Asus’ latest ROG Strix G16 and G18 laptops show how the Republic of Gamers keeps iterating on its mid‑tier performance machines. The 2026 models migrate to Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, a high‑core‑count chip tuned for gaming and productivity.

Buyers can configure the systems with up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5080 Laptop GPU and 32 + 32 GB of upgradeable DDR5 memory housed behind a tool‑less bottom panel. Storage scales to a 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and the chassis’s cooling solution uses a tri‑fan layout with a vapor chamber to push as much as 255 W of combined CPU + GPU power in Manual mode.

A 16‑inch, 2.5K Nebula display supports a 300 Hz refresh rate and 100 % DCI‑P3 coverage for fluid esports play and color‑accurate work.

Design touches set the 2026 G‑series apart. Per‑key RGB lighting, customizable armor caps and reduced bezels keep the machines visually striking without resorting to gimmicks. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1 and a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet jack.

Asus also bundles a one‑month PC Game Pass trial for new customers. These laptops are part of a growing trend of portable gaming rigs that trade thickness for raw power, and they show how mainstream manufacturers respond to the rise of more demanding games and AI‑driven creative tools.