validated
• Storage: 2TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD (2x M.2 slots with PCIe Gen 5 support)
• Networking: Wi-Fi 7, 2.5Gb Ethernet
• Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 5 (USB-C), 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x 2.5GbE LAN, 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack
• Battery: 90Wh
• Weight: 6.13 lbs (2.78 kg) | Travel Weight (with charger): 8.34 lbs (3.78 kg)
• Dimensions: 13.94″ x 10.55″ x 0.9″-1.21″ (35.4cm x 26.8cm x 2.28cm-3.08cm)

Design and Build: A Symphony of Light and Metal

The moment you lay eyes on the Scar 16, it makes a statement. Forget understated designs; this laptop is an RGB light show. The star of the spectacle is the 360-degree light bar that wraps around the front and sides of the chassis, creating a stunning underglow effect that reflects beautifully off your desk. It’s customizable, vibrant, and unapologetically “gamer.”

But the light show doesn’t stop there. The lid features the iconic ROG logo, which is, of course, RGB-lit. More uniquely, ASUS has brought back its AniMe Vision technology, a customizable micro-LED matrix that spans a diagonal slash across the lid. You can program it to display animated GIFs, text, system info, or custom images. It’s a fantastic way to flex on people walking by, though you’ll only really see it yourself when the lid is closed.

In terms of build, the Scar 16 feels solid and well-constructed. The lid is made of cool-to-the-touch metal, while the interior and bottom panel are a high-quality, sturdy plastic. The all-black finish gives it a sleek, aggressive look that complements the RGB.

We put it through the usual flex tests:

• Lid and Keyboard Flex: There’s only minor flex when pushing down hard on the keyboard deck or twisting the lid. It’s a very rigid chassis that inspires confidence.
• Hinges: The hinges are firm and sturdy. The screen doesn’t wobble when typing, and the laptop opens easily with one finger, demonstrating a well-balanced weight distribution.

Overall, the build quality is premium, exactly what you’d expect from a flagship ROG laptop.

Portability: A Heavyweight Contender

While the performance is top-tier, portability takes a bit of a hit. The Scar 16 is on the thicker and heavier side for a 16-inch machine.

• Dimensions: 13.94″ (W) x 10.55″ (D) x 0.9″-1.21″ (H) / 35.4cm x 26.8cm x 2.28cm-3.08cm
• Weight: The laptop alone weighs 6.13 lbs (2.78 kg). Add the massive 380W charger, and the total travel weight climbs to 8.34 lbs (3.78 kg).

As our comparison charts show, this makes the Scar 16 the heaviest 16-inch gaming laptop we’ve tested in the last couple of years. It’s heavier than competitors like the Razer Blade 16 and even the Dell G16. Only the colossal 18-inch beasts weigh more. While it’s not the most travel-friendly option, the weight is a direct consequence of the powerful components and robust cooling system packed inside.

Ports and I/O: A Mixed Bag for Lefties

ASUS has opted for a side-heavy port layout, which is great for right-handed mouse users but could be problematic for left-handers.

On the left side, you’ll find the majority of the I/O:

• Rectangular power input
• 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port
• HDMI 2.1 output
• 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port
• 2x Thunderbolt 5 Type-C ports (with DisplayPort and up to 100W power delivery)
• 3.5mm combo audio jack

On the right side:

• 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports

There are no ports on the back, as the entire rear is dedicated to thermal exhaust. The two Thunderbolt 5 ports are a welcome, future-proof addition. Crucially, all three display outputs (HDMI and both USB-C ports) connect directly to the NVIDIA GPU, bypassing Optimus for maximum performance on external displays. For left-handed gamers, plugging in multiple peripherals on the left could create a cluttered mousing area.

Keyboard, Touchpad, and Audio

The typing experience on the Scar 16 is excellent. The chiclet keyboard features per-key RGB backlighting, with both primary and secondary functions clearly illuminated. The key presses are satisfyingly tactile and clicky, a noticeable improvement over the mushier keys on some competitors like the Aorus Master 16.

The large glass touchpad is equally impressive. It’s incredibly smooth, responsive, and clicks down anywhere on its surface (though it’s firmer at the top). It also includes ASUS’s virtual NumberPad, which you can activate by pressing the top-right corner—a handy feature for data entry.

Audio is handled by a four-speaker setup with Dolby Atmos support. Two speakers fire upwards from above the keyboard, and two are located on the bottom front. The sound quality is great—clear, loud, with a surprising amount of bass and no noticeable chassis vibration or distortion even at high volumes.

Upgradability: The Tool-less Revolution!

This is where the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 truly innovates and earns major praise. You can get inside to access the core components without any tools.

Here’s the simple process:

1. Slide a small notch on the bottom panel.
2. Pull the front of the panel forward and lift it off.

That’s it. You’re in. This revolutionary design makes upgrading RAM and storage an absolute breeze. Inside, you’ll find:

• Two M.2 SSD slots, both supporting blazing-fast PCIe Gen 5 speeds. Our unit came with one occupied, leaving another free for easy storage expansion.
• Two user-accessible RAM slots. Our unit was maxed out, but upgrading is simple.
• ASUS’s Q-Latch system for the M.2 slots, which replaces tiny, easy-to-lose screws with a simple plastic rotating latch.

This is the most user-friendly upgrade process we’ve ever seen on a gaming laptop. All other brands need to take note and copy this design. The only component that requires tools to access is the Wi-Fi card, which is hidden under a secondary internal panel that needs 16 screws to remove. However, since the laptop already ships with a top-of-the-line Intel Wi-Fi 7 card, you likely won’t ever need to change it.

Performance Benchmarks: A New King is Crowned

Our review unit was a top-spec beast, and it delivered performance that consistently set new records in our lab.

CPU Performance (Cinebench 2024)

The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX in the Scar 16 is a monster. In the Cinebench 2024 multi-core test, it achieved a score of 2,201, breaking our previous record and scoring over 5% higher than the Aorus Master 16 equipped with the same processor. This is a testament to the Scar 16’s superior cooling and power delivery, which allows the CPU to sustain higher clock speeds for longer.

Gaming Performance

In games, the story was much the same. The RTX 5090, running at its full 175W power limit, delivered chart-topping results across the board.

• Cyberpunk 2077: At 4K native Ultra settings, the Scar 16 was the fastest laptop we’ve tested. At 1440p, it maintained a healthy lead over other RTX 5090 laptops and was significantly faster than last-gen RTX 4090 machines.
• Alan Wake 2: Again, the Scar 16 delivered the best performance at 4K native high settings. The gap was smaller at lower resolutions, but it consistently remained at or near the top of the charts.
• Black Myth: Wukong: The Scar 16 led the pack at 4K and 1440p, showcasing its ability to handle the latest, most demanding titles with ease.

Across all titles, the Scar 16 proved that it’s a true flagship performer, capable of pushing extremely high frame rates even at demanding resolutions.

The Mini-LED Screen: Brilliant, Bright, and a Bit Bizarre

The Scar 16’s 16-inch QHD+ (2560×1600) 240Hz Mini-LED screen is, for the most part, absolutely stunning.

• Color and Accuracy: It boasts 100% sRGB, 86.7% AdobeRGB, and 99.8% DCI-P3 coverage, with a fantastic out-of-the-box Delta E of 1.34. It’s perfect for both gaming and color-critical creative work.
• Response Time: We measured a fast 4.45ms average grey-to-grey response time, which is excellent for a 240Hz panel and helps eliminate motion blur.
• Brightness: This is where things get interesting. ASUS advertises 1200 nits of peak brightness. In its “Multi Zone Strong” mode with Optimus on, we measured an incredible 1185 nits, making it the brightest SDR laptop screen we’ve ever tested.

However, we discovered a strange behavior. When disabling Optimus (to run on the NVIDIA GPU only), the screen brightness can spike to an almost blinding 2000 nits. This also causes the bottom of the screen to heat up by an extra 10°C. ASUS has confirmed this is a known issue, likely driver-related, and that the screen has protections to dim itself if it gets too hot. While 2000 nits is insane, you should expect the advertised 1200 nits for normal use.

The panel features over 2000 local dimming zones, which provide incredible contrast. However, like most Mini-LEDs, this can create a minor “halo” effect around bright objects on a dark background. Thankfully, ASUS provides a “One Zone” mode in the software, which disables the local dimming and makes the panel behave like a traditional (but still very high-quality) IPS display, eliminating the haloing if it bothers you.

Thermals and Fan Noise

With a three-fan, vapor chamber cooling system using liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU, the Scar 16 is built to handle the heat. And it does so exceptionally well.

Under a combined CPU and GPU stress test, the laptop’s surface temperatures remained impressively cool. The keyboard’s central hot spot barely reached the mid-30s (°C) in Turbo mode, thanks to a design that pulls cool air in through the keyboard deck. Fan noise was very reasonable for the performance on offer, sitting around 53.4 dBA in Turbo mode—quieter than many of its high-performance rivals.

The Verdict: Is the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025) Worth It?

The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 (2025) is an absolute triumph of engineering and a statement piece for any gamer who demands the best. It delivers chart-topping performance, introduces a game-changing tool-less upgrade system, and features a jaw-droppingly bright and beautiful screen.

So, is it worth the investment? If you are looking for the absolute pinnacle of mobile gaming performance in a 16-inch form factor, and you value innovative, user-friendly features like tool-less upgrades, then yes, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 16 is absolutely worth considering. It’s a heavy, expensive, and flashy machine, but it backs up its bold claims with performance that is, for now, unmatched.

---

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)