ROG Strix SCAR vs Strix G: What's the difference between ROG's esports laptops?

ROG is so committed to gamers, we put it right in our name. Every product we build is designed to provide gamers with the best possible experiences available on PC today. But even within the ROG umbrella, there is one series that stands a head above the others as the leader in total horsepower: ROG Strix. 

All ROG laptops are built for gaming, but Strix machines go above and beyond with models that offer the fastest CPUs, GPUs, and display refresh rates available for laptops. The line contains a few different models, including the Strix G16, Strix G18, Strix SCAR 16, and Strix SCAR 18 — so you can pick the perfect top-tier esports machine for your needs and budget.

The Strix SCAR and Strix G both offer high-end performance for esports enthusiasts in a similarly robust and stylish chassis. However, there are a few key differences between the products and their respective lines: 

• The Strix SCAR offers the most powerful GPU options, going all the way up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. The Strix G line offers a wider selection of CPUs and GPUs, making it more affordable than the more premium Strix SCAR.
• Strix G machines all feature Nebula displays, while the Strix SCAR machines offer Nebula HDR displays powered by a Mini LED backlight.
• The Strix SCAR features more customizable lighting, including our AniMe Vision display on the lid, an RGB logo, and per-key RGB on the keyboard. Strix G machines vary a bit more in some of these features.
• The Intel-based Strix SCAR and Strix G both feature our redesigned chassis with tool-less upgrades.
• All of the above notes refer specifically to the 2025 Strix family. Design and specifications may vary for previous model years, which may still be available for purchase at the time you’re reading this. 

Those are the basic differences, but if you want a more detailed look at which model is right for you, let's dive a bit deeper. 

Strix SCAR 16 and 18: The ultimate in esports power

You’re a competitive gamer. Whether we’re talking about Valorant, Fortnite, or Call of Duty: Warzone, you need a laptop that can deliver consistently high framerates and a display that can take full advantage of the performance on offer. Regardless of whether you’re playing pubs or looking to climb the ladder, seeing your opponent before they see you can make the difference between victory and defeat. 

That’s why we built the Strix SCAR 16 and Strix SCAR 18 with ROG Nebula HDR displays that pack blisteringly fast 240Hz refresh rates, so you can make use of every possible frame. These screens also use Mini LED tech for an out-of-this-world HDR experience. 

The SCAR’s real power, though, lies under the hood. With up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, the 2025 Strix SCAR 16 and 18 can easily power the most computationally intensive applications, whether you’re playing a taxing AAA game like Microsoft Flight Simulator or using heavyweight productivity software. Both SCAR models are also packed with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU running at 175W, thanks to our latest Intelligent Cooling improvements.

The techno-sorcery doesn’t stop there, with all SCAR models sporting up to 64GB of blazing fast DDR5-5600 memory and dual PCIe Gen 4 SSD slots. But here's the kicker: you can access both the memory and storage without any tools, giving you quick access to easy upgrades.

Slide a single lever to remove your laptop's entire bottom panel, and voila, you're in. Our Q-latch design makes SSD mounting a tool-less process as well. If you want to dig deeper and tinker with your machine’s most sensitive internals, the 2025 Strix SCAR makes it easier than ever.

These redesigned Strix machines also feature an updated thermal system, with a new sandwiched heatsink design putting heatsink fins on both the top and bottom of the all-new end-to-end vapor chamber. This design saves space while simultaneously boosting cooling efficiency, making room for airflow and heavyweight components while ensuring your laptop can healthily push up to 240W of power with low noise.

All these hardware innovations are wrapped in a sleek, streamlined design featuring unique ROG touches such as our latest iteration of AniMe Vision. With AniMe Vision, 810 LEDs give your lid countless lighting effect options while leaving plenty of room for the classic RGB ROG logo. The Strix SCAR's bottom is equally stylish, appearing to float above your desk with an all-encompassing glow thanks to its world-first full-surround RGB lightbar. Couple those wild lighting features with full per-key illumination, and the redesigned 2025 Strix SCAR 16 and SCAR 18 are spectacles to behold.

If you’re looking to save a chunk of change and would rather forego cutting-edge perks in favor of putting every dollar toward pure horsepower, check out our 2024 Strix SCAR offerings. You won’t see our latest SCAR innovations like the redesigned chassis, AniMe Vision, or full-surround RGB lightbar, but you’ll still get a supremely powerful gaming laptop for a compelling price. Featuring up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU and Intel Core i9 14900HX processor, there’s no denying that the 2024 Strix SCAR models remain ultra-strong machines capable of crushing modern AAA games.

	ROG Strix SCAR 16 (2025)				ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025)
CPU	Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX				Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX
GPU	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU				Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU
Display	16" ROG Nebula HDR Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms				18" ROG Nebula HDR Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms
Memory	Up to 64GB DDR5-5600				Up to 64GB DDR5-5600
Storage	Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (2TB + 2TB RAID0)				Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (2TB + 2TB RAID0)
Connectivity	WiFi 7				WiFi 7
I/O	2 x Thunderbolt 5 (with DP 2.1 + PD 3.1) 3 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1 x ASUS Slim Power Jack				2 x Thunderbolt 5 (with DP 2.1 + PD 3.1) 3 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1 x ASUS Slim Power Jack
Battery	90Wh				90Wh
Size	35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26 ~ 3.04 cm 2.8kg				39.9 x 29.4 x 2.31 ~ 3.08 cm 3.5kg

Strix G16 and G18: Incredible performance for the competitive gamer

For esports enthusiasts on a slightly tighter budget, we also offer the new Strix G16 and Strix G18. While the Strix SCAR offers the best of the absolute best, the Strix G line provides a wide range of high performance options with fewer bells and whistles for a more affordable package.  

The 2025 Strix G16 and G18 feature excellent 2.5K 240Hz Nebula Displays, sans the Mini LED panel. Similarly, while both lines offer up to the same Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX in their Intel-based models, the Strix G models cap out at an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU and 32GB of DDR5-5600 RAM. Make no mistake, though: those specs produce a beastly machine, powering fast and stable framerates in all the latest AAA and esports titles you’ve been waiting to play. And if you’re big on Team Red, Strix G is the way to go. We also offer next-gen AMD configurations in the Strix G line, packing up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX processor.

Just like their Strix SCAR brethren, Intel-based Strix G16 and G18 machines benefit from tool-less upgradeability and feature full-surround RGB lighting in addition to other refinements such as rounded edges on the chassis and a shrunken lid-hinge gap. This gap is down to a barely perceptible 2mm for a truly sleek aesthetic in our 2025 Intel-based Strix laptops. Our goal is to give you a svelte powerhouse machine that captures the essence of automotive sports – the calculated precision and aerodynamic engineering of a racecar, compacted into the tiny frame of a laptop.

Be sure to give the 2024 Strix G lineup a peek if you’re even more budget-conscious and simply want a gateway into the upper echelons of esports-grade laptop gaming. They won’t have the redesigned chassis or power ceiling of certain 2025 models, but these laptops pack up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU and Intel Core i9 14900HX processor, giving you hefty specs capable of leveling the playing field in any competitive online game.

	ROG Strix G16 (2025 Intel)	ROG Strix G18 (2025 Intel)	ROG Strix G16 (2025 AMD)		ROG Strix G18 (2025 AMD)
CPU	Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX	Up to Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 275HX	Up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX3D		Up to an AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX
GPU	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU	Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU		Up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Laptop GPU
Display	16" ROG Nebula Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms	18" ROG Nebula Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms	16" ROG Nebula Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms		18" ROG Nebula Display 2.5K 240Hz/3ms
Memory	Up to 64GB DDR5-5600	Up to 64GB DDR5-5600	Up to 32GB DDR5-5600		Up to 32GB DDR5-5600
Storage	Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (2TB + 2TB RAID0)	Up to 4TB PCIe Gen4 SSD (2TB + 2TB RAID0)	Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD		Up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD
Connectivity	WiFi 7	WiFi 7	WiFi 6E		WiFi 6E
I/O	2 x Thunderbolt 5 (with DP 2.1 + PD 3.1) 3 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1 x ASUS Slim Power Jack	2 x Thunderbolt 5 (with DP 2.1 + PD 3.1) 3 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 2.5Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1 x ASUS Slim Power Jack	1 x Type-C USB4 (with DP 1.4 + PD 3.0) 1 x Type-C USB4 (with DP 1.4) 2 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 1Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x DC In Jack		1 x Type-C USB4 (with DP 1.4 + PD 3.0) 1 x Type-C USB4 (with DP 1.4) 2 x Type-A USB 3.2 Gen 2 1 x 1Gbps LAN 1 x HDML 2.1 FRL 1 x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack 1x DC In Jack
Battery	90Wh	90Wh	90Wh		90Wh
Size	35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26 ~ 3.04 cm 2.8kg	39.9 x 29.4 x 2.31 ~ 3.08 cm 3.5kg	35.4 x 26.4 x 2.26 ~ 3.04 cm 2.5kg		39.9 x 29.4 x 2.31 ~ 3.08 cm 3.5kg

Strix lets you game with confidence

There are a lot of variables that go into a successful online multiplayer match. Connection speed, matchmaking, your teammates… but your hardware plays a massive role, too. No matter what Strix machine you choose, you can rest assured that your laptop is not holding you back. Designed from the ground up to offer the fastest gaming components with the most cutting-edge thermal solutions, the Strix family is here to give every gamer a leg up on their competition. Which one will you pick?