Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) Review: Performance Beast

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 2023 Review Summary:

Editor’s Rating- 4/5

During CES in January, Asus revealed its fresh lineup of ROG and TUF gaming laptops for 2023. They began the rollout with a series of high-end gaming laptops in India in March, followed by a second wave featuring mid-range models in May. Today, our focus lies on the ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023), part of the earlier batch. This impressive gaming laptop starts at Rs. 2,79,990 in India, but the variant under review is equipped with Nvidia’s most advanced laptop GPU, commanding a price of Rs. 3,59,990.

Are you on the lookout for a gaming laptop that refuses to compromise on performance? If budget is not a concern, the new Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 might just be the contender you’ve been seeking. Let’s dive into this review to discover if it deserves a spot on your consideration list.

Jump To..

• Specs
• Design
• Display
• I/O Ports, Keyboard, Trackpad
• Performance & Gaming
• Battery
• Should you buy Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 2023?

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review: Design

Design-wise, the Strix Scar 18 is not very far when previous models in the Scar series. The lid is a dark gray with a ROG logo featuring an RGB eye design, which some might find unappealing. This eye pattern is repeated diagonally across the lid. However, the real sense of its size becomes evident when you open the lid, revealing the impressive 18-inch screen. The bottom bezel is a bit thick, and the webcam casing protrudes, adding to its imposing appearance. The sides around the ports and the upper part of the keyboard deck are see-through, making it look even better. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 has an intimidating yet attractive appearance that will likely appeal to many gamers.

The Asus Strix Scar 18 is quite substantial, weighing 3.1 kg and measuring 15.71 x 11.57 x 1.21 inches. Its size alone suggests that it’s not designed for regular portability, and carrying it around beyond moving it to the next room might not be practical. In fact, it’s the first laptop in recent years that couldn’t fit into my backpack. This gaming beast is designed for stationary use on a desk instead of using it on the move. Its heavy 330W AC power adapter also further adds weight to that notion.

Overall, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 impresses with its bold design, aimed at gaming aficionados who seek a formidable powerhouse. Though its size and weight may make it less portable, it undoubtedly makes a striking statement on your gaming setup. Just ensure you have the appropriate power outlet available to make the most of this impressive gaming machine.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review: Display

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 boasts an impressive 18-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 and a 16:10 aspect ratio. The screen refresh rate is a smooth 240Hz, making it ideal for gaming. The display is ROG Nebula certified, capable of reaching a bright 500 nits, and supports 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut reproduction. It is also Pantone-validated, supports Nvidia’s G-Sync technology, and allows Dolby Vision playback in video streaming OTT apps.

Even though it’s not 4K, the screen resolution is fantastic, and the color reproduction is top-notch, offering consistent quality from corner to corner. The peak brightness is excellent, but users might find it too bright for nighttime or dark room use. The full 500 nits brightness level is more suitable for those using the laptop outdoors.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with this display. Streaming content or working on a spreadsheet, it was a delightful experience. When it comes to latency, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18’s 240Hz screen delivers a snappy performance. There is minimal noticeable ghosting, and the G-sync technology ensures a tear-free experience, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review: I/O, Keyboard and Trackpad

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 excels in terms of I/O, offering a feature-rich selection. On the left side, it provides 2 USB Type-C ports, along with an HDMI and Ethernet port in close proximity. On the right side, there are two additional USB-A ports for added connectivity options. The laptop’s I/O setup is commendable, with the inclusion of both USB-C and USB-A ports on both sides and the ability to charge via USB-C adds to its convenience. Notably, the presence of an Ethernet port is a welcome feature, as many high-end gaming laptops often omit it despite its superiority in providing reliable online connectivity.

The laptop’s keyboard is full-sized, complete with a number pad and dedicated buttons for volume control, microphone, and performance modes. It also offers one-touch access to Asus’ Armoury Crate software. These dedicated buttons can be customized for other functions or to program macros. The keyboard is touted as “professional esports-grade,” with switches designed to endure over 20 million presses. Per-key RGB LED backlighting with Aura Sync further enhances the gaming experience, allowing lighting patterns to synchronize with other ROG accessories.

The trackpad is large, featuring a smooth glass surface that offers excellent tracking and gesture performance. Multitouch functions worked flawlessly, and the lower end of the trackpad allows for comfortable clicking. However, there is a minor issue where a click in the right bottom corner may be mistakenly recognized as a right mouse key press, resulting in some incorrect inputs.

Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 review: Performance

For this review, Asus loaned us the top-end variant which is nothing short of a beast. It comes equipped with an Intel Core i9-13980HX mobile CPU, boasting a total of 24 cores (eight performance and 16 efficiency cores). The HX designation denotes Intel’s high-performance mobile CPUs, allowing for easy overclocking if additional performance is needed. Accompanying the CPU is a substantial 32GB (2x 16GB) of DDR5 4800MHz RAM, filling both RAM slots in the laptop. Storage-wise, it offers a generous 2TB of PCIe 4.0 SSD (2x 1TB SSDs in RAID 0). The GPU, a formidable Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 (capable of maximum power consumption of 175 watts), comes with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.

To manage the heat generated by these high-powered components, Asus has made significant design improvements. The laptop now incorporates a full-width heatsink with seven heat pipes and three fans. Additionally, a liquid metal compound has been used instead of traditional thermal paste on the CPU and GPU for more efficient heat transfer.

As expected, the performance of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is outstanding, and there is no sense of hesitation or lag during any task. This beast performs like a champion in everything that we tested on it. In PCMark 10, which measures overall system performance across various tasks like video conferencing and spreadsheets, it achieved a notable overall score of 7,533 points. In the 3D mark, it clocked 45689 points in the Performance test and 20111 points in Time Spy. It also impressed us with its gaming might. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 delivers impressive gaming performance across various games and settings:

• Cyberpunk 2077 (QHD, Ray Tracing: Medium): 124 fps
• Red Dead Redemption (Medium settings, Full resolution): 86 fps
• Metro Exodus (RTX preset): 102.97 fps
• Grand Theft Auto V (Very High settings, QHD+ resolution): 132 fps
• Far Cry 6 (Ultra settings, QHD+ resolution): 94 fps

These results demonstrate the laptop’s ability to handle a variety of graphically demanding games at higher resolutions and quality presets, providing smooth and immersive gaming experiences. The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 proves to be a reliable and powerful gaming machine for enthusiasts looking for top-notch performance. During our time with the laptop one thing that we noticed was that somehow it managed to warm up slightly with simple tasks like browsing when running on battery power. I hope Asus address that with an upcoming system patch.

Asus ROF Strix Scar 18 review: battery

The battery performance of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) falls somewhere in the middle when compared to other gaming laptops. As expected, gaming on this laptop drains its battery quickly. Running demanding games with the high power requirements of the RTX 4090 and Core i9 components is likely to give you only a couple of hours of gameplay at best. On the other hand, when used for non-demanding tasks on the laptop can last for about an hour longer than

Overall, while the battery life may not be exceptionally long during intense gaming sessions, the laptop performs better for less demanding tasks, highlighting the efficiency of its processor and demonstrating its versatility beyond gaming.

Verdict: Should you buy Asus ROG Strix Scar 18?

The 2023 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is undeniably a powerhouse gaming laptop, but such performance comes with a significant price tag of Rs. 3,59,990. Additionally, it’s not the most portable option due to its size and weight. However, the laptop does come equipped with the best mobile CPU and GPU currently available for a Windows laptop, ensuring an excellent performance that should remain relevant for years to come. Despite its impressive capabilities, one drawback is that it tends to run warm even during light usage on battery power.

Despite these few downsides, the laptop is exceptionally well-built and offers stunning graphics performance, making it a dream for gamers and content creators alike. While it may not be for everyone, those who prioritize raw power and are willing to invest in a premium gaming experience will undoubtedly find the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 to be a delightful and satisfying choice.