OPINION: It’s lengthy been accepted that highly effective gaming laptops include many trade-offs.
As a result of high-spec elements crammed inside, in addition to the delicate cooling programs to forestall these laptops from bursting into flames, they’re sometimes so heavy that it feels mistaken to name them a real transportable.
Nice progress has been made in recent times, with laptops powered by the likes of an RTX 3060 weighing lower than 2kg, however if you happen to’re craving high-end gaming efficiency then the laptops with the required GPU energy begin to turn out to be unwieldy.
For instance, the Razer Blade 17 we examined final 12 months (powered by an RTX 3080 Ti) hit the scales at a whopping 2.75kg. Final 12 months’s Alienware x17 R2 gaming laptop computer took issues even additional with an astonishing weight of 3kg. These laptops are so heavy that they’re tough to maneuver round your personal residence, by no means thoughts on the day by day commute to work.
That’s not a criticism of these laptops, as each scored extremely in our critiques, it was merely an accepted limitation of gaming laptops on the time. In case you wished essentially the most highly effective specs, then you definately needed to accept a big, cumbersome design, but when such laptops are so heavy that they’re tough to make use of exterior of the house, then why not purchase a desktop gaming PC as an alternative? This quandry is strictly why some of these laptops have a really restricted viewers.
Soar to the current day in 2023 and the gaming laptop computer trade has made important strides. I’ve been testing the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 (2023), which is a 14-inch transportable that solely weighs 1.72kg. It’s straightforward to hold round, and I may even maintain it in a single hand with out pressure – I definitely wouldn’t be capable of say the identical in regards to the 3kg Alienware which is nearly 2x heavier.
Alienware x17 R2 – Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
Probably the most outstanding factor in regards to the Zephyrus G14 is that you just’re in a position to configure it with Nvidia’s RTX 4090 GPU with out compromising on that ultra-portable construct. Contemplating that that is essentially the most highly effective cell GPU that Nvidia has to supply, it looks as if Asus is making use of the darkish arts with the intention to accomplish this.
There may be one large caveat that’s price mentioning: not all RTX 4090 laptop computer GPUs are made equal. The graphics chip discovered contained in the Zephyrus G14 has 95W graphics energy, which implies it doesn’t expend as a lot power because the 175W RTX 4090 GPU discovered contained in the bigger Razer Blade 16 (2023) laptop computer. This makes a notable distinction to efficiency.
Whereas the Zephyrus G14 might play Returnal in Quad HD at 69fps, the Razer allowed for a extra spectacular 93fps. The same efficiency hole was seen with Cyberpunk 2077 in QHD, with the G14 reaching 43fps and the Blade 16 reaching 77fps. Meaning you’re roughly getting round a 30fps increase by choosing the Razer, which is critical contemplating each are powered by an RTX 4090.
ROG Zephyrus G14 – Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
Alas, larger remains to be higher on the subject of efficiency. Not solely does it enable for higher energy consumption, but in addition allows producers to slot in simpler cooling programs to ensure the elements are working extra effectively.
However, I’m nonetheless very impressed with the efficiency of the Zephyrus G14. It’s in a position to run two of essentially the most demanding trendy video games past 60fps at a Quad HD decision. Even the PS5 and Xbox Sequence X can battle to hit these heights, and but you’re in a position to tuck the G14 underneath your arm and carry it anyplace you please.
This is among the very first high-powered laptops that I’ve been ready to make use of as a productiveness laptop computer too, each at residence and the workplace. That’s an enormous deal to me, as I would like a laptop computer within the mould of a MacBook Air that I can simply transport, particularly when working overseas, however I additionally respect with the ability to dip into the likes of Civilization VI, Soccer Supervisor and Complete Struggle throughout my downtime.
Returnal on Zephyrus G14 – Picture Credit score (Trusted Opinions)
Beforehand, the one actual answer was to purchase each an ultrabook and a gaming laptop computer for separate use circumstances, however that requires an especially costly outlay. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 definitely isn’t low cost – with the RTX 4090 mannequin priced at £3399.99/$3299.99 – nevertheless it’s nonetheless a greater different than shopping for two separate laptops.
Asus isn’t the one firm enhancing the portability for high-powered gaming programs. The brand new Razer Blade 14 isn’t fairly as highly effective, peaking with an RTX 4070 configuration, however can be pretty transportable with a sub-2kg weight of 1.84kg.
I anticipate high-powered gaming laptops with ultra-portable designs will solely turn out to be extra frequent within the subsequent couple of years, and that’s sensible information for on-the-go PC players. Lastly you’ll be capable of get the true laptop computer expertise with out being compelled to accept a sub-standard gaming efficiency.
Ctrl+Alt+Del is our weekly computing-focused opinion column the place we delve deeper into the world of computer systems, laptops, elements, peripherals and extra. Discover it on Trusted Opinions each Saturday afternoon.
