The Asus Rog Zephyrus M16 (2023) is yet another gaming laptop that can replace a desktop that delivers exceptional performance and has a fun gimmick. Nevertheless, the CPU struggles under the load of the GPU and occasionally freezes.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): TWO-MINUTE REVIEW
The 2023 iteration of the Asus Rog Zephyrus M16 aims to be a gaming behemoth while avoiding the trap of desktop replacements’ weight and size (to a point of course). It is only available in black, which is a touch monotonous, but the chassis is unexpectedly slimmer than others, which is particularly noteworthy for a laptop with a GeForce RTX 4090 GPU.
The 16-inch display is a work of art, since it is a QHD+ (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) mini-LED with an insanely high 240Hz refresh rate, 3ms response time, with HDR and G-Sync compatibility. Dolby Atmos, Smart Amp Technology, two 2W Tweeters, and a 2W dual-force woofer provide a sound system worthy of the greatest gaming laptop, as it is powered by Dolby Atmos and contains two 2W Tweeters and a 2W dual-force woofer. This ensures that your laptop reflects every nuance of audio design and music during your session, creating a more immersive experience.
RGB lighting appears to be a need for any gaming keyboard, and this one does not disappoint, as both the touchpad and keys are wonderfully illuminated. The Chiclet keyboard is smooth and easy to type on, which is beneficial if you prefer to play games with a keyboard rather than a gamepad.
Even in its most basic configuration, this laptop’s specs, memory, and storage are geared towards gaming performance. The base model is equipped with an RTX 4070, while the highest-end variant includes the tremendously powerful RTX 4090. While testing of the later graphics card on the review unit I received, I found its boosting capabilities to be rather excellent, owing to its 150W maximum TGP when utilising Dynamic Boost in Manual Mode.
The AniMe Matrix mode is a noteworthy feature that distinguishes this update from prior models and other gaming laptops. This mode enables the activation of predefined animations and messages, as well as the creation and display of custom animations and messages on the exterior chassis. It is a feature best utilised for showing off and entertaining others, despite its lack of utility. But, you can save money by choosing a model without it.
Although it may be a contender for one of the finest Asus laptops, this laptop has a few downsides. First, the CPU throttling issue is more prominent in this laptop, which not only reduces the capability of the generally potent Core i9-13900H but also creates stuttering when performing non-gaming chores. Although the software has numerous features and settings, it is difficult to navigate and demands a great deal of time and effort.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): PRICE & AVAILABILITY
- Starting at $2.999.99 / £2,399.99 (around AU$4,417)
- Available now
- Available in the US and UK, and possibly Australia in the future
The Asus Rog Zephyrus M16 (2023) is an extremely costly and opulent gaming laptop. Its starting price from the official Asus online store is $2.999.99 in the United States and £2,399.99 in the United Kingdom. This pricing comes to approximately $4,417 AUD. Compared to other comparable desktop replacements available with current-generation components, such as the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i, the price of this laptop is significantly more. It is, however, a more economical option for a high-end machine than the MSI GT77 Titan (2023).
It is not accessible in Australia at this time. A spokesperson indicates that this is likely to change in the near future. As of this writing, the ROG Zephyrus M16 is also sold out in the United States, making its acquisition somewhat more difficult.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): SPECS
A review version of the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) was delivered to me with the following specifications: an Intel Core i9-13900H CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of storage, as well as the exclusive AniMe Matrix mode. The most premium version has the same GPU but 64GB of RAM, while the most basic version has the same GPU but only 8GB of RAM.
| Component | Base model | Review unit | Top configuration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.999.99 / £2,399.99 / around AU$4,417 | $3,499.99 / £3,299.99 / around AU$5,218 | $3,499.99 / £3,299.99 / around AU$5,218 |
| CPU | Intel Core i9-13900H | Intel Core i9-13900H | Intel Core i9-13900H |
| GPU | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 | Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 |
| RAM | 32GB DDR5 | 32GB DDR5 | 64GB DDR5 |
| Storage | 2TB SSD | 2TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
| Ports | 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x Thunderbolt 4, microSD reader, Kensington Lock | 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x Thunderbolt 4, microSD reader, Kensington Lock | 1x 3.5mm combo audio jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C, 1x Thunderbolt 4, microSD reader, Kensington Lock |
| Screen | 16-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) Mini-LED, 1,100 nits brightness, HDR, DCI-P3: 100%, Refresh Rate 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, G-Sync | 16-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) Mini-LED, 1,100 nits brightness, HDR, DCI-P3: 100%, Refresh Rate 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, G-Sync | 16-inch QHD+ 16:10 (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) Mini-LED, 1,100 nits brightness, HDR, DCI-P3: 100%, Refresh Rate 240Hz, Response Time: 3ms, G-Sync |
| Wireless | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2 x 2 + Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2 x 2 + Bluetooth 5.2 | Wi-Fi 6E(802.11ax) (Triple band) 2 x 2 + Bluetooth 5.2 |
| Camera | 1080p FHD IR | 1080p FHD IR | 1080p FHD IR |
| Weight | 4.63 pounds (2.10kg) | 5.07 pounds (2.30kg) | 5.07 pounds (2.30kg) |
| Dimensions | 13.98 x 9.69 x 0.78 ~ 0.88 inches / 35.5 x 24.6 x 1.99 ~ 2.23 cm (W x H x D) | 3.98 x 9.69 x 0.83 ~ 0.90 inches / 35.5 x 24.6 x 2.11 ~ 2.29 cm (W x H x D) | 13.98 x 9.69 x 0.83 ~ 0.90 inches / 35.5 x 24.6 x 2.11 ~ 2.29 cm (W x H x D) |
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): DESIGN
- Simple color, sleek form factor
- AniMe Matrix mode is a fun gimmick
- Display and sound system are great
Whilst the colour of the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) is a fairly conventional black, it has a design that is surprisingly sleeker than other desktop replacements, especially considering that my review unit houses an RTX 4090. This robust GPU boosts the weight to five pounds, compared to the RTX 4070 laptop’s about four and a half pounds. Regardless, its form factor is so well-balanced that you barely notice it. The chassis is sturdy, though not as robust as that of heavier laptops.
It boasts a display and audio system designed to provide the greatest portable gaming experience possible. The 16-inch display is a QHD+ (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) mini-LED with an absurdly high refresh rate of 240Hz and a reaction time of 3ms. Moreover, it supports HDR and G-Sync for extra-smooth and sharp graphics. In addition, the bezels are narrow enough to offer a screen-to-body ratio of over 90%, allowing you to see more of the user interface of your favourite PC game.
This laptop’s defining characteristic, AniMe Matrix mode, is quite cool. You write messages or animations using the built-in software, which are then shown on the back of the chassis for everyone to see. That makes for amusing conversation starters, but has no effect on the performance of the laptop. If you need to save money, feel free to purchase a different model that does not include this mode.
Dolby Atmos, Smart Amp Technology, two 2W Tweeters, and a 2W dual-force woofer contribute to a superior audio experience compared to the majority of competing laptops. It is incredibly clear and loses no quality when turned up, making it ideal for recording sound design and music. It is accompanied by a high-quality microphone that eliminates background noise during webcam-enabled conference calls, while the webcam’s sights are somewhat above average.
The keys on the Chiclet-style keyboard are quite responsive and quick. Due to the proximity of the speakers to the keyboard, there is no area for a numlock pad, which is an essential component of a gaming system. The keyboard and touchpad contain RGB illumination, which is ideal for illuminating night sessions and is also aesthetically pleasing.
Ample ventilation is also present, consisting of liquid metal, a vapour chamber, a heat sink, heat pipes, and fans. The underbelly and space between the keyboard and display are susceptible to overheating despite all safeguards taken. I also observed that having AniMe Matrix mode activated places an additional strain on the ventilation system, so I had to disable it after a while.
In terms of ports, it features one 3.5mm combination audio jack, one HDMI 2.1 FRL port, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, one Thunderbolt 4 port, one microSD reader, and one Kensington Lock. It is missing an ethernet wire, which for a standard laptop wouldn’t be a problem, but for a gaming laptop designed to replace a desktop computer? It requires you to rely solely on wireless connectivity, a death sentence for connection-dependent fighting games, for example.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): PERFORMANCE
- Gaming performance is top-notch
- Clears benchmarks
- CPU struggles along
Gaming is the area in which the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) excels the most. Even the most basic configuration of the gaming laptop is utterly ripping, and the top-of-the-line model can effortlessly run any game at maximum settings and ray-tracing.
The ROG Zephyrus M16 has lower benchmark scores than other gaming laptops, including the Lenovo Legion Pro 7i and the MSI GT77 Titan (2023), with the exception of the MSI GT77 Titan (2023), which loses the PCMark 10 test to the ROG Zephyrus M16. And given that the price of this laptop is more than Lenovo’s own products, it raises questions about what you’re receiving for your money. Especially considering the Pro 7i utilises a 4080 as opposed to the M16’s 4090.
But, this does not imply that you are not receiving value for your money. The fact that this laptop weighs substantially less than the other two, can run every imaginable graphics and performance increase, can be overclocked for even higher performance, and can still fit in a modestly sized laptop bag is impressive.
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In addition to the regular benchmarks, I ran some customised ones to assess the system’s DLSS 3-enabled ray-tracing capabilities. Cyberpunk 2077 ran flawlessly, with frame rates consistently over 100. Hitman 3’s Dartmoor and Dubai benchmarks maintained over 100 and 115 frames per second, respectively. Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered was the obvious victor, averaging between 115 and 150 frames per second during web-swinging and above 150 frames per second during violent fighting portions.
Despite the fact that the GPU performed admirably in every PC game I tried it with, there is a big drawback that may deter those who require a more well-rounded system. Not only did the few CPU-based benchmarks produce several throttled results due to the overpowering GPU, but I also experienced extremely visible stuttering when performing common productivity tasks such as composing papers and browsing the web. It is insignificant, but enough to make anything other than gaming somewhat tedious.
ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023): BATTERY
Using TechRadar’s movie battery test, I determined that the Asus ROG Zephyrus M16 (2023) lasted a maximum of four hours and 45 minutes. It is extremely poor for a laptop, but it’s about typical for a gaming machine. It is a marked improvement over the Legion 7i Pro, which cannot surpass the two-and-a-half-hour mark, and it defeats the GT77 Titan by approximately 15 minutes.
Obviously, this is a desktop replacement, so unless you can complete some productive work in less than five hours, you will not be removing this device from the AC power. Yet, if you need to take it to another area, it will certainly last long enough. And it also charges quickly, taking approximately 30 minutes for a half charge, so you won’t have to wait too long.
SHOULD YOU BUY THE ASUS ROG ZEPHYRUS M16 (2023)?
| Attributes | Notes | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Price | It’s a premium-priced gaming laptop that not everyone can afford, but it delivers on the value. | 4 / 5 |
| Specs | It features some top-notch specs in both components and display. | 4 / 5 |
| Design | A bit simple in color, but the sleek look and AniMe Matrix mode is definitely an eye-catcher. | 4 / 5 |
| Performance | Performs phenomenally well with gaming but is a bit sluggish when it comes to CPU-intensive tasks. | 4.5 / 5 |
| Battery | An average battery life for a gaming laptop means you’ll never remove it from the charger | 3 / 5 |
| Average total | This is a great choice for a laptop if you want high-end gaming performance, not so much for office work. | 4 / 5 |
