The decision with a 2025 SCAR starts with where it will live. The 18-inch version gives a strategy game, timeline or flight simulator an unusually generous built-in workspace. The 16-inch can take comparable hardware into a smaller bag. Both make the most sense when there is a desk and power outlet at the destination.
In depth
ASUS ROG Strix SCAR (2025) review
Published
Best forPeople who want a gaming desktop’s role filled by one machine that can occasionally move.
At a glance
- Screen size
- 16 inches18 inches
- Display resolution
- 2560 × 1600
- Processor
- Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX
- Installed memory
- 32GB64GB
- Storage
- 1TB2TB
Pros
- Two screen sizes share a 2560 × 1600 workspace and a high refresh ceiling.
- Several GPU and storage combinations let you spend on the parts your software uses.
Cons
- An 18-inch laptop requires a large desk and bag.
- The fastest operating mode brings an audible cooling tradeoff.
Display
- 16 or 18 inches
- 2560 × 1600
- 240 Hz
At the same resolution, the 18-inch panel draws a larger map label or toolbar without changing how much information fits. The 16-inch puts those same pixels closer together. Both offer an unusually high refresh rate, but a visually demanding game at native resolution will use a very different fraction of that ceiling from a competitive shooter on low settings.
Performance
- Core Ultra 9 275HX
- RTX 5070 Ti, 5080 or 5090 by SKU
The linked 18-inch 5090 has 24 GB of dedicated graphics memory. The 5070 Ti configuration supplies 12 GB and a smaller SSD. A scene or local graphics workload that exceeds that smaller memory budget is a stronger reason to buy the 5090 than a general desire for the most expensive badge.
Cooling & Controls
- Selectable operating profiles
Notebookcheck found its 18-inch G835LX review machine frequently silent for routine work in Quiet mode, while activating Turbo kept the fans running even without an intensive game. 1 A shared workspace and an evening with headphones call for different settings. Those observations belong to the 18-inch 5090 sample, not every SCAR chassis.
Memory & Storage
- 32 GB or 64 GB RAM
- 1 TB or 2 TB SSD by configuration
A 2 TB drive gives you more room for several modern games before having to uninstall one. ASUS also lists replaceable SO-DIMMs and M.2 slots. That gives storage and memory a different upgrade path from the built-in laptop GPU, so prioritize the graphics hardware you need when selecting the machine.
Alternatives
The smaller 16-inch SCAR is an alternative within the same family for moving between rooms or offices. If the machine will stay connected to an external display all year, a desktop gives you more freedom to change the graphics card later. If a current gaming laptop already meets your target frame rate, a larger external screen can solve a cramped view.
Verdict
Choose the 18-inch SCAR for long plugged-in sessions on its own screen. Consider the 16-inch for frequent moves, and select the GPU before paying extra for memory or storage that can be expanded later.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this product.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- NotebookcheckROG Strix SCAR (2025) review and test findings (opens in a new tab)https://www.notebookcheck.net/The-18-inch-gamer-with-great-mini-LED-and-an-RTX-5090-Laptop-Asus-Strix-SCAR-18-G835LX-review.990635.0.html
G835LX 18-inch RTX 5090 sample; varying fan behavior by power profile. No transfer to 16-inch hardware.