The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is pricier but offers top-tier performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, due to its high-end Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU. It has a large 18-inch display, but this makes it less portable due to its size and weight. Meanwhile, the Gateway 15.6" is more affordable and suitable for general use with a decent Intel i5 processor and integrated graphics. It's lighter and thus more portable, with a standard 15.6-inch screen size. If high-power computing and gaming are your primary needs, go with the Asus; if you prefer affordability and better portability, choose the Gateway. 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 ROG Strix G18
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Very good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
Good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.3/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
422.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
8.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
5.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 outperforms the Gateway 15.6" for general use due to its more powerful CPU, superior screen quality, and a larger, faster-refreshing display which is beneficial for both productivity and entertainment, albeit it's less portable and has limited battery life. On the other hand, the Gateway offers decent general performance with a lighter build for easier portability, but it faces tradeoffs with a less capable CPU, lower resolution and color coverage display, and overall inferior speaker and build quality when compared to the ASUS.
Gaming and AI
8.7/10
6.0/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in gaming and 3D tasks thanks to its high-performance Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a rapid 240Hz screen refresh rate, providing smooth and visually rich experiences. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" with its Intel i5-1135G7 Iris Xe graphics and a standard 60Hz screen refresh rate offers a fair gaming performance, which is less suited for intense graphical demands.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
6.2/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 excels in engineering and design tasks due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample storage and memory, and superior screen with higher resolution and refresh rates, which are very important for such demanding applications. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" laptop offers lesser CPU and GPU capabilities, less storage, and a screen with lower resolution and color accuracy, making it fair for engineering and design but not optimal when compared to the ASUS model.
Content Creation
8.6/10
7.0/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
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
8.1/10
6.7/10
9.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is very good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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.
Screen Quality
8.7/10
6.1/10
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
422.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 likely offers superior screen quality for general use and engineering due to a high-resolution panel with good brightness and wide color gamut coverage, ensuring sharp and vivid images. However, despite its qualities, it may fall short for gaming and 3D use since these activities benefit most from a high refresh rate which the laptop may lack. Conversely, the Gateway 15.6" provides merely satisfactory visuals for general use and engineering tasks as its resolution and color fidelity may not be as impressive, and it also doesn't meet the high refresh rate requirement for optimal gaming and 3D experiences.
Portability
Poor
Good
18.0in
SIZE
15.6in
6.6 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
1.0in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Gateway 15.6" has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.8/10
5.1/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,299
$380
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a price of $2,299 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $380.
"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."
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Strix G18 or the Gateway 15.6"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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