A new laptop in the Republic of Gamers (ROG) line simply means one thing – raw performance for a versatile powerhouse focused on content creation that will also leave gamers awestruck, with its focus on video editing, design capabilities, and performance capabilities.
The ROG Zephyrus M16 (GU603) is a machine that’s not just able to support professional-level content creation, it is also capable of running high-end games, with a powerful engine housed inside a sleek, ultra-slim chassis.
Coming in at 35.5cm x 24.3cm x 1.99cm, and weighing a mere 1.9kg, this Windows 10 Home (with a free upgrade to Windows 11) laptop is decked out with a 16-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) display, at a 16:10 aspect ratio, and 165Hz refresh rate, with Dolby Vision support. The visuals are crisp and sharp, and offers such a high level of colour accuracy that it’s Pantone validated. Not only that, the gray-to-gray response time of 3ms means that the display is one of the most responsive in the market, which is perfect for running high resolution videos and showcasing sharp details and colours from photographs, making the ROG Zephyrus M16 a portable workhorse that can be used anywhere, and brought anywhere.
As if the panel isn’t impressive enough on its own, it is framed by the world’s first four-sided super-narrow bezels on a portable device, offering an amazing 94% screen-to-body ratio that brings about deeper immersion, allowing anything on the display pop out vibrantly, as if the images and video seem to bleed right into reality, rather than being confined within the box-like frame of the bezels.
The gears that power the ROG Zephyrus M16 include the super-fast Intel Core i7-11800H Processor 2.3 GHz (24M Cache, up to 4.6 GHz, 8 Cores), advanced NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics, 16GB DDR4 RAM, and 1TB M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD. That is more than sufficient for most intense video editing, professional photo editing and gaming needs, but for those who want more, they can choose to get up to 48GB of DDR4-3200 RAM and 2TB of storage. However, performing any upgrades to the laptop may void your original manufacturer warranty, so it is something that’s best suited for those who really know what they want specifically in their machine.
The hardware combination makes the Zephyrus M16 adept at content creation, whether its video editing on Adobe Premiere, or editing high resolution photos on Photoshop.
For gamers, the 3070 is capable of 60 FPS at 4K performance, making it ripe for the latest AAA games, including first-person shooters and action-adventure titles, for maximum performance on the QHD display. Combine both, and you can opt to stream your sessions via Twitch with the built-in 720p camera, or edit your own recorded videos, for use on YouTube to build your gaming credentials.
Expect studio quality sound when it comes to audio, with two-way AI noise-cancelling technology, Dolby Atmos, and Smart Amp technology, that allows the laptop to form its own soundscape. This is 3D sound that adds to the immersion further, as the four 2W woofers with Smart Amp technology and two 2W tweeters make this laptop an audio force to be reckoned with. Unwanted audio from both input and output are removed, optimising both voice chats and sound recordings. It is also customisable on a per-app basis so the noise-cancelling won’t affect gamers who want to hear all the in-game sounds fully.
Make no mistake, this six-speaker sound system with dual force-cancelling woofers and a 3D mic array is going to be a winner for audio engineers, musicians, and audiophiles.
Given how much the Zephyrus M16 can do, its battery life comes as a pleasant surprise. Capable of 10 hours of video playback, and with a 90Whz battery with fast-charging capability, this is a huge amount of power made truly portable.
The focus on comfort and ease of use is also a testament to ROG’s attention to detail. The Stealth Type keyboard has a desktop-style layout that will feel familiar to gamers and content creators alike, all while keeping the typing noise level below 30dB. The size of the touchpad has also increased by 20% compared to the previous generation, while the faster processing makes for greater accuracy using the touchpad. This makes it easy to take to the Zephyrus M16, which is an underrated design touch.
ROG’s trademark RGB stylistic accent is also unmistakably present with the backlit chiclet keyboard. This serves as a nice contrast to the sleek off-black colour of the chassis. Neither style nor substance is compromised here.
Ports-wise, there is one microSD card slot, one RJ45 LAN port, one Thunderbolt 4 DisplayPort, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C DisplayPort, one 3.5mm audio jack, and one HDMI 2.0b port.
Retailing at S$3,798, this is a strong contender for those looking for an upgrade, or looking to get a laptop that can handle robust content creation, with a side dish of high-end gaming, or both.
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Brandon shapeshifts between being a nerd and a geek like Mystique, but with fewer options. He reads an unhealthy amount of comics and manga, while playing a healthy amount of board games and video games.
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