ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835 Gaming Laptop Review

The ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) gaming laptop, model G835LX-XS97, is a powerhouse designed for enthusiasts who demand top-tier performance and cutting-edge features.

Performance

At the heart of this beast is the Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, a next-generation chip with 8 performance cores and 16 efficiency cores, delivering exceptional multi-threaded performance for gaming, streaming, and content creation. Paired with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU at a max TGP of 175W, this laptop promises groundbreaking graphics performance. The RTX 5090, built on NVIDIA’s latest architecture, leverages AI-powered DLSS 4 and full ray tracing to push frame rates and visual fidelity to new heights. With 32GB of DDR5 RAM running at 5600MHz, multitasking is seamless, and the 2TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD offers blazing-fast load times with throughput up to 7,000MB/s. This combination ensures the SCAR 18 can handle the most demanding AAA titles and creative workloads with ease.

Display

The 18-inch ROG Nebula HDR display is a standout feature. With a 2.5K (2560 x 1600) resolution, 16:10 aspect ratio, and Mini LED technology boasting over 2,000 dimming zones, it delivers stunning contrast and deep blacks. The 240Hz refresh rate, paired with a 3ms response time and NVIDIA G-SYNC, ensures buttery-smooth visuals, making it ideal for competitive gaming. The display covers 100% of the DCI-P3 color gamut and reaches up to 1200 nits of peak brightness, enhanced by a dual ACR layer that reduces reflections and boosts contrast by 4.5x. Whether you’re gaming or watching HDR content, this screen offers a vibrant, immersive experience that rivals high-end monitors.

Cooling and Design

ASUS has equipped the SCAR 18 with its ROG Intelligent Cooling system, featuring an end-to-end vapor chamber, tri-fan design, and Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU. This keeps thermals in check even under heavy loads, maintaining performance without excessive noise—crucial for a laptop of this caliber. The chassis, while bulky at 15.71 x 11.57 x 0.91-1.21 inches and 6.61 lbs, is designed for desktop-replacement use rather than portability. It includes a tool-less access panel for easy upgrades to RAM (up to 64GB or 6400MHz) and SSD (with PCIe Gen 5 support), a thoughtful touch for enthusiasts.

Connectivity and Features

With Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4, the SCAR 18 is future-proofed for next-gen networking, offering faster and more stable connections. Ports include 2x Thunderbolt 5 (up to 120Gbps), USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A and Type-C, HDMI 2.1, and a 2.5Gb Ethernet jack. The keyboard is full-sized with per-key RGB lighting, providing a satisfying typing experience, though some note a sharp front lip that may dig into wrists during extended use. Running Windows 11 Pro, it’s optimized for gaming and productivity out of the box.