Asus ROG Strix G17 (2023) Review

Asus ROG strix G17 (2023) Review

The iconic Republic of Gamers (ROG) logo from Asus typically adorns products positioned at the higher end of the market. However, in the 2023 iteration, the ROG Strix G17 makes a notable entry into the midrange territory, with our Walmart-exclusive test unit priced competitively at $1,399. Featuring a swift AMD Ryzen 9 CPU and the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 40-series graphics, Asus delivers a formidable 17.3-inch gaming powerhouse ready to challenge rivals like the Acer Nitro 17 and Lenovo Legion Slim 5 Gen 8, despite not necessarily clinching the top spot in performance.

Design and Configurations: Putting on the Light Show

The Asus ROG Strix G17 offers a limited selection of configurations, each featuring a standard 1TB solid-state drive and, barring one entry-level variant, a 2,560-by-1,440-pixel IPS display boasting a rapid 240Hz refresh rate alongside Dolby Vision and Nvidia G-Sync support. Our Walmart model, priced at $1,399, is equipped with a robust 12-core AMD Ryzen 9 7845HX processor, a potent Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU, and 16GB of RAM.

At the Asus online store, two upgraded versions of the ROG Strix G17 stand out, featuring a formidable 16-core Ryzen 9 7945HX CPU and the powerful GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Interestingly, both configurations are priced identically at $2,199.99. However, one variant offers double the memory capacity (16GB versus 8GB), Windows 11 Pro instead of Home, and a keyboard adorned with per-key RGB lighting, as opposed to the four lighting zones in the alternative model. With such clear advantages, the decision between the two becomes an effortless one.

If you’ve ever laid eyes on a 17.3-inch gaming laptop, it’s no surprise that the Strix G17 boasts a substantial build. Unlike the sleek 16:10 aspect ratio panels with minimal bezels, this laptop retains a traditional design with narrow top and side bezels, yet a notably thick bezel at the bottom adds to its overall bulk. Additionally, its rear end protrudes by an inch, potentially necessitating a new backpack to accommodate its size. Weighing in at a maximum of 6.17 pounds and measuring a robust 1.21 by 15.6 by 11.1 inches (HWD), the G17 certainly makes its presence felt.

The majority of the ROG Strix G17 is enveloped in textured plastic, while the keyboard deck features a softer and smoother plastic material. Sliding fingers across the deck offers a pleasant tactile experience, albeit it tends to attract fingerprints and exhibits a slight flex. Nevertheless, the display cover and hinges receive a durable metal treatment, although the screen itself still retains a hint of flexibility.

Leveraging its ample dimensions, the system accommodates a generously sized keyboard featuring a full numeric keypad, alongside five macro keys positioned above the function row, and segregated cursor arrow keys, albeit of a half-height design. Despite the nearly 6-inch buttonless touchpad, it appears relatively small due to the surrounding blank space.

related article:Asus ROG Strix G17 (2023) Review

As expected, the keys feature a combination of translucent legends and edges, with fully transparent WASD keys, although the RGB lighting is confined to four zones in this budget-friendly model. While the setup holds promise, the lighting appears somewhat untidy as it seeps from beneath the keycaps. Moreover, the illumination of the translucent areas lacks consistency, resulting in a somewhat unkempt appearance and making them challenging to read. Additional RGB lighting adorns the front half of the base with adjustable zones, casting light onto the desk or tabletop. However, these lights also exhibit inconsistency, displaying clear hotspots and an uneven undergrow.

Despite its large size, the Strix G17 may leave something to be desired in terms of connectivity. On the left side, you’ll find two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports along with a 3.5mm audio jack. However, the right side is notably lacking in ports, with only one of the system’s four exhausts situated there, which feels somewhat sparse for a gaming laptop. Moving around to the back, you’ll discover two USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports with DisplayPort 1.4 support, an HDMI 2.1 monitor port, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, and the AC adapter connector. Notably absent are 2.5Gbps Ethernet, a dedicated DisplayPort, and USB4—which could have compensated for the Ethernet shortfall. Given that many gaming systems featuring Intel processors now include Thunderbolt 4 ports, the absence of USB4 on this AMD machine is somewhat disappointing.

Using the Asus ROG strix G17: An Effective Mobile PC Gaming Rig

The keyboard on this laptop gets the job done, though it doesn’t stand out as exceptional. During my test on the Monkeytype online platform, I managed to type at a comfortable pace of 100 words per minute with 97% accuracy. However, I found it challenging to increase my speed beyond that. The keys feel somewhat mushy and have a soft bottom-out, which can make it a bit difficult to press them repeatedly. As a result, I often encounter obstacles when trying to hit the same key multiple times in quick succession.

related article: Asus ROG Strix G17 (2023) Review