Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 review: This gaming laptop oozes luxurious power

Price When Reviewed

$2,200 (base unit) as much as $3,700 (evaluate unit)

Best Prices Today

The newest Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 has nearly every little thing you’d need in a gaming laptop computer. You can anticipate a great deal of energy because of the highly effective pairing of an 11th-generation Intel i9 processor and a Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU. A 17.3-inch 4K show with 120Hz refresh fee additionally provides to the premium expertise, even when it’s not the head of 4K.

This laptop computer additionally spoils you with a strong metallic chassis, six speaker sound system, and RGB per key-lit optical mechanical keyboard – options that any discerning gamer would discover exhausting to withstand. Admittedly, all this energy and performance doesn’t come low cost. But neither does a sports activities automotive or a tailored go well with, two different premium objects you would possibly wish to attempt a minimum of as soon as in your life.

Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 specs

There are 4 configurations of the Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 on the Asus website, with costs beginning at $2,199.99 for fashions with a i7-11800H processor. The costs rise consecutively for the three different models, which have Intel i9-11900H processors. The three cheaper models all include WQHD (2560 x 1440) 165Hz shows with G-Sync and Advanced Optimus, and both 1TB or 2TB of SSD storage. The prime tier configurations just like the $3,699.99 ROG Zephyrus S17 (GX703HS-XB99) include a 4K (3840 x 2160) 120Hz show with Adaptive-Sync, and 3 x 1TB SSD (RAID0) for storage. The specs of our top-tier evaluate unit are as follows:

CPU: Intel Core i9-11900H
RAM: 32GB DDR4/3200MHz
GPU: Nvidia GeForce RTX 3080
Display: 17.3-inch UHD (3840 x 2160), non-touch IPS-level panel, 120Hz refresh fee, DCI-P3 100%
Storage: 3 x 1TB PCle 4 SSD (RAID0)
Ports: Type-C USB with Thunderbolt 4 (DisplayPort 1.4, energy supply); USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C (DisplayPort 1.4, energy supply); USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 2 x USB 3.2 Type-A; HDMI 2.0b, 3.5 mm Combo jack, Gigabit Ethernet, SD card slot.
Networking: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2×2), Bluetooth 5.0
Dimensions: 15.51 x 10.39 x 0.78 inches
Weight: 6.06 lbs (2.75 kg); the powerbrick weighs 1.9 lbs (0.9 kg)
Operating system: Windows 10 Home
Color: Matte Black
Battery capability: 90WHr

Design and construct

The 2020 version Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 launched an modern hole within the decrease case to supply further cooling. It was considerably of a science experiment by Asus and fairly a courageous transfer in a market the place nothing prefer it existed earlier than. From all accounts, the distinctive design was profitable, offering the S17’s followers with further air for cooling and permitting scorching air to be vented out the again and sides.

Love it or hate it, that hole is again once more within the newest Zephyrus S17, however extra sensible than earlier than. I say sensible as a result of this characteristic had the unlucky consequence of dictating the place the keyboard needed to go within the earlier version. It was positioned in direction of the entrance periphery of the laptop computer and the trackpad was positioned on the best aspect of the keyboard, which isn’t excellent, particularly in the event you’re left-handed.

The refreshed S17’s design now sees the case raise up 12 mm behind the keyboard whenever you open the lid, nonetheless affording further air to the 2 Arc Flow followers, whereas the keyboard itself – now positioned extra in direction of the again – lifts with it and strikes in direction of you. The trackpad is out entrance the place you’d anticipate it to be.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

This lifting keyboard mechanism occurs very easily and is kind of satisfying to observe earlier than you start gaming. Asus tells us the keyboard, though remarkably skinny, can face up to repeated 12.5kg stress testing with out cracking. Judging by the S17’s all metallic exterior and powerful hinges, that’s very plausible. That mentioned, there’s a bit give immediately within the middle of the keyboard beneath the 4K panel.

In the dimensions division, the S17 is kind of large, measuring 15.51 x 10.39 x 0.78 inches. It takes up portion of any tabletop, so that you’ll want sizeable one. But being massive is the very level of the S17. All that measurement is ideal to deal with its 17.3-inch show that comes cradled by skinny bezels to its left and proper edges that make up an 88 p.c screen-to-body ratio. The decrease bezel is barely thicker, displaying off the phrases “ROG Zephyrus.”

Despite its spectacular measurement, the general aesthetic of the S17 is inconspicuous. It sports activities a clear matte black magnesium-aluminum chassis. The muted black contrasts properly with the coloured RGB keys from the optical mechanical keyboard – all of the styling I’d want. However, on prime of the lid, there’s additionally a delicate dot sample and ROG branding, which provides to the visible enchantment.

Asus

As you’d anticipate in a big gaming laptop computer, the S17 isn’t mild to hold. It weighs 6.06 lbs, which is barely greater than a detailed competitor, the Gigabyte Aero 17 (5.5 lbs).

Keyboard and touchpad

Some gaming laptops go all out within the CPU and GPU stakes whereas providing a extra modest keyboard, however not the S17. This laptop computer sports activities an optical mechanical keyboard with per key illumination.

Typing on the keyboard is extraordinarily snug. It’s the type of consolation that lets you simply zone out and play with out worrying about niggling key points. The keyboard’s large measurement lets your palms loosen up into a large typing posture and the generous-sized palm rests present a number of assist even for bigger palms. My consolation was enhanced by the 5-degree tilt that lightly angled my palms upwards like at a desktop.

The keys are extremely tactile and the mechanical switches reply rapidly, registering loud clicks with every of your keystrokes. Travel is 1.9mm, which is kind of ample. The keyboard simply has a deceptively low profile. It additionally stays cool to the contact even after 30 minutes of gaming, one of many advantages of the elevated airflow beneath it.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

Although all the keyboard and trackpad is leagues forward of the 2020 version’s uncommon format, it could nonetheless not please everybody. It contains a diminished numpad, which implies some keys just like the 0 and + are fairly small. You additionally received’t see an Enter key on the far proper hand aspect.

That mentioned, the trade-off is full-sized keys to the left of the numpad. The arrow keys on the best are full-sized, too. For the latter, Asus has opted to not place them off the decrease periphery of the keyboard. This means they line up properly and aren’t too conspicuous.

Having the facility to individually illuminate chosen keys appeared at first a trifle extravagant. But I quickly discovered this characteristic invaluable for assigning hotkeys for video games like Age of Empires 4. Asus has given us the choice to go all out with key personalization, or simply choose from numerous presets within the S17’s official software program hub, Armory Crate.

The centrally situated touchpad is much less spectacular than the keyboard. While it does the job, clicks are a bit loud and require extra stress than I’d have anticipated from a gaming touchpad the place velocity is of the essence. The floor may even have benefited from being smoother. Still, it’s positioning out entrance is a marked enchancment 12 months on 12 months.

Display and webcam

The Zephyrus S17’s 4K show has first rate distinction and shade, however for my part each these attributes may have been barely higher contemplating the panel’s excessive decision. Some photographs appeared simply above common’ for these traits once I was anticipating to be blown away.

The panel is extraordinarily shiny at 516 nits peak brightness (by our Lux meter), making it simply seen even in evident daylight situations. There was no seen shade bleed, though this has been recognized to fluctuate considerably from panel to panel in several laptops of the identical mannequin.

As for smoothness, our 4K show’s 120Hz refresh fee appeared to eradicate most seen micro-stuttering in each video and AAA video games. There was additionally no observable tearing, possible because of the Adaptive Sync in our mannequin, a characteristic not current in cheaper configurations.

The 720p HD digital camera produces ample footage that had been neither too grainy or darkish.

Audio

Audio-wise, the ROG Zephyrus S17 is considerably of an anomaly amongst laptops in that it produces a wealthy multi-layered sound that’s equally good plugged in or unplugged.

With the sound up, you possibly can actually hear (and really feel) the deep bass notes hitting their mark. They additionally sound clear and unmuffled. The S17’s sound system consists of 6 audio system. Four tweeters are situated beneath the keyboard whereas the 2 woofers sit beneath the show. This setup produces the traditional “soundscape experience” you typically examine in product descriptions for transportable audio system the place the sound seems to return at you from totally different instructions.

On the left aspect above the keyboard sits a wheel that lets you management the amount by merely scrolling it up and down. I discovered I may get the precise quantity setting I wished in a lot much less time utilizing this than the compulsory laptop computer quantity keys.

Connectivity

The Zephyrus has a beneficiant array of contemporary ports, making it equally helpful for gaming in addition to content material creation. There are two port choices to connect with further shows, together with a USB-C and a Thunderbolt 4 port.

Asus

The latter allows you to hook up twin 4K shows or one 8K show and benefit from the quickest knowledge switch speeds. On the left, you’ll additionally discover a HDMI 2.0b port. A Gigabit Ethernet port lets you get the quickest connection speeds in on-line video games whereas the Wi-Fi 6 assist supplies first rate speeds for whenever you’re unplugged.

Asus

Performance

The Asus ROG Zephyrus S17’s massive, slab-like chassis isn’t wasted on middling energy. With its mixture of a Core i9-11900H CPU, a Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU, and 32GB of RAM, this laptop computer carried out exceedingly effectively in efficiency benchmarks that present perception into its CPU energy and cooling.

We in contrast the $3,699.99 Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 set to Performance Mode (default) with a number of gaming laptops that characteristic in a few of our latest opinions. These laptops fluctuate in measurement and {hardware} configurations however their goal, just like the Zephyrus S17, is to ship a high-end gaming expertise. These laptops included the 17-inch Dell XPS 17, the price range pleasant 15-inch Acer Nitro 5, and the 15-inch Asus ROG Strix Advantage Edition.

The Razer Blade 14 can be featured in our comparability line-up. While it’s considerably smaller than our Zephyrus S17, it sports activities an RTX 3080 GPU able to producing superbly rendered, ray-traced graphics.

First up, we ran Maxon’s Cinebench R15 benchmarks, which measure CPU efficiency. Cinebench’s single-threaded benchmark scores present solely minimal distinction amongst laptops (consultant of mainstream functions), nevertheless, the S17’s multi-threaded rating ranked the S17 the second highest amongst our comparability laptops, proving its suitability for high-end gaming and CPU demanding duties like 3D video enhancing.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

Our Zephyrus S17 proved to be equally succesful in our subsequent benchmark that makes use of the free HandBrake 0.9.9 utility. This benchmark checks a laptop computer’s potential to chill earlier than it must throttle efficiency. It includes encoding a 30GB, 1080p MKV file to MP4 utilizing the Android Tablet Preset. The Zephyrus S17 accomplished the duty simply shy of the Asus ROG Zephyrus Advantage Edition (a really sturdy performer), however quicker than the remainder of our comparisons.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

This final end result isn’t surprising. Large laptops just like the S17 typically have a efficiency benefit over smaller models just like the 15-inch Acer Nitro 5 and 14-inch Razer Balde 14 since they’ve extra thermal headroom to chill. The S17 additionally outclassed the bigger Dell XPS on this take a look at, proving its superiority over the older 17-inch laptop computer.

Gaming efficiency

The outcomes of our gaming benchmarks make no bones about what the ROG Zephyrus is actually designed for. It ripped by way of demanding AAA video games with relative ease.

What’s fascinating about our gaming benchmark outcomes is that the S17 outperformed different RTX 3080 laptops whose GPUs had been set to greater wattages, which is a reminder that greater Total Graphics Power (TGP) doesn’t all the time equate to raised efficiency in laptops with the identical GPUs. We see these variations play out within the graph outcomes beneath.

In our Rise of the Tomb Raider benchmark, our Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 with Nvidia RTX 3080 GPU set to 140W topped the sector, edging out the Asus ROG Zephyrus X13 with Ryzen 8 5980HS CPU and RTX 3080 GPU set at 150W. It additionally proved superior to the Adata XPG 15KC with GeForce RTX 3070 set at 145W – the mixture of the S17’s i9-11900H processor and RTX 3080 GPU making mild work of the workload within the RoTTR preset.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

In the Middle Earth Shadow of Mordor 4K benchmark, the outcomes had been equally spectacular. Our evaluate unit simply beat our comparability MSI GS66 and Predator Triton 500 comparisons.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

Overall, these two benchmark outcomes bode effectively for avid gamers wanting a laptop computer that’s a reduce above by way of graphics efficiency, with the excessive body charges equating to a smoother gaming expertise and extra element in every scene rendered.

It’s price noting, nevertheless, that our 4K evaluate unit lacked Advanced-Optimus (getting by with simply Optimus). This characteristic is current within the different S17 configurations.

Nvidia’s Advanced-Optimus permits the show to bypass the built-in GPU and join immediately with the discrete GPU when a heavy job like a sport or 3D enhancing begins. It’s extremely possible this may have given the step-down S17 configuration that includes a WQHD 165Hz show and RTX 3080 with Advanced-Optimus a efficiency edge over our evaluate unit in our benchmarks had we examined it.

Battery life

The Zephyrus S17 has a big 4 cell, 90WHr battery. However, it proved to be solely a mid-range performer in our battery take a look at that ran its battery down from full to standby mode by taking part in a 4K video on repeat. Before we launched our take a look at, we charged up the battery to full capability, unplugged the charging cable, and plugged in a pair of headphones.

The Asus Zephyrus S17 lasted 5 hours and 44 minutes. Although we didn’t get to check the opposite S17 configurations with Advanced-Optimus, it’s extremely possible that they’d have outperformed our evaluate unit, presumably benefiting from the facility financial savings that this characteristic would have afforded them in our light-weight video take a look at.

IDG / Dominic Bayley

Conclusion

The Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 is without doubt one of the strongest 17-inch gaming laptops you should buy. It excels in CPU and GPU efficiency and dishes up constantly easy and detailed visuals in AAA video games on its 4K show. The solely actual draw back is the excessive worth. That mentioned, in the event you’ve obtained a versatile price range, the Zephyrus is effectively price it.