Asus’ highly effective new gaming laptop computer with a 240Hz Mini LED show makes its world debut

Asus has began rolling out the 2026 ROG Strix G18 globally, and the best approach to describe it’s as a barely toned-down model of the ridiculous ROG Strix Scar 18. It retains the identical 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor however tops out at an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU as an alternative of the Scar’s RTX 5090. (through Notebookcheck)

The Mini LED mannequin will get the very best steadiness

The top-end RTX 5080 configuration will get an 18-inch Mini LED show just like the one discovered on the Scar 18. Its decision drops from 4K to 2560 x 1600, however the panel retains a 240Hz refresh price and presents greater than 2,000 native dimming zones, as much as 1,200 nits of peak brightness, and full DCI-P3 protection. The decrease decision can be a greater match for the RTX 5080, giving the GPU extra room to push excessive body charges in demanding video games with out shedding a lot sharpness on an 18-inch display screen.

Lower-tier configurations, starting from the RTX 5060 to the RTX 5070 Ti, use an 18-inch IPS-level panel with a 2560 x 1600 decision and a 300Hz refresh price. They hand over Mini LED’s deeper blacks and stronger HDR, although the sooner panel could enchantment extra to aggressive gamers.

It is cheaper, however actually not low-cost

Asus has not in the reduction of a lot on cooling. The Strix G18 makes use of three followers, an end-to-end vapor chamber, liquid steel, and a full-width heatsink. RAM and storage are straightforward to improve by way of the tool-free backside panel, and the laptop computer helps as much as 64GB of reminiscence and two SSDs (one slot occupied).

The RTX 5080 mannequin is at the moment out there within the UK for £3,699 (~US$4,973) however has not appeared within the US but. Asus solely lists a $3,299.99 configuration there with an RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and the 300Hz IPS-level show. We count on the Mini LED mannequin to succeed in the US quickly, though Asus has not confirmed when it can arrive.