Republic of Gamers (ROG) has always been a constant presence in the gaming laptop scene, with lineups catered to different play preferences and demands. At their most powerful, the devices offer the best there is from Intel, AMD, and Nvidia – be it Intel Core Ultra processors, the Ryzen 9000 lineup or GeForce RTX 40 Series GPUs.
Going into CES 2025, the biggest tech event in the world, ROG is stepping up its game. Enter the brand’s latest range of laptops for the year, powered by the newly announced RTX 50 Series graphics card and Nvidia Blackwell chip that work to deliver enhanced graphics fidelity. Packing more AI horsepower than before, it features support for Nvidia DLSS 4 and grants access to NVIDIA Studio and NIM microservices, which are AI models designed for building AI assistants, agents, and workflows on NIM-ready systems.
Boasting up to an RTX 5090 GPU, the ROG Strix refresh spans the Strix Scar 16 and 18, as well as the Strix G16 and G18. The next-gen Intel Core 9 275HX processor is available on the former two with 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, while the Strix G16 and G18 tout an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D and Ryzen 9 9955HX processor, respectively, plus 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage.
Display-wise, users can expect a mini LED WQXGA resolution (2,560 x 1,600), a 240Hz refresh rate, and a 0.3-second response time across all four models, with a dual-layer ACR film reducing reflections by 55 per cent and boosting contrast by 4.5 times for improved visibility. Other notable features include a tri-fan cooling solution, paired with seven heat pipes with full-surround vents and a full-width heatsink, a 90Wh battery capacity, and generous connectivity options.
The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 continue to be lean, mean gaming machines of the pack, tipping the scales at 1.5kg and 1.85kg respectively. The 14-inch device sports up to an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor and RTX 5080 GPU, alongside a Nebula Display OLED panel with 3K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 0.2-millisecond response time, and Nvidia G-Sync support. It also features an AMD Ryzen AI NPU, short for Neural Processing Unit, under the hood.
Meanwhile, the Zephyrus G16 comes in two configurations – up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor and an RTX 5090 GPU, or up to an AMD Ryzen AI 7 350 chip and an RTX 5070 graphics card. Both models have different NPUs (Intel AI Boost versus AMD Ryzen AI), but share the same display specifications: Nebula Display OLED tech, 2.5K resolution, a refresh rate of 240Hz, a 0.2-millisecond response time, and support for Nvidia G-Sync.
Serving as the middle ground between portability and performance, the ROG Flow Z13 now ships with the new AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor, Radeon 8060S graphics card, and 50 TOPS of NPU compute power. It also introduces a unified quad-channel memory design that distributes up to 128GB of RAM across both the CPU and GPU cores, with a redesigned vapour chamber offering improved cooling efficiency and 54 per cent more coverage of the mainboard as compared to its predecessor.
Completing the convertible gaming laptop experience is a 13.4-inch ROG Nebula display – touting a 16:10 aspect ratio, WQXGA resolution, and a 180Hz refresh rate – alongside a robust selection of ports, including a 200W charging port, a dedicated HDMI slot, and dual USB-A and USB-C ports with USB4 support.
Last but not least, ROG has upgraded the XG Mobile for its 2025 slate. The external GPU-slash-dock is compatible with Thunderbolt 5, allowing it to power devices boasting Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4 and USB4 capabilities. It can be outfitted with either an RTX 5090 or RTX 5070 Ti graphics card, accompanying a new design featuring an off-black semi-transparent casing and a stainless steel vapour chamber.
According to the company, the 956-gram chassis is 25.4 per cent smaller and 18.2 per cent lighter than the previous iteration, which makes it easier to lug around for travel. Like before, there will be no shortage of connectivity options available, with the full list as follows:
- 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
- 1x Thunderbolt 5 Type-C
- 1x card reader
- 1x HDMI 2.1
- 1x DP 2.1
- 1x RJ-45 LAN port (5G)
- 1x DC input jack
Details about local availability, configurations, and pricing for the ROG Strix and Zephryus laptops, as well as the ROG Flow Z13 and XG Mobile, will be announced later.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Kevin Low
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