ASUS has unveiled its 2026 ROG Strix G16 and G18 gaming laptops, headlined by Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor – positioning the refreshed lineup among the most powerful gaming notebooks announced so far this year.

Aimed at enthusiast gamers and creators, the new Strix models pair Intel’s flagship mobile CPU with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU. The combination is designed to handle everything from competitive esports titles to demanding AAA games and GPU-heavy creative workloads, with support for advanced AI features and next-gen rendering technologies.

Displays are a key focus in this refresh. The 16-inch Strix G16 steps up to a 2.5K 300Hz ROG Nebula display, while the larger 18-inch G18 features a 2.5K 240Hz Mini LED panel with HDR support and peak brightness up to 1600 nits. Both panels cover the full DCI-P3 colour gamut and include anti-reflective tech to improve visibility and colour accuracy.

ASUS is leaning heavily on thermal performance to sustain high-end specs. The laptops use an updated cooling system combining a tri-fan design, full vapour chamber and redesigned heatsink to maintain stable performance during extended gaming sessions.

The company is also continuing its push toward user-friendly upgrades. Both models feature a tool-less chassis with quick access to RAM and SSD slots, supporting up to 64GB of DDR5 memory and 2TB of storage. Connectivity includes Thunderbolt 5, HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi 7 and 2.5G Ethernet.

Design-wise, the Strix lineup retains its signature gamer aesthetic, complete with full-surround RGB lighting and customisable elements.

ASUS has also teased a more powerful flagship, the ROG Strix SCAR 18, due later in Q2 2026. That model is expected to push performance even further, with GPU options up to the RTX 5090.

Local pricing and Australian availability have yet to be confirmed, but given the top-tier hardware, these machines are expected to land at the premium end of the market.