Asus ROG Strix Scar 18

If raw power and outright luxury are your only concerns, feel free to switch that verdict for a full five stars – but we feel the weight, fan noise and cost of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2023) might be a little more than most folks can stomach.

The ROG Strix SCAR 18 is a well-rounded overall package with impressive performance values at a hefty price.

The ROG Strix Scar 18 does promise good performance. But for me, frankly where the ROG Strix Scar 18 made the most impact was how it brought a massive 18-inch laptop into a portable form factor, light enough to travel with. Yes, it will be too much to compare this laptop with a MacBook Air. All that said, I can clearly see a space for an 18-inch laptop on the market. Functionally, the Scar 18 seems polished but has the same niggling issues I have had with gaming laptops of the past.

It’s been an epic battle between the Asus ROG Strix SCAR 18 and the Pioneer Dreambook, but the ROG wins on points largely thanks to significantly better ergonomics and superior 2D processor performance. The Pioneer can still take great pride in having a marginally superior 3D performance score and a lower price point, though. That’s how close it came.

This top-specced Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is notably more powerful in demanding work activities and games than the previous Scar generations, as well as significantly better cooled with the redesigned thermal module. Add in a beautiful 18-inch display, good inputs, a familiar ROG design, and a sturdy chassis, and this laptop is a clear recommendation in its class. At the same time, though, this is a rather large and heavy device, and is affected by a few odd design decisions that impact its daily use ergonomics.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 features powerful components, allowing it to run demanding games at top-notch settings, and show them off beautifully on an impressive 18-inch screen. The system's portability is nearly nonexistent, however, and its price is sure to dissuade all but the most dedicated gaming laptop aficionados.

With its high-powered components, beautiful display and excellent audio, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 leaves a swath of destruction in its wake and leaving no prisoners.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is one of the most powerful gaming laptops right now, showing off the latest flagship CPU from Intel (13th Gen Core i9) and GPU from Nvidia (GeForce RTX 4090). It’s big and expensive, but the body feels reasonable for everything it’s packing.