When choosing between the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18, consider that the Zenbook is more affordable and offers better portability and longer battery life, making it ideal for general use and on-the-go tasks. On the other hand, the ROG Strix G18, while heavier and with a shorter battery life, provides significantly higher performance suited for gaming, 3D modeling, machine learning, and engineering software, at a higher cost. If high-performance computing isn't crucial for you, the Zenbook may be the more practical and economical choice. 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 (2024)
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Best in class speakers
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.5/10
8.7/10
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 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 offers a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, key advantages for demanding gaming and 3D tasks, enabling smoother visuals and better performance. Although the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a competent GPU and a decent refresh rate, its focus leans more towards balance with portability and general use while still handling gaming reasonably well.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13, with a solid CPU and ample RAM, provides good performance for engineering while its high-quality screen enhances design work, but its GPU may not handle the most demanding tasks as efficiently as heavier laptops. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, on the other hand, offers a top-tier GPU for intensive engineering simulations and graphics work, paired with an exceptional CPU and plenty of RAM for multitasking, though it sacrifices some portability due to its size and weight, making it less ideal for those who need to move around frequently.
Screen Quality
8.1/10
8.7/10
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, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering with its high resolution and brightness, along with wide color coverage, making images sharp and vibrant. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less suitable for gaming and 3D applications, as those require smoother motion. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, while also offering high resolution and color accuracy for detailed work in engineering and vibrant displays for everyday use, may fall short for gaming due to its poor refresh rate, hindering the user experience in fast-paced gaming scenarios.
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 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,400
$2,300
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) costs $2,300.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a balance of performance and portability with a high-quality screen, making it an excellent choice for everyday tasks, while its long battery life ensures you can work on-the-go without frequent charging. Meanwhile, the ASUS ROG Strix G18, with its superior CPU and RAM, excels in more demanding tasks such as gaming and content creation, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which might make it less ideal for those who prioritize mobility.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) 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
8.3/10
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 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 G18 (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 G18 (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 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 (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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