Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2024) review: "an iterative update that doesn't quite top the performance charts"

Feb. 8, 2024

An iterative update that doesn’t quite top the performance charts, the new Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 has gone all in on its display. The result is one of the most immersive experiences available on a gaming laptop today but you’re certainly paying for it.

Excellent Mini LED display

Still fantastic performance overall

Tactile keyboard

Relatively low temperatures

Low power speakers

Performance sometimes behind previous model

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Design

Much has been left unchanged from the original 18-inch Strix, but there are a few hints that this is a new iteration. You’re still getting the all-black metal lid and translucent plastic body all with a softer matte finish, as well as the RGB front and rear panels.

The rear of the lid still carries that RGB ROG eye logo, which isn’t too egregious in its aesthetic overall, especially if you keep those LEDs on low. A diagonal stripe across the back of the lid repeats ‘Republic of Gamers’ rather than stamping the same logo as it did in the original model, which makes for a cleaner, bolder design overall. Of course, there’s still ample grill space, with more ridged diagonal cuts to the fan portion on both the inside and outside of the main hinge.

As I found in myreview of the previous model, I’m not a fan of this aesthetic. The translucent plastic feels cheap against a backdrop of super durable all-metal designs like that of theRazer Blade 18, especially when it drips over to the sides of the machine in an even more transparent form. This time around the effect is even messier. Yes, these smaller details are soft, they’re not going to cause a distraction, but with more and more gaming laptops moving towards a ‘less is more’ approach to their aesthetics this feels like a step back in time.

I was also impressed by the keyboard here. I’m naturally a fan of a laptop keyboard with more tension underneath each keypress than your typical chiclet deck has to offer, so the slightly increased resistance and additional spring underhand here was welcome. Like the former model, everything remains well spaced for the most part, even if the arrow keys are awkwardly wedged half between the main deck and half into the number pad. There’s still just a little extra space around these keys, though, which made them easily navigable during gameplay. You’re getting a full sized keyboard here, with number pad and function row, as well as five additional macro keys placed in the top right. By default these are dedicated media controls, but they can easily be reassigned in Asus’s Armory Crate software.

The trackpad was a pleasant surprise. I generally only use these scrollers for quick navigation through settings when I’m not fully set up for a gaming session, but the smooth feel and tactile press felt far more responsive than other pads I’ve used.

Most 18-inch gaming laptops are looking to act as a full desktop replacement, and that means providing you with all the ports you could need in one go. For the most part, the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 achieves this goal - you’re getting two USB-As for your mouse and keyboard, a USB-C for an additional accessory or hooking up to a dock (as well as a Thunderbolt 4), and a 2.5G LAN connection as well. That’s all well and good for a casual everyday setup, but if you’re adding macro pads,gaming headsets,PC steering wheels, orjoysticksto your experience you’ll need something a little more prepared. TheAlienwareM18, for example, doubles your USB-A and Thunderbolt 4 selection compared to Asus.

And I really would recommend adding a headset to this setup. The speakers included on the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 are bafflingly poor. This is a near $4,000 gaming laptop, and it sometimes sounds like a tablet. Dialogue was often completely buried in my own testing, and music felt flat and almost suppressed by the system’s low power. Of course, you don’t spend this much on a gaming laptop for the sound experience, but if you’re going to be chilling with movies or music it’s well worth noting.

I’ll mention that 720p webcam out of due diligence. For some reason we’re still in a world where $4,000 doesn’t buy you a camera from the last five years - but this bizarre problem isn’t isolated to the Scar 18 by any means.

There were no thermal concerns during these benchmark tests, aside from the traditionally noisy fans, and results were consistent across multiple runs after regular reset and update processes. That’s not to diminish the real power of this machine - after all, these are scores that smaller gaming laptops can only dream of. You’re never going to be left in the dark here, this is a completely future-proofed rig that still manages to post numbers that would have had us laughing just a few years ago.

In-game benchmarks tell a similar story. Shadow of the Tomb Raider is rock solid at over 200fps in 1080p, only slightly dropping below that threshold in native 1600p resolution. These scores beat last year’s model, with the exception of the High / 1080p benchmark which performed particularly well on the previous generation. It also trounces both the Alienware M18 R1 andAsus ROG Strix Scar 16at these QHD+ resolutions as well.

Hitman 3 can humble a gaming laptop, especially when we get to QHD+ Ultra settings. Numbers here are pretty close, though - with 1080p performance only slightly nudging ahead of higher resolutions. Everything is far closer here, you’re more likely to get similar framerates at the top end of QHD settings as you would in FHD from this model compared to both the previous generation and the Alienware M18 R1.

I used the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 for all daily work and play over the course of one week, while testing alongside the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for another week. In that time I tested with the laptop docked to a QHD+ external display for a little of the time, but primarily using the machine on a desk for both gameplay and work. I stress tested across Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Returnal, Rainbow Six Extraction, and Hitman 3, as well as using industry benchmarks from 3D Mark, PCMark 10, and Cinebench. I also tested across We Happy Few and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey in that time as well. For more information onhow we test gaming laptops, check out the fullGamesRadar+ Hardware Policy.

If you’re between brands, check out thebest Alienware laptopsor thebest Razer laptops. Or, if you’re after something a little cheaper take a look at the latestgaming laptop dealson the shelves.

Managing Editor of Hardware at GamesRadar+, I originally landed in hardware at our sister site TechRadar before moving over to GamesRadar. In between, I’ve written for Tom’s Guide, Wireframe, The Indie Game Website and That Video Game Blog, covering everything from the PS5 launch to the Apple Pencil. Now, i’m focused on Nintendo Switch, gaming laptops (and the keyboards, headsets and mice that come with them), PS5, and trying to find the perfect projector.

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