If you're looking for a lightweight and easily portable laptop, ideal for everyday tasks like web browsing, office work, and media consumption, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is a good choice and will save you money. However, if you require a laptop for more demanding applications like gaming, 3D modeling, or high-end video editing, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is better suited for these tasks, with the understanding that it will be heavier, likely have shorter battery life, and cost more. Consider your primary activities when choosing between the two. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
Best in class portability
Very good battery life
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024)
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.6/10
8.1/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
459.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for general use, though the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 combines a strong CPU and ample RAM, with high screen quality, in a light and slim package making it highly portable and well-suited for everyday tasks with a long battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with its top-notch CPU and large RAM, excels in screen quality, but is bulkier and has less battery life, making it better for performance-heavy applications rather than on-the-go use.
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
8.4/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its decent GPU and screen quality, handles gaming and 3D tasks well, but it's the ASUS ROG Strix G16 with a superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate that delivers a more immersive and smooth experience for demanding gaming and 3D applications. While the Zenbook balances performance and portability, the ROG Strix, with its focus on gaming, has a larger emphasis on high-end graphics performance and display features at the expense of being bulkier and possibly more expensive.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its advanced CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, is built for demanding tasks like engineering and design, while its lighter weight enhances portability. The ASUS ROG Strix G16, while heavier and possibly louder under load, offers a robust GPU for graphics-intensive applications and may provide an edge in performance for complex 3D rendering and simulations.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
459.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
When considering screen quality, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 may have sharp displays with high resolution and brightness that benefit general use through clear and vivid visuals. For engineering and design, these models likely cover a wide range of colors, allowing for precise and accurate color work. However, for gaming and 3D applications, their screens may fall short due to lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid motion and slower response times.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 8 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Best in Class
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$1,590
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) costs $1,590.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.3/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Build Quality
7.6/10
7.8/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 both have good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) compare to other laptops
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024)
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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