Hands-on: the ROG Strix XG17 levels up my play and productivity anywhere I am
Now more than ever, gamers demand the most screen space possible for their battlestations. I know I do. Whether I’m working on a stream and need extra room for my Twitch chat and other tools, or I’m watching a favorite show while playing Rocket League, there’s never enough screen space. The ROG Strix XG17AHP gives me more room to stretch out, even on the go. We designed this display to be a gamer’s ultimate portable companion. For the last few weeks, I’ve been putting this portable display through its paces.
The ROG Strix XG17 does more than simply expand the amount of available screen real estate. It unlocks access to 240Hz gaming with Adaptive-Sync support for the smoothest gameplay no matter where I am. Since many of today’s gaming laptops are in the 15-inch range, the XG17’s 17.3” display is a significant increase in size. Combine this with the optional, ultra-portable Tripod stand, and you can deploy a desktop-like multi-monitor experience anywhere you want.
More than meets the eye
With its sleek design, razor-thin bezels, and the included ROG Tripod stand, it’s easy to mistake the ROG Strix XG17AHP for a full-sized desktop monitor. At just 1cm thin, it’s much slimmer than a typical desktop monitor making it more akin to a laptop’s display—just without the laptop attached. Turning the XG17 around, I appreciate how it takes cues from our ROG family of laptops, with a two-tone brushed metal finish and an illuminated logo. The back also houses a standard tripod socket for connecting the ROG Tripod’s quick-release adapter.
A grill along the bottom of the display houses a pair of 1W speakers while declaring my allegiance to the Republic of Gamers with an understated badge in the center. The power, volume, and OSD buttons all live on the monitor’s left edge, where I can easily find and access them, regardless of how the display is sitting. The three ports I’ll be using to power and connect the display sit right above those controls. There’s one USB-C port for charging the device, another USB-C port that connects to smartphones and laptops with DisplayPort alt mode compatibility, and one micro-HDMI port that can hook up to the outputs of virtually any PC or console.
The optional ROG Tripod is what makes this portable monitor truly sit above the rest. The stand extends high enough to keep the XG17 roughly eight to nine inches off the desk in landscape mode, depending on how I angle the display. By extending the Tripod all the way, it’s easy for me to position the XG17 above a laptop screen for a stacked viewing experience.
Despite its large aspirations, the Tripod measures less than two inches thick, and under nine inches in length, making it easy to slip into most laptop bags or the included carrying case. With the quick-release clip installed on the back of the XG17, it only takes me a few seconds to get set up. I only need to unfold the three legs, line up the quick-release clip and snap it into place. Taking the display off is just as easy. I just have to squeeze the buttons on each side of the quick-release and lift.
When I don’t need the extra height provided by the Tripod, I can use the included Smart Cover in its place. In addition to protecting the screen during transit, the Smart Cover folds back into a stand that can be used at various angles in both portrait and landscape modes. This configuration is perfect for setting the XG17 next to a laptop for a side-by-side setup.
A full-fat portable gaming experience
The ROG Strix XG17 is a 17.3” Full HD 240Hz IPS panel with Adaptive-Sync support and a 3ms response time that can go toe-to-toe with the best desktop displays around. All of this is packed into a super slim and light package, but that’s not the only thing that makes it portable. It has a 7800mAh battery inside that’s ready to game no matter where I am.
If you’ve never switched from gaming on a standard 60Hz monitor to a high-refresh display like the XG17, you’re in for a treat. When you step up to 240Hz, up to four times as many frames can appear each second, which results in buttery-smooth visuals. And since you’re seeing more frames, you’re seeing new frames sooner, meaning that you can react faster to in-game information. Input lag is also inherently lower at higher refresh rates, which cuts down on the time it takes for your PC to register an input such as mouse movement or key presses.
The XG17 features Adaptive-Sync technology that keeps the display’s output in lockstep with the GPU. By doing this, the GPU and display maintain smooth graphics without stuttering or tearing, as long as your game stays between 48 fps and 240 fps.
Portable gaming isn’t truly portable if you’re still tied to an electrical outlet. That’s why the XG17 features a 7800mAh battery that’s capable of carrying me through up to three and a half hours of gameplay. Fast charging via USB-C means I can pick up two hours of playtime after just an hour of charging.
Gaming (and working) from anywhere
The ROG Strix XG17AHP is a capable screen, no matter how, or where, you want to use it. I’ve had the chance to use it for a couple of weeks now, and I’ve found several new ways to enhance my gaming and work around the house.
When I get a portable device to test out, I normally like to get out of the house and put it through its paces. This time around, I wanted to see how a monitor like the XG17 could step up my gaming and help me get work done faster at home.
I love gaming and working in my office, as it’s where my main battlestation lives. My wife has been at home a lot more lately, though, so I’ve been trying to spend more time gaming in the living room while catching up on some of our favorite shows. Previously this has meant setting my laptop on a tiny desk and playing games like Rocket League and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare. While that’s worked for me in the past, my first use of the XG17 made me realize what I was missing.
Since there’s not much room on my small desk, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to take up more space with something as bulky as a regular desktop monitor. Hooking up a traditional screen in my living room means I need to drag one out from wherever it currently resides, along with the power brick and HDMI cable, and make room for the stand on my already-cramped desk. And when I’m done, I have to put it all back. The XG17 and the ROG Tripod transform the way I think of monitors in my living room.
Getting set up for a gaming session with my wife as we watch AEW Dynamite on a Wednesday is a much simpler process now. All I need to do is grab my laptop, stack the ultra-thin monitor on top, grab a USB-C cable, and slip the folded Tripod stand in a pocket. It’s not often I can carry a laptop and a monitor while still having a free hand. Once downstairs, it’s simply a matter of plugging my laptop into the wall to ensure maximum performance, then unfolding the Tripod, attaching it to the XG17 using the quick-release adapter, and plugging in the USB-C cable. A process that used to require a lot of time and hassle is over in just a moment.
Since the Tripod has such a small footprint, I’m able to position it directly behind my laptop. The XG17 can then rest comfortably above the notebook, giving me a dual-display setup that would have been unthinkable with virtually any other monitor. What’s more, I’m not just adding a second display to my laptop. I’m adding a display that’s capable of 240Hz refresh rates—something that even my primary gaming monitor in my office can’t do.
With the XG17 standing over my laptop, I’m able to keep a variety of other windows open on the notebook’s built-in display while using the larger, faster screen for my games. This is perfect for when I’m chatting with my friends on Discord and would be ideal for managing a Twitch stream.
This configuration is also ideal for when I’m pursuing my creative hobbies. One of my latest projects has been animation using Adobe Character Animator. One of the handy things about that software is that you can make changes to your puppet in Photoshop, and they immediately show up in Character Animator. Because of this time-saving feature, I reserve this work for when I’m at my desktop with its abundant screens. However, since getting the XG17, I’m now able to work on my hobby on my tiny desk by placing my animations on one display and using the other for making edits in Photoshop.
In other parts of the house, I’ll tether the XG17 to my laptop without using the Tripod. When I want a side-by-side setup, all I need to do is unfold the included Smart Cover and set it next to my laptop. The cover keeps the XG17 propped up at an angle that I can match with my laptop’s display, making me feel more like I’m working in my office than in the kitchen or on the back porch.
The ROG Strix XG17 isn’t just for use with portable devices. Since I’m the kind of person who can’t get enough screens, I was thrilled to set the XG17 under one of my main monitors. As a 17-inch Full HD display, it’s an excellent screen for keeping track of my music and chat windows, leaving my primary monitors free from clutter while I’m working. And unlike the rest of them, it’s only a matter of unplugging the USB-C cables and folding up the Smart Cover when I want to take it elsewhere.
From time to time, I’ll have a desktop on my workbench, and that generally means pulling a spare monitor out of the closet and setting it up. However, the XG17 with the ROG Tripod is perfect for using solo with a desktop via USB-C or the mini-HDMI port. You can bet that the next time I drop by a LAN party, the XG17 will be the first thing I pack.
Portable gaming without a PC
Long gone are the days where “mobile gaming” meant toting around a Gameboy with a pocket full of AA batteries. Now I can sit and comfortably play games like Call of Duty and PUBG on a device that fits in my pocket. I’ve been playing Call of Duty: Mobile quite a bit lately, as it’s a great way to kill 20 minutes here and there. While the game is unfortunately locked at 60FPS, I can use the AirTriggers of the ROG Phone II to give me a more console-like experience. Unfortunately, I’m still staring down at a screen that’s also being used as a controller.
When the XG17 landed on my doorstep, the first thing I did was connect it to the ROG Phone II and fire up CoD: Mobile. It immediately mirrored my phone’s display, and with the graphics turned up all the way, it felt like I was playing on a console rather than a phone. What’s more, I no longer need to look down at my hands while playing, so in the heat of a match, it really does seem like I’m holding a controller and gaming on an Xbox.
I’m still a PC gamer at heart, but my trusty Xbox One X is excellent when I want to kick back with a controller and play something on the big screen. Just like my desktop, the Xbox generally lives in one location, tethered to a TV. But what’s the fun in only gaming in one spot?
The XG17 has proven itself an ideal companion for consoles. With up to 3.5 hours of battery life, I don’t need to drag around another power cable every time I want to play something in the kitchen while I’m waiting for something to finish up in the oven. A micro-HDMI cable and the Xbox’s small power cable are all I need to set up shop anywhere.
Using the Smart Cover as a kickstand, the XG17 perfectly perches atop the console, keeping the overall footprint as small as possible. This has been particularly useful during times when I’ve taken my console outside, as I don’t have to make room for a screen—just enough for the Xbox to lay down flat. I’ve also used it in this configuration next to my laptop when I’m bouncing between some kind of work and a game.
| Where to buy | |
|---|---|
| ROG XG17AHPE | |
| Availability (CA) | |
Stunning visuals and abundant screen space, anywhere
Regardless of where you are, what you’re playing, or what you’re working on, the ROG Strix XG17AHP will elevate your experience. The sleek, ultra-thin 17.3” screen will more than double the workspace on most laptops, in addition to unlocking high-performance gaming with its 240Hz refresh rate, Adaptive-Sync support, and 3ms response time.
Thanks to the ROG Tripod stand, it’s easy to transform any space into a desktop-like battlestation, and the generous 7800mAh internal battery gives you up to 3.5 hours of gameplay before you need to start looking for a nearby outlet. Whether you’re looking for a second screen that can easily move around the house, or you need to up your game on the go, the ROG Strix XG17AHP is the perfect companion.
