The ASUS Zephyrus G16 with the Intel Core i9-185H and RTX 4090 is a powerhouse that brings together cutting-edge performance, sleek design, and premium features in one compact package. Whether you’re a hardcore gamer, a content creator, or someone who needs a high-performance laptop for demanding tasks, this laptop promises to deliver. From its stunning QHD display to its next-level cooling system, the G16 pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in portable computing. But, with great power comes a hefty price tag—so, is it worth the investment? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of this beast and find out!
Pros:
- Top-tier performance with Intel Core i9-185H and RTX 4090 for gaming and content creation.
- Stunning QHD display (2560×1600, 240Hz) with Pantone color accuracy.
- Advanced cooling system for high-performance without throttling.
- Portable for its power (relatively thin and light).
- Good battery life (7-8 hours on light use).
- Premium build quality with an aluminum chassis.
- Future-proof with high-end components.
Cons:
- Expensive and premium pricing.
- No integrated webcam.
- Battery drains quickly under heavy use (gaming/rendering).
- Limited upgradeability due to compact design.
- Fan noise can be loud under heavy workloads.
- Heavy (2 kg / 4.4 lbs) compared to ultra-light laptops.
- Keyboard layout may feel cramped for some users.
Design and Build
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 has a minimalist design with some gaming accents, notably an illuminated strap on the lid that sets it apart. Its all-aluminum construction adds a premium feel and resists fingerprints effectively, making it convenient for various settings. The lid is thin yet stable, supported by a sturdy base that enhances the overall durability. Weighing 1.95 kg, the Zephyrus G16 is relatively light for a gaming laptop, catering to users who need portability. Its OLED display contributes to a sleek profile, with the thickness ranging from 14.9 to 16.4 mm. The lid opens smoothly with one hand, thanks to a well-calibrated hinge.
The display features thin bezels, adding a modern touch. A 1080p IR webcam at the top supports Windows Hello login, though it lacks a privacy shutter, which could be a consideration for some users. The bottom of the laptop has long rubber feet for stability, cutouts for tweeters, and a large ventilation grill. Its cooling system includes dual rear and three bottom vents, designed to maintain temperature control under heavy use.
The keyboard area has a clean, modern layout with rectangular shapes and a glass-covered power button. There are four multimedia keys separate from the main keyboard, including a quick-access key for the Armoury Crate app, a useful feature for gamers to adjust settings. Surrounding the keyboard are dual woofers that enhance audio. The keyboard offers a single backlighting color, large keycaps, and long key travel, which could be comfortable for extended use. The touchpad is notably large for a 16-inch laptop, providing ample space for navigation, while maintaining smooth responsiveness.
Ports
On the left side of the laptop, you have a power port for charging, an HDMI 2.1 port for connecting to external displays, and a Thunderbolt 4 port, which supports both DisplayPort 2.1 for video output and Power Delivery 3.0 for faster charging. There’s also a USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen 2) port for connecting devices, along with a combo audio jack for headphones or speakers.
On the right, there’s a USB Type-C 3.2 (Gen 2) port that supports DisplayPort 1.4 for external monitors and Power Delivery 3.0 for charging. You also get another USB Type-A 3.2 (Gen 2) port and an SD card slot for quick access to your photos and files.
Display
The Zephyrus G16’s 2.5K OLED display leverages pixel-level dimming for deep contrast and covers 100% of both sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces. This feature contributes to vibrant, color-accurate visuals suitable for gaming, media consumption, and content creation. The 240 Hz refresh rate aids smoothness, though the OLED panel employs PWM (pulse-width modulation) at a high 1 kHz frequency. Users can adjust the ‘OLED Flicker-Free Dimming’ slider in the Armoury Crate app to mitigate flickering effects
Cooling System and Upgrading
The G16 has soldered RAM, limiting upgrade options, though it comes equipped with 32GB LPDDR5x memory. Storage options are more flexible, with two M.2 Gen 4 SSD slots supporting up to 4TB. This model includes a 2TB SK Hynix Platinum P41 NVMe SSD, designed to maintain performance under load. Cooling configurations vary: the RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 models include a vapor chamber, while the RTX 4050, 4060, and 4070 versions utilize a three-fan design. A liquid metal application on the CPU aims to enhance cooling efficiency.
CPU Test
The Intel Core Ultra 9 185H in the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is a high-performance processor with 16 cores (6 performance and 10 efficient cores) and 22 threads. It operates with a base clock of 2.3 GHz and can turbo boost up to 5.1 GHz, providing solid power for demanding applications. With a base power of 45W and a max of 65W, it balances performance and power efficiency, making it well-suited for both gaming and professional workloads when paired with the RTX 4090 GPU.
In benchmarks, the Ultra 9 185H performs competitively, scoring 2,446 in Geekbench single-core and 12,016 in multi-core. In Cinebench R23, it achieves 1,809 in single-core and 18,559 in multi-core, showcasing its capability in multi-threaded tasks. In CrossMark, the processor performs well across content creation, productivity, and gaming, holding its own against the i9-13900H, although the latter is slightly ahead in productivity scores.
Rendering and creative work show similar results, with the Ultra 9 185H completing the Blender BMW27 benchmark in 12.5 seconds, just behind the i9-13900H’s 11.8 seconds. Adobe After Effects and Premiere Pro rendering times are also slightly slower but still competitive.
However, the Zephyrus G16’s performance is limited by its 115W TDP, which restricts power allocation compared to similarly priced laptops. Additionally, conflicting settings between Windows’ power management and the ROG Armoury Crate software can lead to occasional performance inconsistencies, impacting the processor’s overall reliability in heavy tasks.
GPU Test
With the RTX 4090 GPU, the G16 scores approximately 16,500 in 3DMark Time Spy, marking it as a high-tier gaming laptop. Its GPU can be boosted up to 175W, enhancing performance in demanding applications. The G16 manages older games like GTA V and Far Cry 5 comfortably at high frame rates in both QHD and 4K resolutions. In newer, graphically intensive games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3, frame rates may drop below 100 FPS at 4K ultra settings, where DLSS can help improve smoothness. The most demanding titles, such as F1 24 and Black Myth: Wukong, may require settings adjustments for optimal performance, especially at 4K.
Sound
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 delivers exceptional audio quality for a gaming laptop. It gets loud, reaching 83.3 dB without distortion, filling a room easily. The sound profile is impressively balanced: bass is punchy and close to average levels, mids come through clearly, and highs are crisp and controlled. With only a 7.3% overall variation across frequencies, the sound remains consistent and natural, free of any overly dominant highs or muddy lows. This places the G16’s audio among the top 1% of similar devices, making it an excellent choice for gaming, streaming, or music.
Thermals
It runs warmer than many gaming laptops under heavy use, reaching an average of 39°C (102°F) on the top and peaking at 50°C (123°F), while the bottom can get up to 48°C (118°F)—making it less suited for lap use during intense sessions. However, during lighter tasks or idle, it stays cooler at around 27°C (80°F). Even during gaming, the touchpoints like the palm rests and touchpad remain comfortable at around 32°C (90°F). Overall, the G16’s thermal management is adequate for regular use, though a cooling pad could help manage temperatures during intensive gaming.
Battery
Noise
Power Consumption
G16 is energy-efficient for light tasks, drawing minimal power in standby (0.08 to 0.79 Watts) and about 8 to 13 Watts while idling or browsing. However, under heavy loads like gaming or intensive software, it draws significantly more power, ranging from 71 to 169 Watts, which is typical for gaming laptops. Overall, it’s power-efficient for light usage but consumes much more when pushed to full capacity.
Verdict
The Asus Zephyrus G16 is a fantastic gaming laptop with a lot going for it. Right out of the box, the build quality feels premium thanks to the aluminum case, which is sturdy yet compact. The OLED screen with a 240Hz refresh rate and G-Sync is just gorgeous, making everything look super smooth and vibrant. Plus, the speakers sound great, and the keyboard and trackpad are satisfying to use. It’s also nice that it has two SSD slots if you want to add more storage, and overall, the performance doesn’t disappoint.
That said, there are a few things that might give some people pause. The third fan can get a bit annoying when it kicks in, and if you’re looking at configurations below the RTX 4080, you miss out on the Vapor-Chamber cooling, which helps a lot with heat management. Also, RAM is soldered on, so you’re stuck with whatever you get, and some versions only come with 16GB, which could feel limiting down the line. The HDR brightness isn’t as high as you might hope, and there’s no Wi-Fi 7, so it’s not as future-proof as it could be.
Bottom line: The Zephyrus G16 is a solid choice if you want high performance with a stunning display and good audio. But keep in mind the limitations around upgradability, cooling, and connectivity—it’s not perfect, but it’s still a strong contender in its category.
