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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is often somewhat less expensive, lighter, and offers better portability with longer battery life, making it ideal for general use and business professionals who need to work on the go. Its OLED display gives you vivid colors, suitable for creative work. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat more expensive, has a more powerful processor, and a dedicated graphics card which provide high performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and intensive gaming, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life, making it less portable. It also has features catering to gamers such as higher refresh rate and RGB keyboard lighting. 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
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5
8.7
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
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 G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a top-tier GPU and a high screen refresh rate which are crucial for the smoothest and most visually stunning gaming and 3D experiences, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13, although capable, focuses more on a balance between performance and portability with a lesser GPU and screen refresh rate. Although the Zenbook's CPU and screen quality are sufficient for many tasks, the ROG Strix G18's superior specs in these areas make it the go-to for the most demanding gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with its high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and vibrant screen, delivers smooth performance for engineering software and precise visuals for design work, while also being lightweight for easy transport. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, on the other hand, offers a more powerful GPU for demanding graphics tasks and a larger screen, which enhances user experience at the expense of portability.
Screen Quality
8.1
8.7
13.3in
SIZE
18.0in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G18 for engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, both the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G18 offer sharp, bright displays with high resolution, making text and images clear and easy for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, both laptops provide excellent color coverage, vital for precision in visual work; however, for gaming and 3D tasks, their lower refresh rates lead to less smooth movement and responsiveness, which can put them at a disadvantage compared to laptops specifically designed with high refresh rate screens for these purposes.
Battery
11.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
Poor
13.3in
SIZE
18.0in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$1,900
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 costs $1,900.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.6
8.3
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Content Creation
8.5
8.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and ASUS Zenbook S 13 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
8.1
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
8.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 and ASUS ROG Strix G18 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
7.8
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 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 G18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | ASUS ROG Strix G18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.2 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.66" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.52" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 365 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.5/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook S 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | May 2023
"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."
ASUS ROG Strix G18
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the ASUS ROG Strix G18
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.
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