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Gizmodo
29-07-2025
- Gizmodo
The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 Could Be the Best Laptop to Replace Your Desktop Yet
The first thing you notice about the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is the AniMe lights. The pixelated LEDs (also found on devices like the ROG Phone 9), flowing in a rhythm from a back strip like a scar streaked dashingly across a warrior's eye, let you know what you're in for before you even crack open the lid. The Strix Scar 18 is a fine gaming laptop with plenty of enticing qualities and one major flaw. But what makes it so appealing isn't the dancing lights that are only attractive to moths or gamers; it's what's underneath the chassis that makes this 18-inch laptop so damn accessible. Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 It will distract you with all the gamer lights, but the Strix Scar 18 has some great thermals and repairabilty features that puts it over the top. Pros Cons The $3,400 laptop model Asus sent me for review included the top-end Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU. With 32GB of DDR5 5600 RAM, I didn't encounter an application this desktop replacement-sized mobile PC couldn't handle at the max resolution of 2,560 x 1,600. Performance was exactly what I expected from the CPU and GPU combo with the device plugged in. At its suggested retail price, it's a little more expensive than the HP Omen Max 16 I recently reviewed, which has the same screen resolution in its slightly smaller frame. The refreshed Strix Scar 18 is also more expensive than the last-gen model, a change that likely came after Trump slapped his tariffs on imported goods earlier this year. I saw the refreshed ROG Strix Scar 18 when Asus showed it off at CES earlier this year. More than that, I've felt it with the ROG Strix 17 laptop with an Nvidia RTX 3070 that I use at home. Each key is familiar. The chiclet keyboard doesn't have the feel anywhere close to a mechanical typing machine, but there's enough travel to make each press substantial. Even the palm rest has that same satin, smudge-prone texture that's neither uncomfortable nor particularly pleasant to lean on. If I had one big complaint, it's the amount of keyboard flex I could feel toward the center of the device, especially nearest to the trackpad. It makes the device feel far more brittle than it actually is. Thankfully, the rest of the chassis makes up for that flaw through smart engineering. What's most impressive about the laptop is its ability to stay cool under pressure. The Strix Scar 18 makes use of three fans and an end-to-end vapor chamber. The air gets pulled in from the bottom and sides and is expelled out the rear of the chassis. The keyboard remained at a perfectly reasonable temperature even when running multiple games for hours on end. The only area of the device that could get warm was closest to the screen, where no reasonable gamer would stick their fingers. Under load, the Strix Scar 18 will sound like a box fan running on high speed next to your ear. It's not loud enough to totally eclipse the laptop's speakers, but the hum will be noticeable enough without a good pair of noise-canceling headphones at the ready. The placement of the I/O ports also meant my mouse hand never felt toasty. The device comes with just enough I/O to save you from immediately jumping for a port dock. There are three USB-A 3.2, a LAN port, and two Thunderbolt 5 ports that support DisplayPort to accompany the single HDMI 2.1. The only thing missing is an SD card slot for all the creative types who—for some reason—want dancing LEDs on the back of their laptop lid. See Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 at Amazon Most gaming laptops of this size demand to be plugged in constantly, and the Strix Scar 18 is no exception. Even while on silent mode doing casual work, I only got a little less than four hours before the laptop was begging me for more juice. Off power, running the machine on performance mode for the sake of gaming, you'd be lucky to get two hours of battery life, or closer to one hour for games that demand higher power draw. The 90Wh battery proved it wasn't enough for a beast of this size, and you'll need to lug around the 380W power brick if you plan to take the device from room to room. Asus spent most of its engineering time developing the Strix Scar 18 refresh, focusing on what was happening underneath the big keyboard. Asus secretly made the Strix Scar 18 one of the more easily customizable gaming laptops available today. The bottom panel comes off with a single switch to reveal the battery, RAM, and SSD. The motherboard and other components are still concealed with a plastic frame that is held on by screws. My model had an easily accessible second slot that would only require me to plug in another solid-state drive to potentially double my storage. I've had to open up previous ROG Strix laptops after I encountered a fault that wouldn't boot the laptop, and that proved an hour-long chore just to unseat and reattach the battery. The quick-release switch will make it easier to clean out dust and keep your device running better for longer. Sure, it's not as customizable as a Framework laptop that lets you replace the entire motherboard if you so choose. But compared to most other gaming laptops, this design is so enticing; I wish all other laptops would go this route. That won't necessarily mean you'll be able to replace other CPU components sometime in the future, but with the specs on my review unit, I wouldn't imagine needing any kind of CPU or GPU upgrade for a long while. I ran my usual benchmarks across the usual gamut of synthetic tests, games, and rendering tasks. The laptop performed exactly as expected. It was worse than the Omen Max 16 when using that laptop in its overclocked mode, but the Strix Scar 18 will grant you more than playable frame rates in demanding games from Cyberpunk 2077 to Alan Wake II with a bevy of ray tracing options enabled. You won't get the absolute peak of performance without an RTX 5090 installed, but considering those prices, I still believe the RTX 5080 is the GPU gamers really want. The rest of the specs are exactly what you expect from a modern $3,400 gaming laptop. The mini-LED display is plenty bright and colorful. The display has a special layer that keeps reflections and glare to a minimum, even in direct sunlight. Even with Dolby Vision for HDR support, for the amount you're paying, I still miss the inky depths of an OLED display. The display can support up to a 240Hz refresh rate, which means that your games playing at up to 240 fps will look their best, though it lacks variable refresh rate, or VRR, to ensure there won't be screen tearing issues or other visual glitches in games running far below that. I'll admit, the ROG Strix Scar 18's overt lighting and huge, empty keyboard didn't leave the best first impression. Once I dug into it—literally—I discovered this may be one of my favorite laptops of the year and a contender for your best choice of an 18-inch desktop replacement device. It's got the screen, sound quality, and feel you need to contain your gaming all-in-one. More than that, it shows Asus is pushing repairability a little further through small innovations to the rear panel. Let's keep pushing in that direction, and maybe we'll come to a point where we can buy a single laptop and not have to spend another $3,400 a few years down the line. See Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 at Amazon
Tom's Guide
27-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tried the Asus TUG Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 and it changed my mind about 18-inch gaming laptops
When I think of one of the best gaming laptops, I imagine a sleek, compact powerhouse equipped with high-end specs to play visually stunning PC games on the go. So, 18-inch laptops like the latest Asus TUF Gaming A18 don't exactly fall into that category. They're big, mighty machines that act more like desktop replacements than anything, and while there's no denying their sheer power, I'd be hard-pressed to find anyone pulling an 18-incher out of their backpack to use at a café. Every laptop has its place, sure, but their generally steep pricing makes me wonder if a gaming PC would be, well, a wiser economical choice. Consider two recent behemoths, the $4,499 Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and $6,700 MSI Titan 18 HX at max configurations, and you'll notice you can get a fairly decent (and more powerful) desktop setup for the same price. Besides, both types of PCs are made to sit happily on a desk, anyway, so why replace a desktop when you can just get one? Well, that's been my line of reasoning until I got a chance to try out the mega-sized Asus TUF Gaming A18, as it appears to have struck mid-range gold. This is the first in Asus' TUF lineup to feature an 18-inch size, so instead of being sprinkled with that premium ROG spice, this is a tried-and-true TUF mid-ranger that boasts value. That's not something you see a lot of in this category of sizeable gaming laptops, especially when many 18-incher prices soar well above $2,000. That's how this TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 stands out, as it's priced at $1,799 / £1,599. Now, that's not cheap, but it's certainly a lot more affordable than the majority of desktop replacements I've seen over the years. But that's the highest configuration; the A18's starting price kicks off at $1,599 / £1,499 with an RTX 5060. Now that's value for its size. The Asus TUF Gaming A18 finally presents value in an 18-inch laptop, but that doesn't mean it won't pack a punch. With its AMD Ryzen 7 260 CPU, up to RTX 5070 GPU, 1TB SSD and visually impressive 18-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS display with a smooth 240Hz refresh rate, this machine has the right kind of gaming chops. It's a slight shame it tops out at 16GB of DDR5 RAM, but not too shabby for its price. Over in the U.K., you're also getting a value pitch that brings 18-inch gaming laptops into focus. However, this model (and the one I received) comes with a 144Hz refresh rate instead. Fast? Yes, but 240Hz would certainly be welcome (and expected). It's very much giving off TUF Gaming A14 vibes, which we rated as the best value gaming laptop you can get. This time, though, there's a glorious 18-inch 2.5K (2560 x 1600) IPS display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response rate, along with the might of an RTX 50-series GPU. In my eyes, the Asus TUF Gaming A18 is bringing 18-inch gaming laptops back into fashion, as I can now see the appeal of having an all-in-one PC on my desk that can handle the latest, graphically demanding titles with big-screen splendor. And it's all to do with that price. Many RTX 50-series gaming laptops are already starting to get discounts (hoorah!), and I've seen some interesting deals out there. Even this $1,499 Alienware 16 Aurora slipped to $1,219 (unfortunately not available anymore), but that's when I saw prices for RTX 40-series machines. I've seen them for less, but these RTX 4060 laptops, including the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 for $1,599 and Lenovo Legion 7i for $1,699, are only a hair's breadth away from the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 with its $1,799 price tag (imagine when a deal cuts that price down further). There's a lot of value to be had here, especially with the type of performance it's been cranking out in the games I've played on it so far (more on that in a bit). Having a big 18-inch screen makes the deal all the sweeter, and for gamers (and even some productivity work), it's always a perk to expand the visual limits in the fast-paced competitive games we play and in those graphically stunning AAA titles. For a long time, the Alienware M18 R2 stood its ground as the best desktop replacement in our list of best gaming laptops, and I have to note that, at the time, the starting price for this 18-inch beast was $1,899. That's also a great offering, and even has the same display specs, 16GB of RAM and 1TB SSD as the TUF gaming A18. But that came with an RTX 4060, so the A18's RTX 5070 model is still the more affordable (and valuable) option. I talk about its impressive price comparisons, but I know a huge factor in getting a gaming laptop is about size and portability, too. An 18-inch laptop isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those who just need a huge gaming machine that finds a home on a desk and pumps out great performance, the TUF Gaming A18 makes a stellar case. And hey, it's not a complete lump of a machine — it's still portable enough to take from place to place. So, bigger isn't necessarily pricier this time around, but more importantly, is it still worth gaming on? It certainly can, even with its upscaled 1600p resolution, but I also had to temper my expectations from what I usually find on more premium 18-inch gaming laptops. Running the benchmark test in Cyberpunk 2077, with Nvidia DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation x4 and High settings with ray tracing turned on, the A18 achieved an average of 200 FPS. As you'd expect, I was able to blaze through a couple of down Chrome tabs with a YouTube video playing and a PC title running in the background without a hiccup, but this is a gaming laptop, after all, so I put it to the test in my usual mix of games. There's still more testing to be done, but it's safe to say the TUF Gaming A18 with its RTX 5070 can provide some serious horsepower. Backed by its AMD Ryzen 7 260 CPU, 90Wh battery and Nvidia's DLSS 4 trickery, expect frame rates to skyrocket past 200 FPS at high settings, even at 1200p resolution. Running the benchmark test in Cyberpunk 2077, with Nvidia DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation x4 and High settings with ray tracing turned on, the A18 achieved an average of 200 FPS. That smoothness was apparent as I jumped around buildings with the backdrop of Night City — all looking immersive and expansive thanks to the screen's size. Then I dipped into the destructible beauty of The Finals, and settings were automatically maxed out. With DLSS Quality set to DLAA and everything else cranked up (Frame Generation x4, too), the game looked stunning with a 101 FPS. Slightly lower than expected, sure, but still extremely smooth. Tinkering with settings, like lowering settings to High and altering DLSS to Quality, it achieved an even faster 160 FPS. Finally, I gave Doom: The Dark Ages a go, and similarly saw frame rates soar to 230 FPS at Ultra Nightmare with 1200p resolution. Just what I expected in fast-paced first-person shooters, but I also tried Doom: The Dark Age's path tracing update, and frame rates dropped to a reasonable, but comparatively slow, 60 FPS (I quickly turned that off). Funnily, despite the impressive boost with DLSS 4, the display on the TUF Gaming A18 I've been testing tops out at 144Hz. So, it can't even fully show off those extreme numbers. And I also noticed its brightness struggled to show off darker environments in Doom. But this wasn't completely off-putting. Nevertheless, I felt I was playing on a powerful, capable gaming laptop while on this *affordable* behemoth (for its size). Asus' TUF lineup is punching above its more "budget" weight class and entering the mid-ranger ring, and it's all thanks to its Asus TUF Gaming A18. I still want to see it perform in other demanding scenarios (especially at its 1600p resolution), but for the most part, I can imagine this 18-inch gaming laptop being my main PC for gaming. Its big, bold display is great for gaming with an expansive view; it has the power to offer great performance in AAA titles; and at 5.72 pounds, it isn't even the heaviest 18-inch out there (many are over 7 pounds). Better yet, this gaming laptop goes beyond entry-level gaming and delivers powerful performance at a more affordable price than its major competitors. As the TUF Gaming A18 has proven to me, maybe 18-inch gaming laptops don't have to cost a premium after all. For accessible, powerful gaming performance that won't completely drain the bank account (and with a big screen), I'd put this on my radar.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
LinkedIn co-founder slams Trump administration for stopping student visa interviews: Completely forgotten how…
LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman recently criticized the Trump administration 's recent move to temporarily suspend all interviews for student visas, calling it a step backward for America's long-standing tradition of attracting global talent. Responding to the policy shift, Hoffman said, 'Unfortunately, the truth. Other countries are moving to fill the gap and acquire top talent. We've completely forgotten how America prospered.' Hoffman quoted an X post that read: 'Blowing a $50 billion hole in the budget of every state flagship and top private university in America. Gunshot wound to the head of the best education system in the world and the crown jewel of American soft power. Absolute madness.' Hoffman's remarks highlight growing frustration among Silicon Valley leaders who say restricting educational access undermines America's ability to compete globally. Many point to countries like Canada, the UK, and Australia, which are streamlining student immigration policies to attract talent that might otherwise have chosen the U.S. US halts student visa interviews Earlier this week, the Trump administration said it has stopped scheduling new student visa interviews at embassies across the embassies. The order was issued by a diplomatic cable sent by US Secretary Marco Rubio . 'Effective immediately, in preparation for an expansion of required social media screening and vetting, consular sections should not add any additional student or exchange visitor (F, M and J) visa appointment capacity until further guidance is issued,' Rubio wrote The Trump administration has defended the decision as part of a broader effort to reassess visa processing and prioritize national interest, but critics argue the suspension sends a chilling message to the world's best and brightest. While the administration has not clarified how long the hold on interviews will last, universities and businesses are bracing for potential fallout in upcoming academic cycles. Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) | 10 Features You Need to Know AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
One of the top 3 chip design software companies in US halts China sales after Trump administration's 'ban letter'
Synopsys , one of the top three semiconductor design software companies in the US, has reportedly instructed its staff in China to cease all services and sales within the country and to stop accepting new orders. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This directive, outlined in an internal letter reviewed by news agency Reuters, is in response to latest US export restrictions targeting China. The report said that Synopsys, a large provider of electronic design automation (EDA) software used in chip design, suspended its annual and quarterly forecasts on Thursday (May 26) after receiving notification of the new restrictions from the US Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security. Soon after the Trump administration 's 'China ban letter', the company sent an internal letter to staff in China on Friday (May 30), stating that the restrictions "broadly prohibit the sales of our products and services in China and are effective as of May 29, 2025." To ensure compliance, Synopsys confirmed that it is blocking all sales and fulfillment in China and pausing new orders pending further clarification. Notably, these measures apply to all customers in China, including employees of global clients operating within China, and Chinese military users worldwide. Synopsys has reportedly disabled Chinese customers' access to its customer support portal, SolvNetPlus. Why this is significant for both US and China The development comes a day after the US government ordered numerous companies to halt product shipments to China without a license and revoked existing licenses for certain suppliers. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now These measures impact critical products, including design software and chemicals essential for semiconductor manufacturing. Synopsys, alongside Cadence and Siemens EDA, controls over 70% of China's EDA market, as per Chinese news agency Xinhua. Restricting Chinese firms' access to these US-made EDA tools is likely to significantly impact the Chinese chip design industry, which heavily relies on such advanced software. Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) | 10 Features You Need to Know
