ROG 2020 Gaming Laptops Buying Guide

For gamers who want to game and work on the go, it can be a difficult task to find the perfect laptop that balances between price, performance and weight. So let’s take a look at some laptops that might fit all three categories.

For people who want a great gaming experience without having to fork out too much money, the ROG Strix G15 and G17 are excellent choices. Both come in black, and are pretty minimalistic.

Both models can be specced up to have the newest 10th gen Intel Core i7 processors, 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super and 1TB of SSD storage. To top it all off, you get an IPS panel that has a refresh rate of 144Hz. With these specs, eSports titles or AAA games won’t be much of an issue at all.

But if you’re looking to step up your game, or play a bit more professionally, there’s always the ROG Strix Scar 15. It looks quite similar to the G15 and G17, but the Strix Scar 15 has more RGB accents and a more aggressive profile.

Specs-wise, it’s somewhat similar. You can get up to a 10th gen Intel Core i7, 16GB of RAM, NVIDIA GeForce RRTX 2070 Super and 1TB of SSD storage. You get the opportunity to upgrade the panel though, with the option for a 300Hz refresh rate screen.

You might think a Core i7 is overkill, but for eSports tournaments? Every frame counts. Being able to get over 200 frames in-game is insane, and definitely provides a big advantage.

With such high performance, you end up having to watch out for thermals. ROG has taken care of that concern by applying Liquid Metal instead of standard thermal paste to the CPU, which has better heat transfer properties, resulting in lower temperatures.

Another cool feature this laptop has is the ROG Keystone 2. It’s essentially an encryption key that allows access to ROG ID, launch games, switch modes and more. There’s also something called a Shadow Drive, which is a separate encrypted partition on the SSD drive that can only be accessed when the Keystone is plugged into the laptop. It’s perfect for keeping confidential documents safe.

So far, we’ve just been talking about gaming, but what about creatives who also need their laptop for work? In comes the ROG Zephyrus S15. The first thing you’ll notice is the radical change in design. This laptop is thin, sleek and looks professional enough to pass for a work laptop in the office.

The Zephyrus line has always been about performance in a lightweight package, but thinness doesn’t equate to lower performance. In fact, it’s the opposite. The Zephyrus S15 can be specced out to include the 10th gen Intel Core i7, 32GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super and 1TB of storage.

With the RTX 2080 Super, the S15 has the best GPU of the bunch. This laptop can handle any game out there and still get excellent framerates with the 300Hz refresh rate screen. In addition, the screen is Pantone validated, which makes it an excellent choice for people who have to edit photos or videos, do 3D animation or more with their laptop.

Last but not least, the ROG Zephyrus Duo 15 is the laptop you’re going to want if price is of no concern. The laptop looks a bit clunkier than the others, but that’s because there’s actually a second screen.

The ScreenPad+ is a half-height 4K display that’s right below the main display, which is no slouch either. The main screen is a Full HD screen with 300Hz refresh rate that’s also Pantone validated and supports G-Sync.

Specs-wise, you also get the best available, with the 10th gen Intel Core i9, 32GB of RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce 2080 Super and 2TB of SSD storage in RAID 0 configuration.

The i9 processor will allow for excellent performance in games and creative programmes, and the RTX 2080 Super will also reduce render times for video edits or 3D projects by a ton.

There’s also Liquid Metal on the CPU, but more than that, airflow is greatly improved with this laptop because the ScreenPad+ lifts off the laptop chassis, resulting in better air intake and ergonomics.

If you’re looking for something with no compromises, the Zephyrus Duo 15 might be the best option on the market.

There’s no one laptop that will suit everybody’s needs, so hopefully this guide has helped you to make a more informed decision on which gaming laptop in the ROG lineup might be right for you.

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This content is brought to you in partnership with ROG.