ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has officially announced the ROG Ally X, a new model of its popular ROG Ally handheld game console.

Designed for Windows 11 gaming on the go, the ROG Ally X features the same AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, but adds upgraded storage, RAM, and battery life, alongside an updated chassis for improved ergonomics, cooling, and connectivity. Combined with Armoury Crate SE 1.5, which features a new customisable game library and unified system updates, the ROG Ally X is designed to #playALLYourgames better than ever.

Bradley Howe, Head of Consumer, Systems Business Group, ASUS Australia, said: “We’re excited to launch the new ROG Ally X in Australia and New Zealand after receiving overwhelmingly positive feedback from users on the ROG Ally last year. We have continued to listen to our customers’ feedback, resulting in the new ROG Ally X, which offers great improvements to battery, thermal cooling and storage. We are delighted that this best-in-class handheld console will now be available for individuals looking for a powerful yet portable on-the-go gaming experience.”

Built with user feedback at its heart, the ROG Ally X amps many of its crucial internal components. A new 1 TB SSD ensures users have room for all their games, up from 512 GB on the original Ally. In addition, the ROG Ally X uses a redesigned motherboard featuring an M.2 2280 form factor slot, allowing users to more easily upgrade their storage to larger drives than previously possible.

Accompanying this storage upgrade is 24 GB of LPDDR5X-7500 RAM for more flexibility. As an APU, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme shares its video RAM with the device’s system RAM. With modern games using more VRAM for high-resolution, lifelike textures, 24 GB of system memory allows users to allocate more memory to both the system and the GPU for better performance in the next generation of AAA titles.

Finally, the ROG Ally X has also been outfitted with an 80 Wh battery, double the capacity of the previous model, so users can game longer away from the wall. Despite a sizeable improvement in battery life, the ROG Ally X only weighs 70 grams more than the original ROG Ally, with the weight distribution perfectly centred where the gamer’s thumb and forefinger lie while gripping the device. This keeps it feeling lighter than its 678 g weight, ensuring comfortable play and portability for all.

The ROG Ally X features a redesigned chassis in a brand-new black colourway, with slightly deeper handles and a more rounded shape for improved comfort, without adding much thickness to the device. The buttons and sticks are arranged with more ergonomic angle, with a slant to the triggers that makes them easier to press. The macro buttons on the back are also smaller, to reduce accidental presses while keeping them easily accessible.

The joysticks have been replaced with a new, more durable module rated for a 5-million-cycle lifespan, with stiffer springs for a more familiar response curve to longtime controller gamers. The D-Pad has been similarly improved, with more precise eight-direction input for fighting and retro games.

Users overwhelmingly requested more universal I/O, so the original XG Mobile port has been replaced with two USB-C ports on the ROG Ally X, one of which is Thunderbolt-compatible for wide interoperability with third-party docks and external GPUs.

To accommodate the new battery, the ROG Ally X features new fans that are 23% smaller, but utilise 50% thinner fan blades to improve airflow. Two new tunnels in the fan housing direct air up and out toward an additional, third exhaust vent on the upper edge of the ROG Ally X. This new thermal solution provides 24% more air volume to be pushed through the device, cooling not only the internal components but also the touch screen, which measures up to 6°C cooler for more comfortable long-term usage.

ASUS ROG Ally X is now available for pre-order.

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The Asus Republic of Gamers Strix Z790-F WiFi is a DDR5 ATX motherboard designed for Intel 12,13 and 14th Generation desktop processors.

We take a look and see if this is the motherboard for your gaming rig.

In offering PC gamers a huge range of motherboard choices, picking the right Asus motherboard for your Intel-based PC build can be a bit of a minefield. First, you’ve got your Asus Prime boards for everyday use, of which six are based on the Intel Z790 chipset. Then there are the Asus TUF Gaming boards, of which three feature Z790 chips. And finally, there’s the Asus Republic of Gamers boards.

All of Asus’ motherboards will do the job. But it’s when you start balancing price and performance, things start getting tricky.

I’ll be honest, 85% of PC gamers will probably be very pleased with an Asus Prime board, with the next, more discerning, 10% happy with a TUF Gaming board. It’s the last 5% that may want to get a little bit more out of their machines that the Republic of Gamers boards are tooled up to cater for.

Ignoring those top 1% who want to flex with ROG Maximus boards, ROG Strix motherboards offer top performance for gamers after something special. For the last few years, ROG Strix boards have suffixed the Intel chipset designation with an A, E, F and I. The ROG Strix Z790-I Gaming WiFi is suitable for small Mini-ATX cases. The Strix Z790-A Gaming WiFi is the range’s entry-level ATX motherboard with DDR4 and a white aesthetic. The Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi is the same as the “-A” but with DDR5 memory compatibility. Finally, the Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi is the range’s flagship board.

The ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WiFi is a slight step down from the Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi with only four M.2 slots and no PCIe 5.0 NVMe functionality. It does, however, gain an extra PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slot over its more expensive sibling, which may be useful for some.

The LGA1700 socket fits all of Intel’s recent desktop CPUs. Whilst the motherboard makes no mention of Intel’s 14th generation CPUs, the Intel i9 14900K it installed worked perfectly without the need to update the BIOS.

The four DIMM sockets support up to 128GB of DDR5. These can run up to DDR5-7200 (with XMP).

Storage is catered by four M.2 sockets. Three of the sockets support PCIe 4.0 x4 and one supports PCIe 4.0 x4 and SATA. There are four SATA 6Gb/s ports. That should be more than enough to accommodate most storage needs. RAID is supported via Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

There are a few other things on the motherboard that make things a bit easier for system builders. Asus’s “Q-Design” provides latches instead of screws to hold the M.2 modules in place, an easy Q-Release button for removing PCIe GPUs and handy Q-LED lights for troubleshooting problems. There’s also a “start” button on the board if you are building the machine on a bench.

As well as dedicated headers for all-in-one CPU water cooling, the board has headers for LED lighting. There are three addressable Gen 2 headers and one Aura RGB header. Extra’s include a thermal sensor header and a Thunderbolt header.

The motherboard has two 8-pin 12v power connectors at the top. Check that your power supply has these or purchase some adapters.

The I/O panel is about as full as you’ll need it to be. There’s a DisplayPort 1.4 which supports 8K@60Hz and an HDMI 2.1 port that supports up to 4K@60Hz for those using the CPU’s integrated GPU. There are the sockets for the WiFi 6E antenna and 2.5Gb Ethernet. Five audio jacks provide surround sound, or you can use the optical audio S/PDIF port.

The I/O Panel has 12 USB ports. There’s 1x USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2×2 port, 3x USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports (2x Type-A and 1x Type-C), 4x USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and 4x USB Type-A 2.0 ports.

The back panel also has a BIOS flashback button and a clear CMOS button. Two buttons that may come in handy if you are into a bit of overclocking or if everything goes wrong.

If you feel that the amount of USB ports on the rear of the board is lacking, there are headers on the board for a few more case front panel USB ports.  There’s a USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector, which supports USB Type-C with up to 30W PD fast-charge, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 header that supports 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports and 2x USB 2.0 headers supporting an additional four USB 2.0 ports.

The box is full of accessories. There are a couple of SATA cables, some M.2 mount screws and foam fixing pads a spare strip of NVMe heatsink thermal putty. There’s also the WiFi antenna, a holder for an optional fan, some cable ties, a key ring and a sticker sheet. The comprehensive user guide has all you need to set up the board.

What’s missing is a driver CD, and about time too, considering no modern machines have CD drives. A USB stick with the drivers would have been good, but they are all there to download on the Asus website.

As usual, the Asus motherboard was a breeze to install in an ATX configuration case, the fixing holes and preinstalled input/output panel all slotting into place. It’s a hefty board that is robust when handled. This should give novice system-builder a bit of confidence that it’s not going to snap in two during assembly.

All you need to do on the first boot is a quick visit to the easy-to-use UEFI BIOS to switch on the XMP profile for your RAM. This performs the factory overclock required to get the memory running at its speed rating. And that’s it, the Strix Z790-F WiFi will configure the CPU itself. The PC will run fine with this setup.

If you want to dabble with a bit of overclocking, the Asus board will oblige. You will need a decent cooler, either a top-of-the-range air cooler or an all-in-one water cooler will do. Switching on the “AI Optimization” mode in the BIOS, booting the PC and running a few stress tests like Cinebench or the Intel Extreme Tuning Utility will allow the board to gather enough data to automatically tweak your setting.

Results vary, but you should see a stable performance improvement using an Intel Core i5 CPU. Compared to the Core i5s, I’ve found that the Core i9s don’t have much in the way of extra headroom when it comes to AI overclocking.

In a nutshell, the Asus ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WIFI motherboard may be a step down from the Strix Z790-E Gaming WIFI, but you get an extra PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion slot. There’s still more than enough USB support and the four M.2 slots should be all you need for storage. It’ll even do you well for Intel’s 14th Gen CPUs.

It’s a superb motherboard for novice system builders, experienced tweakers and anyone looking for a decent motherboard for their gaming rig.

The post Asus ROG Strix Z790-F Gaming WIFI Motherboard Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi is a premium ATX DDR5 gaming motherboard for Intel 12th,13th, and 14th-generation Intel CPUs.

This is not the newer version of the motherboard, which is the ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi II, released with Intel’s Raptor Lake refresh CPUs, but the original version that was released in September 2022. The newer revision has upgraded VRMs and Wi-Fi 7, and likely a few other tweaks under the hood, but other than that this older board is virtually the same, and it supports Intel’s 14th-generation CPUs. This means that if you play your cards right, you could net yourself a top-spec Intel DDR5 ATX motherboard for a fraction of the usual price.

In the box, as well as the ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi board, you get two SATA 6GB/s cables, a selection of M.2 screws, latches and pads, the Wi-Fi antenna, a cloth ROG keyring, a quickstart guide, the obligatory Asus sticker sheet, a thank you card, and the comprehensive user guide.

Asus’ ROG, or Republic of Gamers range of devices are aimed more towards enthusiast-level gamers. Instead of the sturdy industrial stylings of Asus’ TUF Gaming range, ROG equipment allows for more tweaking and is a bit showier, with a smattering of RGB thrown in for good measure. Certainly, Z790-E’s black PCB, stylishly integrated heatsinks, and RGB ROG Stix logo amplify the board’s high-end gaming aspirations.

It’s a feature-packed motherboard that should be more than enough for even the most discerning gamer. That doesn’t mean that the board is exclusively for gamers who like to mess about under the hood, as everyone will get something out of the massive connectivity and stability afforded by such a well-built piece of equipment.

Most importantly, the Z790-E is a DDR5 motherboard. Whilst Intel’s Z790 chipset supports DDR4 and DDR5, if you are upgrading from a motherboard with DDR4 memory modules to the Z790-E you are going to need to get some DDR5 RAM. DDR4 memory will not work with this board.

The board supports four DIMMs to a maximum of 128GB running up to DDR5 7200. There is support for Intel XMP overclocking to get the most out of your DDR5 memory modules.

The rear input / output panel has both DisplayPort 1.4 and HMDI 2.1 sockets for the CPU’s integrated graphics. There are twelve USB ports on the panel, which I’ll go into more detail about further down. The WiFi 6E antenna and 2.5Gb RJ45 Ethernet socket are also on the back panel.  If you are using the onboard Realtek 7.1 sound chip, you’ll also find the S/PDIF audio optical out, C/Sub, Rear and Line outputs, as well as Line In and Mic In, on the rear panel.  The IO panel has easy-to-find switches for clearing the CMOS (if your overclocking goes awry) and flashing back the BIOS, should you have issues during a firmware update.

The board gives users plenty of scope for fast data storage. There are slots for up to five M.2 solid-state drives. The PCIe 5.0 x4 M.2 slot has a chunky heatsink (with a heat pipe) and supports 2242, 2260, 2280 and 22110 size modules. The four PCIe 4.0 x4 slots support 2242, 2260 and 2280 size modules with one also supporting M.2 SATA SSDs. If that’s not enough, there are also five SATA 6Gb/s ports if you want to go old school.

The 2.6Gb Ethernet capability is complemented by 2×2 Wi-Fi 6E (802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax) supporting 2.4, 5 and 6GHz frequencies. Bluetooth v5.2 caps off the board’s impressive connectivity.

For your GPU there’s a reinforced PCIe 5.0 x16 slot. This also has a Q-Release button to easily unlatch your GPU for removal. Under that, there are two full-sized PCIe 4.0 x16 expansion slots, both of which you can access even with a larger GPU.

The motherboard has a ridiculous amount of USB ports. The rear IO panel has one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 Type-C port, one USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port, six USB 3.2 Gen 2 USB Type-A ports and four USB 3.2 Gen Type-A ports. There are headers on the board for a further nine USB ports if your case’s front panel supports them. That’s one USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 connector for a USB Type-C with 30W fast-charge, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 headers for four USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports and two USB 2.0 headers for four more USB 2.0 Type-A ports. That should be enough ports for even the most dedicated fans of gaming peripherals.

At the bottom of the board, there are switches that allow for overvolting the PCU and for switching the PCI3 mode from Gen4 to Gen3. Unless you know what you are doing, I’d leave these well alone.

If RGB is your bag, the Aura RGB header and three addressable RGB headers will allow you to light your machine up like a Christmas tree. Lastly, there is a header for a Thunderbolt IO card if you need one.

There are a few extra quality-of-life things that make building a PC with the motherboard that much easier. I’ve already mentioned the handy Q-Release button for the GPU. The M.2 SDD slots don’t use screws (that are surprisingly easy to drop and get lost in the guts of your machine), instead they use little clips, Q-Latches, making installation of the tiny drives very easy. The Q-LED system helps point you in the right direction if there is an issue with the CPU, RAM, GPU, or boot drive on startup. Further information can be gleaned from the Q-code status code display which can be checked against the table in the manual. If you are setting the board up in a bench situation without the front panel connections, there’s a start button on the board that’ll boot and switch off the machine.

Asus motherboards tend to be a breeze to install and set up. The user guide points you in the right direction. But even physically installing the board in a well-built case should give you no trouble. The fixing holes are all well machined, in the right place, and should mate up with the risers in your ATX case, perfectly. The integrated IO panel fits nicely in the vacant space in the back of the case, with the chunky heatsinks giving you something to hold onto as you ease the board into place.

There are a few things to look out for.

All the M.2 drive slots have heatsinks that blend into the motherboard’s design. If you are using M.2 NVMe drives with integrated heatsinks you will need to remove and set aside the board’s heatsink(s).

Some NVMe drives with factory heatsinks increase the width of the screw-down point making them a tiny bit too thick for the Asus board’s Q-clips. I had this problem fitting an SSD with a heatsink in the PCIe 5.0 slot at the top of the board, but not with those further down. The top M.2 slot being, compatible with up to 22110 size modules, uses a fitting that doesn’t allow for screws as an alternative for regular 2280 M.2 drives.

The top of the board has two eight-pin 12v ATX power connectors. If you are using an older (or cheaper) power supply, you may need to buy an adapter for the second connector.

The chunky heatsinks at the top and to the left of the motherboard (as normally installed in an upright ATX case) may get in the way of larger CPU air coolers. I used a Corsair all-in-one water cooler with no issues.

The above are very minor, but worth noting. For most, they won’t present a problem at all.

Multi-generational motherboards don’t usually support the latest CPUs out of the box, which can be a pain if you haven’t got an older CPU lying about. To my surprise, the Z790-E had no problem running an Intel Core i9 14900K with the factory-installed UFEI BIOS. The BIOS is the firmware that controls the motherboard hardware and points the computer in the direction of the operating system on boot up.

It’s worth dipping into the BIOS with a new motherboard installation to just check all is well. With Asus boards (and pretty much all others as well) you just hit the delete key on start-up. The standardised Asus BIOS interface is exceptionally easy to use, allowing configuration by novices and experts, alike. Here, unless you are wanting to tweak the system, all you need to do is check that the CPU is properly recognised and switch on the Intel XMP for your RAM. This is all on the front page of the EZ Mode menu.

The ROG Strix motherboard has a one-click Asus AI overclocking facility on the EZ Menu screen that allows users to easily get a little bit more out of their machines without having to mess about. The board monitors your system fan operation, CPU frequencies and the resultant heat to boost performance based on the installed processor’s individual characteristics.

In my case, though, selecting the AI optimization option in the BIOS sent things surprisingly awry. Asus’s motherboards tend to be bombproof, but after switching on the AI overclocking, the board wouldn’t even boot, opting for a looping restart that was only cured by switching the whole thing off and pressing the CMOS reset button.

Whilst the Z790 motherboard was happy running with the Raptor Lake Refresh CPU out of the box, it seems overclocking the chip was a bit too much for it. Thankfully, this was, easily remedied.

A simple BIOS update to the latest version sorted out my overclocking woes. I’d never recommend anyone update a BIOS unless there’s a real need to do so. The Strix Z790-E motherboard does feature protection from failed updates, such as a BIOS rollback facility making the process a little less onerous.

My casual overclocking eventually achieved a modest, but stable performance boost of 215Mhz. this was with the CPU fans running at a balanced speed. A little bit more could probably been gained if I wanted the machine to sound like a jet engine. My experience with Intel’s 14th generation chip is that there isn’t much headroom to get a decent, stable, overclock out of them. But still worth a try. Of Intel’s CPUs, you tend to get a better bang for your buck by overclocking the cooler Core i5s than the i9s.

The motherboard ships with a driver and utility disc. As most machines no longer have CD/DVD/Blu-Ray drives, it’s not a lot of use. With a standard Windows installation, you should get enough generic drivers for the motherboard to function. I recommend downloading the latest drivers for your board from the Asus website.

There is an Asus utility, Armory Crate, which sometimes downloads automatically (after a prompt) and can be used to update your system with the latest drivers for your board. It also tends to offer up all kinds of “free” utilities that you don’t necessarily need. I’ve not been a fan of Armory Crate in the past, but I’ve warmed to it recently as it tends to be an intrinsic part of ensuring Asus gaming laptops and devices like the Asus ROG Ally perform efficiently.

Another bit of Asus software that can be controversial, is the Asus AI Suite. This allows users to tweak the system from the operating system rather than in the BIOS. Puritans will condemn overclocking a PC in this way as heresy, and it kind of is. But it’s also a great way to tinker with your machine without really messing things up. Traditionally, AI Suite can be difficult to remove and like Armory Crate past iterations have been known to be more trouble than they are worth. Personally, I think they are both better than they used to be and are worth a go.

The Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi is a delight to install. Even when things didn’t go to plan, the remedy was easy. The easy-to-use UFEI BIOS menu makes it a great board for anyone wanting to tweak things under the hood, be they newbies or veterans. It’s a robust fully featured gaming motherboard that I’d be very happy running in my own PC.

The post Asus ROG Strix Z790-E Gaming WiFi Motherboard Review appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the all-new ROG Phone 8 series is now available, marking the start of a revolutionary journey that will redefine mobile gaming excellence.

In the biggest redesign in its history, the ROG Phone 8 series has evolved from a thoroughbred gaming phone into a futuristic and game-changing premium device, with a slimmer, lighter body and thinner bezels that make it the perfect lifestyle phone for gamers.

Designed as a powerful all-round powerhouse, catering to gamers, streamers, content creators and more, it stands out with gaming-friendly features combined with the ultimate AI-powered performance, premium design and everyday practicality. This reimagined smartphone series goes beyond the ordinary, offering cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and a commitment to an exceptional user experience.

The ROG Phone 8 series has been completely reimagined, maintaining its impeccable gaming credentials while widening its appeal to anyone seeking an extraordinary everyday phone to help them accomplish extraordinary things. The eye-catching new design is up to 15% thinner than the previous generation, without sacrificing performance, and the emphasis on premium design and durability ensures that these devices are not just phones; they are statements of sophistication and power.

The ROG Phone 8 series challenges assumptions in mobile gaming, offering unbridled performance, innovation, and a design that blends aesthetics with functionality. Additionally, Snapdragon Sound technology delivers best-in-class audio features to create fully immersive gaming worlds. Whether dedicated gamers or tech enthusiasts, the ROG Phone 8 series beckons users to elevate their mobile gaming experience.

At the core of the ROG Phone 8 series is the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, supported by 8533 Mbps LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.0 storage for unmatched performance. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 brings 25% better GPU performance and a 25% improvement in power efficiency when compared to the previous generation. This mobile platform also packs the full suite of Snapdragon Elite Gaming features to unleash desktop-level performance, elevated graphics, and lightning-fast speeds on the ROG Phone 8. Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 is the first mobile platform to support and showcase optimised Unreal Engine 5 Lumen running on mobile. With hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, Snapdragon Elite Gaming provides players everywhere advanced lighting capabilities on mobile, allowing multi-source lighting, shadows, and reflections to interact with objects in complex environments for stunning in-game photorealism.

To allow marathon gaming sessions without overheating, the revolutionary Rapid-Cooling Conductor design — part of the advanced GameCool 8 thermal design — conducts heat directly from the centre of the device to the back cover. Additionally, the all-new AeroActive Cooler X clip-on cooler is now 29% smaller but offers 1.2X higher thermal efficiency, reducing the back cover temperature by as much as 36°C.

In addition to offering premium design and ultimate performance, the ROG Phone 8 series is the world’s first IP68-compliant gaming smartphone, built to resist dust and water ingress so that users can enjoy worry-free operation wherever they are.

The ROG Phone 8 Pro series features a brand-new 6.78” flexible AMOLED (Samsung E6) panel that supports adaptive refresh rates using LTPO technology. The system can adjust the refresh rate automatically from 1-120 Hz depending on the current task to reduce power consumption. Users can also choose up to a 165 Hz refresh rate for smooth gaming, and the touch sampling rate goes up to an amazing 720 Hz for instant response.

Peak brightness is now boosted to 2500 nits, so users can game or watch movies even in sunlight with no problem at all. The superb visuals are tuned in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks for world-beating colour accuracy. It’s a display without compare.

Gamers and creators can now explore endless photographic possibilities with the ROG Phone 8 series’ advanced tri-camera system. Additionally, OZO Audio technology gives users the choice of eliminating wind noise for crystal-clear outdoor recordings or capturing immersive, high-fidelity 3D Surround spatial audio.

The main camera uses the latest 50 MP Sony image sensor for crystal-clear images. Its 24 mm wide-angle lens is perfect for dynamic street snaps, while a 2X zoom mode transforms it into a versatile 50 mm prime lens, ideal for portrait and food photography. Photography and videography can reach new heights with the 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal c 3.0, which ensures even smoother videos and shake-free photos on the move. The advanced stabilisation now supports both standard and portrait shooting modes, making it ideal for low-light photography. Video stability is assured with hardware anti-shake OIS and an upgraded EIS software algorithm that uses gyroscopic data to detect movement. This dynamic adjustment of the field of view ensures videos remain rock-steady.

For the first time, the ROG Phone 8 series includes a 3X telephoto lens that enables the capture of distant objects. The lens, equipped with built-in OIS, delivers crisp and sharp results, even in low-light conditions with Night Photography mode. ASUS HyperClarity technology, using unprocessed (RAW) files, preserves every detail in photos, providing clearer images even at up to 30X zoom. During video shooting, the telephoto camera employs adaptive EIS to produce stable results with up to a 10X zoom.

The 13 MP ultrawide camera has a free-form lens and cutting-edge algorithms to reduce lens distortion, resulting in stunning yet natural images. The ROG Phone 8 series delivers exceptional quality and clarity in every shot and recording.

Finally, the front 32 MP ultrawide selfie camera has a field of view (FoV) that’s been increased from 73° to 90° to make it perfect for group selfies. The lens has an RGBW sensor that ensures images are clean with less noise, even in low light.

Four gaming-friendly AI features in the ROG Phone 8 series elevate the gaming experience to a new level. Gamers can effortlessly shift a game to the background with Background Mode or capture key moments with X Capture, making these devices indispensable to discerning gamers. The intuitive AI Grabber for text capture and X Sense further elevate the gaming experience, providing tips and assistance when needed. AI Grabber can now also grab text directly from games using Machine-Learning Recognition technology, and X Capture and X Sense 2.0 now support more new top games thanks to AI Pattern Recognition technology.

Other AI-powered features include Semantic Search using natural language in the Gallery, Launcher and Settings. AI Wallpaper can create amazing-looking wallpapers using Stable Diffusion technology, and AI noise-cancelling technology supports bidirectional noise cancellation for crystal-clear sound in voice calls, video calls, and in-game communications.

The new ROG Phone 8 series includes unique customisable elements, including the Aura RGB Lighting logo (ROG Phone 8) and Anime Vision Mini-LED display (ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition), that allow owners to express their individuality and creativity. AniMe Vision is a 341-element display that can display preset or user-created animations, and users can also unlock secret animations by touching their phone back-to-back with another ROG Phone 8 Pro / Pro Edition.

The ASUS ROG Phone 8 series is available now.

The post ASUS ROG Reveals the ROG Phone 8 Series appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced an extensive range of new and exclusive performance-focused products at its For Those Who Dare: Transcendence virtual launch event for CES 2024.

This latest generation of gaming solutions for playing games at home and on the go includes displays that are impressively fast and stunning, laptops with blazing speed and high-level graphics, and the most powerful gaming phone on the market, the ROG Phone 8.

Viewers will be able to embark on an immersive journey into the cutting-edge world of gaming with ROG’s unparalleled lineup of supreme products. With the new Advanced Back to the Future (BTF) ecosystem, ROG is helping to reduce visible cable clutter in DIY builds. From the performance-driven ROG Maximus Z790 Hero BTF motherboard, featuring hidden connectors for ultimate cable management, to the revolutionary ROG Strix GeForce RTX 4090 BTF Edition graphics card, every detail is meticulously crafted for an extraordinary gaming experience.

The ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 gaming laptops revolutionise portable gaming with powerful internals and stunning displays. Gamers can immerse themselves in the unmatched performance of the ROG Strix SCAR 18 laptop, designed for esports enthusiasts seeking maxed-out performance. These new gaming laptops offer unparalleled power with up to the Intel® Core Ultra 9 processor and the flagship NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU. What’s more, the 2024 ROG Zephyrus G16 is available now. Zephyrus G14 gaming laptop will be coming in mid-February, so Aussie gamers can get their hands on these gaming beasts right away.

Hot on the heels of the recent deal between ASUS and Intel to take over Intel’s Next Unit of Computing (NUC) business, ROG has created the first ever ROG NUC — the compact yet powerful PC codename Scorpion Canyon, is an ultra-small gaming marvel with Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA RTX graphics that provides a versatile gaming solution.

The event also featured the brand-new ROG Phone 8, which this year has been upgraded to become one of the most versatile phones on the market. Other products introduced included the ROG Hyperion GR701 BTF Edition chassis, the ROG Swift OLED PG39WCDM monitor, the ROG Aura Monitor Light Bar and ROG Ergo Monitor Arm for upgrading setups, the ROG Carnyx microphone, capturing every nuance of sound with precision, the ROG Keris II Ace mouse with the ROG Polling Rate Booster, the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova headphones, the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile keyboard, and many more.

We welcome viewers to a realm where innovation meets gaming excellence — ROG, the epitome of supreme gaming technology.

MAXED-OUT LAPTOP POWERHOUSES FOR TRUE GAMERS

ROG Zephyrus Series

The new ROG Zephyrus G14 and G16 gaming laptops redefine the genre with a host of extraordinary features. The redesigned premium aluminium chassis, available in Eclipse Gray and Platinum White, is both lightweight and durable – G14 measures just 1.59 cm thin and weighs 1.5 kg, while the 1.49 cm-thin G16 weighs in at just 1.85 kg. There’s a signature Slash Lighting LED bar on the chassis that continues and enhances the popular personalisation options of the previous generation.

They are also the first laptops to feature ROG Nebula Display OLED panels. With the Zephyrus G14 boasting a 3K 120 Hz panel, and the Zephyrus G16 sporting a 2.5K 240 Hz display, both feature a 16:10 aspect ratio, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification, and a stunning 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Hi-Res Audio and Dolby Atmos technology-enhanced audio quality, complemented by built-in HD cameras for smooth communication.

Designed for gamers, creators, and designers, the Zephyrus Series includes the G14 with an AMD Ryzen 9 8940H processor and the G16 with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 processor 185H making it one of the best portable laptops. Both laptops are equipped with NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, and feature a variety of powerful ROG Intelligent Cooling solutions for optimal performance.

With the upgraded Zephyrus Series, ROG brings portable gaming to a new level, seamlessly blending technology, performance, and aesthetics for an unparalleled gaming experience. Gamers, creative professionals, or design enthusiasts can elevate their gaming reality with the Zephyrus series.

The ROG Zephyrus G16 is available now and the ROG Zephyrus G14 will be available in mid-February 2024.

ROG Strix SCAR 16 & SCAR 18

The thermal design, including Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on CPU and GPU, with Tri-Fan technology and full-surround vents ensures optimal cooling. The Mini LED 2.5K (2560×1600) 240Hz ROG Nebula HDR displays — including ROG’s first 18-inch Mini LED display — have up to a 90% screen-to-body ratio, and along with quad-speaker Dolby Atmos audio the laptops deliver immersive gaming.

They also have a gamer-friendly keyboard, Thunderbolt 4, 2.5 Gbps LAN, WiFi 6E, and a 90 Wh battery with 100 W USB-C charging. Crafted with attention to detail, the metal chassis showcases the iconic RGB ROG logo and a new ROG slash design. Built as the best gaming laptop for AAA gaming and effortless content creation.

The ROG Strix SCAR G18 is available now.

ROG Strix G16 & G18

The ROG Strix G16 and G18 offer a powerful gaming experience with the Intel Core i9 processor 14900HX and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 laptop GPU. The thermal design, including Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal with Tri-Fan technology and full-surround vents ensures optimal cooling.

With two unique designs and up to a 90% screen-to-body ratio, the Strix G series provides immersive visuals with 16-inch and 18-inch 2.5K (2560×1600) 240Hz ROG Nebula displays featuring Dolby Vision HDR, and combined with Dolby Atmos audio technology they deliver exceptional audiovisual performance. Gamer-friendly features include a wide touchpad, large arrow keys, Thunderbolt 4 support, per-key RGB keyboard, 1Gbps LAN, WiFi 6E, and a 720p HD camera for seamless connectivity.

The high-capacity 90 Wh battery and 100 W USB-C charging ensure on-the-go gaming without compromising performance. The Volt Green version features a metal chassis with the RGB ROG logo and a unique new ROG slash design, while the Eclipse Gray version boasts a metal chassis with a low-profile ROG slash pattern.

Strix G18 is available now.

NOT JUST A GAMING PHONE, BUT AN ALL-ROUND POWERHOUSE WITH GAMING-FRIENDLY FEATURES

ROG Phone 8 & ROG Phone 8 Pro

Gamers should get ready to embark on a revolutionary journey with the ROG Phone 8 and ROG Phone 8 Pro, which redefine mobile gaming excellence.

These smartphones go beyond the ordinary, offering cutting-edge technology, innovative design, and a commitment to an exceptional user experience. Designed as powerful all-round powerhouses, catering to gamers, streamers, content creators, and more, they stand out with gaming-friendly features.

At their core is the formidable Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, ensuring unmatched performance. The phones feature advanced AI capabilities, including X-Sense 2.0, AI Grabber, semantic search, AI noise cancellation and more, marking a significant stride in user interaction.

To ensure marathon gaming without overheating, the phones integrate advanced internal cooling mechanisms — including the Rapid-Cooling Conductor that conducts heat directly from the SoC to the back cover — along with gaming-friendly AI features like Background mode and X Capture to elevate the gaming experience.

Even thinner than their predecessors, the phones boast a robust 5500 mAh battery with wireless charging, and the amazing 6.78″ Samsung E6 flexible AMOLED display with a 165 Hz refresh rate provides an immersive visual experience. Customisable elements like the Aura RGB Lighting logo and Anime Vision Mini-LEDs express individuality. The rear triple camera system excels with a 50 MP Sony IMX890 main camera with 6-Axis Hybrid Gimbal Stabiliser 3.0; a 13 MP ultrawide camera with a free-form lens; and a 32 MP telephoto camera with 3X optical zoom and OIS. Dirac Virtuo for Headphone technology provides virtual surround sound.

The ROG Phone 8 series challenges assumptions in mobile gaming, offering unbridled performance, innovation, IP68 water and dust resistance and a slim design that blends aesthetics with functionality. Whether dedicated gamers or tech enthusiasts, these phones beckon users to elevate their mobile gaming experience.

ROG NUC: COMPACT GAMING POWER

In the realm of small form factor PCs, ASUS sets the standard for innovation, exemplified by the revolutionary ROG NUC. Going beyond a typical gaming system, the PC — codenamed Scorpion Canyon — represents a compact gaming powerhouse, offering the freedom to game anytime, anywhere. ASUS, known for delivering exceptional gaming experiences, maintains this reputation with the ROG NUC.

At its core, the ROG NUC harnesses the power of Intel Core Ultra 7 or Core Ultra 9 processors for unparalleled gaming performance. The Performance Hybrid Architecture ensures seamless multitasking with additional e-cores, while Intel Thread Director and Intel Smart Cache optimise workloads for a smooth gaming experience. Paired with NVIDIA RTX 4060 or RTX 4070 Discrete Graphics, the ROG NUC promises stunning visuals on up to four 4K-enabled display outputs.

The tool-less chassis design allows integration in under 10 minutes, with dimensions of 270 x 180 x 50 mm for uncompromised gaming in a minimalistic form factor. Beyond performance, the ROG NUC pairs seamlessly with the ROG Raikiri PRO controller for a redefined gaming interaction. ARGB lighting and the ROG Armory Crate app allow users to create stunning light shows.

Connectivity features HDMI 2.1a, DisplayPort 1.4, Thunderbolt 4 / USB4® Type-C, USB 3.2 Gen 2, USB 2.0, and Intel Killer WiFi 6E AX1690i. Compatible with both Microsoft Windows 11 and Linux distros, the ROG NUC offers operating system flexibility.

The ROG NUC exemplifies the ASUS commitment to innovation and gaming excellence, setting the stage for a robust series of gaming NUCs. With its ultra-small design, extreme performance, and tool-less integration, it heralds a new era in NUC gaming, empowering gamers to choose how, where, and in what style they want to game. With the ROG NUC, ROG ushers in a new epoch of gaming excellence.

ULTIMATE GAME-CHANGING ACCESSORIES

Finally, ROG introduced a wide array of cutting-edge gaming accessories that allow gamers to elevate their gaming experience.

The groundbreaking ROG Carnyx microphone was specifically crafted for studio-quality recording, it features a large 25 mm condenser capsule, 192 kHz / 24-bit sampling rate for detailed, vivid sound, with a cardioid polar pattern for solo recording.

Its high-pass filter, built-in pop filter, and premium metal shock mount guarantee clear and smooth sound — even in intense gaming sessions with annoying background noises such as typing, clicking or shouting. With the intuitive multi-functional control knob, one-touch mute button, and Aura Sync RGB lighting, the Carnyx is the perfect streaming companion.

Another addition is the ROG Keris II Ace, the latest addition to the Ace Esports Lineup. Weighing only 54 grams and with an ergonomic shape primed for long periods of tense gripping, this mouse is a dream for FPS enthusiasts. With ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, the lowest latency is ensured even in crowded wireless environments. The ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor and the durable 100M ROG Optical Micro Switch excel in both precision and durability. The ROG Polling Rate Booster is a stand-alone device that supports wireless polling rates up to 4000 Hz and wired rates up to 8000 Hz, minimising cursor delay to ensure that in-game actions are precisely as intended.

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile keyboard, winner of a CES 2023 Innovation Award, is an evolution of the game-changing Falchion, introduces the ROG RX Low-Profile Switches. The RX Red Low-Profile offers a silky-smooth linear feel, while the RX Blue Low-Profile delivers a satisfying clicky sensation. With a compact design and minimalistic look, plus unique features like a multi-functional touch panel, ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, and the ROG Omni Receiver, this keyboard redefines on-the-go gaming for both gamers and everyday users.

Gamers can experience synchronised sound with the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova headphones, featuring dual-mode 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth® wireless connectivity for unmatched adaptability. Powered by ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, they offer ultralow latency, robust wireless connection, and optimised power usage. It also features high-resolution 24-bit 96 kHz audio, and lifelike details enhanced by Dirac Opteo. Bone-conduction AI microphones ensure clear communication, and Adaptive ANC with Auto mode automatically optimises noise cancellation for full immersion in music or gameplay. The headphones offer up to 46 hours of battery life, wireless charging, quick in-case charging, and feature customisable ASUS Aura RGB lighting for maximum style.

The post ASUS Republic of Gamers presents ‘For Those Who Dare’ appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has announced the all-new ROG Phone 7 series of gaming smartphones is available now in Australia.

The ROG Phone 7 series includes the ROG Phone 7 and ROG Phone 7 Ultimate models and is the latest step in the high-performance evolution of the world’s greatest gaming phone.

This futuristically-styled phone — which sports a new two-tone design — combines the game-winning power of the flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform with the advanced GameCool 7 thermal system and special ROG tuning to deliver a truly breathtaking mobile gaming experience — and impressively low power consumption.

The key to this power efficiency is the revolutionary new rapid-cycle vapour chamber design, which increases heat dissipation efficiency by up to 168%, allowing the ROG Phone 7 series to run games at full speed while maintaining low temperatures.

To make ROG Phone 7 a powerful and portable theatre, we’ve increased the effective volume of the ROG Phone 7 series’ speakers by 50% and tuned the system in cooperation with audio specialists Dirac. ROG Phone 7 series now delivers amazing 2.1-channel sound when the new AeroActive Cooler 7 accessory, which houses a powerful subwoofer, is attached.

Additionally, the stunning 165 Hz Samsung AMOLED display’s peak brightness has significantly increased compared to the previous model. And, the ROG Phone 7 series also features the legendary AI-generated in-game effects, customisable AirTrigger haptic buttons, and continuous game-setting updates by the ROG Gaming team that epitomise the core spirit of ROG; to put the player first!

The ROG Phone 7 Ultimate version additionally features the unique ROG Vision matrix display on its rear, and the GameCool 7 thermal system is enhanced with the innovative AeroActive Portal.

The mighty ROG Phone 7 series was built without compromises, unleashing the awesome gaming power of the flagship 3.2 GHz Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, which is 15% faster and 15% more power-efficient than the previous generation.

It’s paired with up to 16 GB of 8533 Mbps LPDDR5X RAM, and a 512 GB UFS 4.0 ROM that’s twice as fast as UFS 3.0. It’s ready for WiFi 7 (802.11be) with Qualcomm FastConnect 7800, supporting ultrafast 320 MHz channels and Multi-Link operation, with game-changing latency performance benefits.

Thanks to Snapdragon Elite Gaming, the ROG Phone 7 supports real-time hardware-accelerated ray tracing. This means that for supported games, gamers can enjoy hyper-realistic reflections — particularly on water and metal surfaces — that add a new dimension to the gaming experience.

All this power is enhanced even further by the unrivalled Armoury Crate performance manager, which gives gamers the finest control over performance and tuning settings.

To keep pace with the fastest action, the ROG Phone 7 series uses a 165 Hz Samsung AMOLED display with a 720 Hz touch-sampling rate and a Delta E <1 colour accuracy for superb visuals. We’ve also increased the brightness to 1,500 nits for easier viewing outside.

The superb visuals are tuned in collaboration with leading visual-processing company Pixelworks for world-beating colour accuracy. It’s a display without comparison.

Additionally, the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate features ROG Vision, a unique matrix colour display on the rear of the phone that exemplifies the daring innovation behind the ROG brand. This creative feature can showcase awesome animations triggered by system events, such as charging status, incoming calls, X-Mode activation, and more. Gamers can even create their own personalised animations, further enhancing the uniqueness of the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate. With ROG Vision, gamers can express their true style and embrace the full potential of this cutting-edge technology.

To minimise power consumption without compromising performance, the ROG Phone 7 series leverages the 15% improvement in power efficiency offered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform, enhanced with the best ever GameCool 7 thermal system to cool the CPU from all directions.

This uses a three-pronged approach. For short sessions, the Boron Nitride (BN) thermal compound on one side of the CPU reduces throttling. Mid-length sessions are taken care of by the bigger vapour chamber and graphite sheets on the other side of the CPU. Lastly, for marathon sessions, the AeroActive Cooler 7 — with its fan positioned right over the CPU module — kicks into play for AI-powered active cooling, featuring a Peltier element for extra cooling performance.

In the ROG Phone 7 Ultimate, cooling is enhanced even further with the world-leading AeroActive Portal. This air inlet activates automatically when the AeroActive Cooler is attached, directing a constant flow of cool air from the cooler onto the cooling fins of the vapour chamber. This efficiently dispels the heat generated by the SoC, leading to a notable boost in both gaming performance and battery endurance. When the AeroActive Portal is activated, the phone’s thermal efficiency can increase by up to 20%.

The new rapid-cycle vapour chamber in the ROG Phone 7 has been completely redesigned: it’s now bigger and uses new technology inside. Instead of the usual pillar-shaped structures, it uses special trident-shaped wick columns on the long edges of the chamber to improve efficiency. Additionally, there are six liquid-return channels that act as highways for water to flow back to the SoC ready for the next thermal cycle. The thermally-efficient graphite sheets in the ROG Phone 7 have also been made bigger and have been reshaped to maximise heat transfer from the mainboard and RF board.

Finally, the AeroActive Cooler 7 features not only an improved fan with more blades for higher back pressure, but also a built-in thermoelectric Peltier cooler for maximum cooling power. The revolutionary DualCool design ensures that while the rear of the phone is cooled by the Peltier cooler, cooling air is also directed across the phone’s screen for maximum cooling efficiency.

Mobile gamers have never experienced phones that sound as good as the ROG Phone 7 series.

The twin front-firing 12 x 16 mm speakers — with 50% more effective volume than previously — are aided by the five-magnet, super-linear 13 x 38 mm subwoofer in the AeroActive 7 cooler, which enhances bass volume by 77% for unbeatable 2.1 sound in games or movies when the cooler is attached. Fine-tuning in cooperation with the audio experts at Dirac ensures unrivalled sound quality.

From its 3.5 mm headphone jack to its Dirac Virtuo For Headphone theatre-like spatial sound, the ROG Phone 7 series has all the technology for all the sound. Snapdragon Sound technology support enables super-low-latency high-fidelity Bluetooth audio, so whatever the user’s listening choice, their ears will thank them for the ROG Phone 7.

New software features enhance the gaming experience even further. X Sense helps gamers to detect key onscreen events, such as when an important new item appears on the map or an enemy is approaching, with a pop-up notification. And if a gamer dispenses with multiple rivals in a single manoeuvre, X Sense adds visual effects to add to the celebration. X Capture is an AI tool that automatically records memorable moments in the battle, such as vanquishing an enemy or winning the match.

The renowned AirTrigger ultrasonic controls give gamers unrivalled fingertip control over their games for a console-like experience. They support a wide range of gestures, including Dual Action, Press and Lift, and Gyroscope Aiming. There are also 10 motion controls and an X-axis linear motor that provides powerful haptic feedback, taking gamers into the heart of the action. It also enables the superb Vibration Mapping feature, which enhances the touch experience by providing adjustable haptic feedback for virtual on-screen buttons.

The ASUS ROG Phone 7 is available now at the ASUS e-store and major Australian retailers.

The post ASUS ROG Phone 7 Releases Down Under appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gamers get another way to play with the ASUS ROG Ally.

ASUS has entered the portable gaming console ring with its Windows 11-based, AMD-powered ROG Ally. I spent an afternoon trying out this new handheld gaming device.

When it comes to PC gaming, ASUS is at the top of the game. The company’s PC components and gaming laptops are about the best you will get. I find the ASUS TUF and Republic of Gamers (ROG) brands are synonymous with quality gaming PC components. ROG gaming laptops squeeze a tremendous amount of PC gaming power in impressively small devices.

But, with the ROG Ally, ASUS has gone one better.

I was invited, along with a select gathering of local media, to check out the ROG Ally Windows 11 handheld gaming device in advance of its 13th June 2023 release in Australia and New Zealand. ASUS promises AAA PC gaming in the palm of your hand via a device five years in the making.

I did, however, have some reasons to be apprehensive on my way to the product demonstration. I don’t really get on with “gaming on the go”. In the past, though, I’ve had a lot of fun with the PSP and PS Vita, and I have a Nintendo Switch. But they’ve all felt a bit awkward in the hand, especially the Switch, which feels like you are holding a slab.

The performance of portable gaming devices always seems to be too much of a compromise for my liking. Apart from the odd play on it now and again, my Switch is reserved for plane trips and when I’m away from my gaming rig, PS5, or Xbox Series X. I had similar fears for the ROG Ally.

The ROG handheld is based on an AMD Ryzen Z1 processor.

This is both a Ryzen CPU and an AMD RDNA 3 architecture-based GPU. The Ryzen Z1 is available as both an 8-core / 16-thread “Extreme” version and a 6-core / 16-thread standard version. The ROG Ally launching in June will utilise the 8-ore / 12-thread AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, with a lower spec version of the handheld based on the standard Ryzen Z1 launching at a later date.

Complementing the Ryzen Z1 processor the ROG Ally has 16GB LPDDR5 dual-channel RAM and 512GB of user upgradable PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD storage.

The display is a full HD 120Hz IPS touch-screen with a 7ms response time and a brightness of 500 nits. Audio is provided by front-facing Dolby Atmos dual speakers. There’s also a UHS-II MicroSD slot, which is likely only useful for media files and data transfer. The top of the device also has a USB Type-C port adjacent to the propriety Asus port used with the USB port to plug in an Asus ROG XG Mobile graphics extender- boosting game performance with the help of a top-of-the-range Nvidia RTX GPU.

I have no idea what the actual performance of a Ryzen Z1 compares to and I’m looking forward to benchmarking it. But it had no trouble running Halo Infinite. The device makes good use of AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution upscaling to increase game performance. I’m a little concerned about the 16GB of RAM, as it seems that this is shared with the GPU. 16GB or GDDR memory is pretty standard for a modern GPU, but I’d expect a PC to have at least 16GB of system memory as well. Unless there’s some dark magic going on, I’m apprehensive about just what the ROG Ally’s long-term capabilities are.

But, thank goodness that the rather paltry 512GB SSD is upgradable.

With the above in mind, it is a bit unfair to compare the ROG Ally to a desktop gaming PC.

Like gaming laptops, there are some compromises to be made for the luxury of portable gaming. Putting technical specs aside, the Ally is a rather spectacularly designed device. The device feels great in your hands the grips moulded like that of a game controller. There are two shoulder buttons on each side with triggers underneath. The seven-inch screen fills the centre of the device, flanked on both sides by the familiar thumbsticks, D-pad, and XYAB buttons you’ll find on an Xbox controller. There are also four menu/system buttons positioned on either side of the screen. The power button on the top is also a fingerprint reader compatible with Windows Hello.

It’s worth remembering that as a Windows 11-based device this is effectively a Microsoft portable gaming console. In theory, if it runs on a PC, it should run on the ROG Ally, which opens up all sorts of uses. To make the experience a bit more user-friendly, ASUS have overlaid Windows 11 with a special version of their ROG Armory Crate application. This will likely be particularly useful if you find using the Windows desktop a bit challenging on a 7-inch screen.

The device is loaded with all the main PC gaming clients such as Steam, Epic, Ubisoft Connect, the EA app, and GOG Galaxy 2.0. The device comes with a 3-month subscription to Microsoft Game Pass Ultimate unlocking hundreds of games via the included Game Pass app.

Not only can you download and play games from the Game Pass, but you can also stream games from Microsoft’s cloud gaming. This means instant access to many games regardless of their hardware performance requirements. I tested Forza Horizon 5 which worked well. As with all cloud gaming, your experience is very much dependent on your network and Internet connection.

The demo unit had a limited number of games installed so, as I mentioned above, I selected to play Halo Infinite, a game that I’m very familiar with. Performance-wise, the game looked great. The thumbsticks did feel a bit weird, but I think that is more to do with them being different from the Xbox controller that I’m used to. I also played Halo Infinite on the ROG Ally via the upcoming hub adapter plugged into a large TV / monitor. Using an Xbox controller, the game performance seemed at least on par with that of an Xbox Series S, if not an Xbox Series X. Quite impressive for a device that fits in your pocket.

At first, the AUD$1,299 / NZ$1,499 price tag made me gasp.

If the PS5 and Xbox Series X were not expensive enough, that’s a lot of money to drop on a tiny game console. But then I thought, realistically, what are you going to pay for a decent gaming PC?

You are not going to get much south of two grand and for a gaming laptop, you can add on another grand. The ROG Ally isn’t just a handheld gaming console, it is also probably the cheapest way to realistically play AAA PC games. Asus has stated that it is working with major game publishers to ensure that gamers get the very best experience with the ROG Ally.

There’s no doubt that the ROG Ally is a great-looking device and it performed very well during my short time with it. There are still a lot of blanks, however, that can only be filled with a good review / test and some benchmarking. I’d like to see where the Ally lands compared to a gaming desktop and a gaming laptop as well as how far I can push it, as not just a handheld gaming device but also a handheld PC.

The ASUS ROG Ally is available for pre-order now in Australia and New Zealand from JB Hi-Fi and PBTech (NZ only) and released on 13th June 2023.

The post ASUS ROG ALLY Hands-On Play appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce the launch of the ROG Ally, an incredibly powerful new Windows 11 gaming handheld.

Driven by the cutting-edge AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, the Ally can breeze through AAA games and indie titles in 1080p with ease, whether gamers are playing alone or with friends.

With robust support and partnerships throughout the industry, the Ally is poised to be the ultimate handheld gaming machine.

Making this possible is the ROG Zero Gravity thermal system, which uses a dual-fan system with ultrathin heatsink fins and high-friction heat pipes to ensure the Ally stays cool in any orientation. The Ally also comes equipped with 16 GB of high-speed LPDDR5 6400 MHz memory, 512 GB of PCIe Gen 4 storage, and a UHS-II microSD card slot to further expand its storage capacity. WiFi 6E support ensures that the Ally stays on a rock-solid connection, even in congested networks, whether gamers are natively playing a multiplayer match or streaming a game via Xbox Cloud Gaming or AMD Link.

Flagship gaming performance demands a display to match, and the Ally does not disappoint. Equipped with a 120 Hz FHD (1080p) touchscreen with AMD FreeSync Premium technology gamers will enjoy supreme motion clarity in fast-paced games, with no tearing or stuttering. The display also has a maximum brightness of 500 nits, enabling gamers to easily keep track of the action in more challenging environments, like outdoors. This touchscreen display also acts to seamlessly allow navigation of Windows 11 when gamers need to change settings or install their next game.

The ROG Ally takes handheld gaming to new heights. With a 1080p screen and hardware capable of 60 FPS in many of the latest titles, the ROG Ally provides an on-the-go experience that will satisfy gamers of all stripes. Compared to the 720p resolution of competing devices, the Ally offers superior image and motion clarity thanks to its FHD touchscreen and AMD FreeSync Premium technology.

With the optional ROG Gaming Charger Dock, gamers can connect the Ally to a TV and charge at the same time, allowing for couch co-op and competition with extra controllers. The Ally can handle multiplayer games like NBA 2K23, Moving Out, and Street Fighter V with ease for a party that never stops.

When paired with an XG Mobile external GPU sporting up to an NVIDIA® GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, the Ally becomes a true gaming powerhouse for living room couch gaming or a high-end experience with mouse and keyboard. Gamers can play AAA games at 4K with ray tracing and DLSS 3, or take down the competition in high-frame rate esports titles.

All this versatility comes at an excellent price. The Ryzen Z1 Extreme-equipped model with 512 GB of storage will be available for pre-order open and available for AUD$1,299/NZD$1,499 on-shelf from June 13.

Gamers can also purchase ROG XG Mobile with an NVIDIA GeForce, or the XG Mobile with an AMD Radeon.

The ROG Ally was designed from the ground up with Windows at its heart, able to #playALLYourgames from any platform. ROG has collaborated with Microsoft, game publishers, and individual studios to ensure that gamers using the Ally have the best experience possible. Full support for Steam, the EA App, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, the Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy 2.0, Android apps, and other game platforms ensures that no matter where users download their games, the Ally has them covered.

The Ally even comes bundled with a free three-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate code, giving gamers instant access to Microsoft’s game library the moment they unbox the machine. “Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members have access to hundreds of games, including hits like Minecraft Legends, Grounded, Age of Empire IV and many more,” said Roanne Sones, CVP, Head of Xbox Hardware. “With the ROG Ally and Game Pass Ultimate, we can’t wait for people to discover and play their next favourite game on the go, whether it’s playing native PC games with Windows or streaming console games with Xbox Cloud Gaming.”

ROG is also proud to work with Xbox Game Studios, Capcom, HoYoverse, Level Infinite, 505 Games, Team 17, Nacon, Techland, Squanch Games, and Fatshark to provide the best gaming experience on the Ally.

“Before the ROG Ally, handhelds were limited, only offering certain games often at lower resolutions and framerates. We spent five years working to elevate that experience. The ROG Ally offers high performance in Full HD on a platform that can play all your games, anywhere you go,” said Shawn Yen, Vice General Manager of Gaming BU, ASUS.

The ROG Ally is a truly next-gen handheld, offering Full HD (FHD) gaming on the go, and able to run even modern AAA titles faster and smoother than any other handheld on the market. Since it runs Windows 11, it can play any game from any platform and includes three months of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate right out of the box. Gamers can play solo, connect to a TV to play with friends or kick into high gear with the ROG XG Mobile suite of external GPUs for a truly top-tier gaming experience.

The Ally is powered by an all-new Ryzen Z1 Series processor from AMD. Built on the “Zen 4” architecture combined with AMD RDNA 3 architecture-based graphics, the Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor rivals the prowess of game consoles, featuring 8 cores, 16 threads, and up to 8.6 teraflops of graphics processing power. An AMD Ryzen Z1 variant will be available later in 2023 with 6 cores and 12 processing threads, and both models support AMD FidelityFX™ Super Resolution and AMD Radeon Super Resolution upscaling technologies for excellent performance and stunning visuals in demanding AAA and indie titles.

“Our team has spent over a decade developing the technologies necessary to enable the Ryzen Z1 Series of processors. Working with visionary partners like ROG, we’ve designed a platform that redefines mobile gaming,” said Renato Fragale, senior director of product management for the Consumer and Gaming Client Business at AMD. “We’re excited for gamers to experience the first device powered by Ryzen Z1 Series processors with the launch of the ROG Ally.”

ROG Ally will be available on-shelf with 512 GB of storage in on June 13, 2023, with pre-orders open now at JB Hi-Fi and ASUS eStore.

The post ASUS RoG unveils ROG Ally appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

Gaming has grown relentlessly to become a national phenomenon in Australia, rising to become the second most sought after form of entertainment (behind streaming) and the pastime of two in three Australians.

With such a growth in the space, ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is excited to announce the Australian availability for its new 2023 laptop lineup, complete with new CPUs and GPUs from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA that aim to help Aussies get the very best out of their games, wherever they might find themselves time to play.

ASUS and ROG continue to innovate to give Aussies the latest capabilities in a variety of models and form-factors to suit gaming and every need and situation gamers might find themselves in, whether that is gaming on the go, or between meetings.

ROG has included the latest hardware from its partners on all our models. Brand new 13th Gen processors from Intel feature a mix of Performance and Efficient-cores, new AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processors increase core counts to new heights, and the GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs from NVIDIA offer incredible rasterisation performance and a range of additional features like DLSS 3 and AV1 encoding.

Paired with the best gaming displays and an incredible cooling solution, ROG continues to push the bar for laptop gaming performance ever higher.

ROG knows that next-level graphics are nothing without beautiful displays. Instead of forcing gamers to wade through technical specifications, ROG created the Nebula badge in 2022, which denotes panels that meet a strict criterion of fast motion, bright backlights, and vivid colours.

This year, ROG is bringing Nebula Displays to even more models, and in more form factors. From a compact 13-inch laptop all the way to an incredibly immersive 18-inch display, gamers won’t find Nebula Displays anywhere else.

In addition, ROG has further refined its Intelligent Cooling technology, a complete solution that carefully balances cooling performance with acoustics. Efficient cooling is one of the unsung heroes of gaming laptops, as high-powered hardware with an insufficient cooling capacity means the components won’t boost as high or as long as they should. ROG has brought two key innovations to more laptops in 2023: a larger full-width heatsink and Tri-Fan Technology, both introduced last year on the Flow X16.

The upgraded heat sink design now spans the entire rear of the chassis for select devices, drastically increasing surface area compared to traditional designs that only have half-sized fins near the half-sized exhaust vents. This heatsink has been added to this year’s redesigned Zephyrus M16, while the Strix 16-inch and 18-inch models have an extra-thick variant of the design, giving these gaming juggernauts even more headroom to push their hardware to the limit. As the name suggests, Tri-Fan Technology adds a third fan into the thermal design, providing critical airflow to internal components and helping the GPU to more efficiently expel waste heat. When paired with the new full-width heatsinks, this third fan pushes the performance of both ultraportable and esports-focused gaming machines to new heights, all without sacrificing acoustics.

The Strix SCAR lineup has long stood as the performance flagship of ROG’s lineup, and 2023 is no different. The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 have been renamed, thanks to a chassis redesign that accommodates the larger 16-inch and 18-inch 16:10 aspect-ratio screens. These 16 and 18-inch panels allow gamers to see the enemy more clearly than ever before, and the 16-inch model can even be equipped with ROG’s new QHD, 240Hz Nebula HDR display with Mini LED technology.

ROG has also amped up the cooling performance of this new chassis, allowing more headroom for the CPU and GPU to boost for maximum frame rates. Now equipped with an extra thick full-width heatsink and Tri-Fan Technology, the new Strix SCAR 16 and 18 allow for much more efficient removal of waste heat. Combined with Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal, now applied to both the CPU and GPU, ROG has pushed the performance of the SCAR 16 and SCAR 18 even further for the high-end hardware inside.

The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 sport Intel’s top-of-the-line 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13980HX processor, with 8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores for unprecedented gaming prowess. Max out the machine with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU at 175W, with the thermal headroom to allow the silicon to boost higher and longer than ever before.

The 2023 upgrades don’t stop with the SCAR family. The new Strix G16 are equipped with the same 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13980HX processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU for excellent esports performance and ready to rain fire down on the competition.

The Zephyrus lineup is all about exceptional performance in thin-and-light form factors that can easily travel anywhere. This year, the entire series has been elevated to new heights, with the Zephyrus M16.

Built for gamers and creators alike, the ultra-sleek M16 has been redesigned from the ground up, retaining a thin-and-light design but boasting an improved cooling system featuring Tri-Fan Technology and our full-width heatsink.

This allows the 2023 Zephyrus M16 to run 25 watts higher compared to last year’s model, providing even more power to the Intel Core i9 13900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus in this flagship gaming machine. The 2023 Zephyrus M16 is also the first 16-inch device equipped with ROG’s iconic AniMe Matrix LED lighting array, allowing gamers to show off their creativity and unique flair wherever they are.

All those extra frames will look better than ever, since the M16’s display has also been upgraded to a 16-inch, QHD Nebula HDR Display with Mini-LED technology. With 1,024 dimming zones, double the amount of last year’s panel, stunningly deep blacks stand against 1100 nits of peak brightness for an HDR image that pops right off the screen, with contrast and detail never seen before on a gaming laptop. With a 240 Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, gamers can rest assured that all of their content will look its absolute best with the Zephyrus M16.

The 2023 Flow X13 now features up to an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, a huge upgrade over its predecessor.

A dedicated MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allow the machine to intelligently route the display signal to get the highest performance in-game, and the best battery life for everything else. Liquid metal on the CPU lowers temperatures up to 13° C compared to traditional thermal paste, giving users more headroom for gaming and content creation alike. The Flow X13 comes equipped with up to 32GB of ultrafast LPDDR5 RAM, which in addition to boasting a 50% faster data rate than last year’s model also uses 18% less power than LPDDR4, helping the X13 last all day.

The 2023 Flow X13 chassis has also had a complete redesign, shrinking its footprint by 10 mm while maintaining the 15-inch keyboard layout and increasing battery capacity from 62 to 75 Wh. The hinge was reimagined and now allows for more access to fresh air, in addition to adding a unique texture to the aluminium lid inspired by gravitational waves that adds grip for easy carrying. An FHD IR camera with Windows Hello support and a larger touchpad make unlocking and navigating the machine effortless. When combined with the Flow X13’s new touchscreen QHD, 165 Hz Nebula Display on a 360° hinge, this incredible convertible device is ready to game anywhere, anytime.

Of course, the 2023 Flow family is joined by a brand-new XG Mobile, this time with the incredible horsepower of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a maximum TGP of 175W. Unlike other external graphics solutions, which are big and bulky, the compact XG Mobile provides loads of extra ports as well as a significant boost in graphical horsepower while being easily portable for travel and able to quickly dock and transform a Flow machine into a desktop-class experience anywhere.

ASUS TUF Gaming A16 Advantage Edition (FA617) is an all-AMD powerhouse that’s engineered for those who want to easily stream and play the latest games. It features the latest Ryzen 9 Zen 4 CPU, up to a Radeon RDNA3 GPU, and AMD Smart Access Graphics. It allows gamers to sink deeper into their favourite content thanks to slimmer bezels, a 90% screen-to-body ratio, and up to a QHD 240 Hz refresh-rate panel. It also comes with 84-blade Arc Flow Fans and up to seven heat pipes, plus four exhaust vents that efficiently push heat out of the system.

The A16 Advantage Edition also delivers next-gen hardware support with USB4, up to 2 TB PCIe 4.0 x4 storage, and DDR5 4800 MHz RAM. All RAM and storage slots are fully accessible. ROG’s new military-inspired Sandstorm paint, a large 90 Wh battery, and USB-C Power Delivery support are all built right into this rugged chassis. Dolby Atmos support ensures gamers get the most out of soundtracks and music, and Two-Way AI Noise Cancellation ensures clear communications in any scenario.

ROG Strix Scar 16, ROG Strix Scar 18 (G834), ROG Strix G 16 (G614), ROG Zephyrus M16 (GU604), ROG Zephyrus M16 (GU604), TUF Advantage Edition A16 (FA617) are available now and the ROG Flow X13 (GV302), ROG XG Mobile (2023) will be coming soon.

The post ASUS ROG Unleashes Arsenal of Maxed-Out Laptops appeared first on Shane the Gamer.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) is proud to announce its new 2023 laptop lineup, complete with new CPUs and GPUs from AMD, Intel, and NVIDIA, as well as significant improvements to the already outstanding Intelligent Cooling Technology.

The 2023 Strix family features new models with drastically improved cooling and enlarged 16- and 18-inch screens, the new Zephyrus M16 arrives with an AniMe Matrix display to take the thin-and-light world by storm, and a redesigned Flow X13 and XG Mobile have both been upgraded to take advantage of the latest hardware.

For 2023, ROG has included the latest hardware from its partners on all of our models. Brand new 13th Gen processors from Intel feature a mix of Performance and Efficient-cores, new AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processors increase core counts to new heights, and the GeForce RTX 40 Series Laptop GPUs from
NVIDIA offer incredible rasterisation performance and a range of additional features like DLSS 3 and AV1 encoding. Paired with the best gaming displays and an incredible cooling solution, ROG continues to push the bar for laptop gaming performance ever higher.

ROG knows that next-level graphics are nothing without beautiful displays. Instead of forcing gamers to wade through technical specifications, ROG created the Nebula badge in 2022, which denotes panels that meet a strict criterion of fast motion, bright backlights, and vivid colours.

This year, ROG is bringing Nebula Displays to even more models, and in more form factors. From a compact 13-inch laptop all the way to an incredibly immersive 18-inch display, gamers won’t find Nebula Displays anywhere else.

In addition, ROG has further refined its Intelligent Cooling technology, a complete solution that carefully balances cooling performance with acoustics. Efficient cooling is one of the unsung heroes of gaming laptops, as high-powered hardware with an insufficient cooling capacity means the components won’t boost as high or as long as they should.

ROG has brought two key innovations to more laptops in 2023: a larger full-width heatsink and Tri-Fan Technology, both introduced last year on the Flow X16. The upgraded heatsink design now spans the entire rear of the chassis for select devices, drastically increasing surface area compared to traditional designs that only have half-sized fins near the half-sized exhaust vents. This heatsink has been added to this year’s redesigned Zephyrus M16, while the Strix 16-inch and 18-inch models have an extra-thick variant of the design, giving these gaming juggernauts even more headroom to push their hardware to the limit.

As the name suggests, Tri-Fan Technology adds a third fan into the thermal design, providing critical airflow to internal components and helping the GPU to more efficiently expel waste heat. When paired with the new full-width heatsinks, this third fan pushes the performance of both ultraportable and esports-focused gaming machines to new heights, all without sacrificing acoustics.

The Strix SCAR lineup has long stood as the performance flagship of ROG’s lineup, and 2023 is no
different.

The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 have been renamed, thanks to a chassis redesign that accommodates the larger 16-inch and 18-inch 16:10 aspect-ratio screens. These 16- and 18-inch panels allow gamers to see the enemy more clearly than ever before, and the 16-inch model can even be equipped with ROG’s new QHD, 240Hz Nebula HDR display with Mini LED technology. ROG has also amped up the cooling performance of this new chassis, allowing more headroom for the CPU and GPU to boost for maximum framerates.

Now equipped with an extra thick full-width heatsink and Tri-Fan Technology, the new Strix SCAR 16 and 18 allow for much more efficient removal of waste heat. Combined with Thermal Grizzly’s Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal, now applied to both the CPU and GPU, ROG has pushed the performance of the SCAR 16 and SCAR 18 even further for the high-end hardware inside.

The Strix SCAR 16 and 18 sport Intel’s top-of-the-line 13th Gen Intel CoreTM i9 13980HX processor, with 8 Performance-cores and 16 Efficient-cores for unprecedented gaming prowess. Max out the machine with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU at 175 W, with the thermal headroom to allow the silicon to boost higher and longer than ever before.

The 2023 upgrades don’t stop with the SCAR family. The new Strix G16 and Strix G18 are equipped with the same 13th Gen Intel Core i9 13980HX processor and can be configured with up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU for excellent esports performance. With up to 16 full-performance cores, AMD’s Ryzen Zen 4 processor is an absolute beast for gaming and content creation alike, so the Strix G17 and Strix SCAR 17 have both been refreshed with this monster CPU. Combined with NVIDIA’s latest GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU in the top-tier models, the entire 2023 Strix lineup is ready to rain fire down on the competition.

The Zephyrus lineup is all about exceptional performance in thin-and-light form factors that can easily travel anywhere. This year, the entire series has been elevated to new heights, starting with the Zephyrus M16.

Built for gamers and creators alike, the ultra-sleek M16 has been redesigned from the ground up, retaining a thin-and-light design but boasting an improved cooling system featuring Tri-Fan Technology and our full-width heatsink. This allows the 2023 Zephyrus M16 to run 25 watts higher compared to last year’s model — providing even more power to the Intel CoreTM i9 13900H CPU and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus in this flagship gaming machine.

The 2023 Zephyrus M16 is also the first 16-inch device equipped with ROG’s iconic AniMe Matrix LED lighting array, allowing gamers to show off their creativity and unique flair wherever they are. All those extra frames will look better than ever, since the M16’s display has also been upgraded to a 16-inch, QHD Nebula HDR Display with Mini-LED technology. With 1,024 dimming zones, double the amount of last year’s panel, stunningly deep blacks stand against 1100 nits of peak brightness for an HDR image that pops right off the screen, with contrast and detail never seen before on a gaming laptop.

With a 240 Hz refresh rate and 100% DCI-P3 coverage, gamers can rest assured that all of their content will look its absolute best with the Zephyrus M16.

The other members of the Zephyrus family have also received upgrades for 2023. The brand-new Zephyrus G16 joins the lineup and boasts an Intel Core i9 13900H CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus. The G16 also comes equipped with its very own Nebula Display, a 16-inch, QHD, 240 Hz panel with dazzling colour and clarity.

The Zephyrus G14 features brand new internals as well, including up to an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 CPU and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus.

Even more impressive, the G14 proudly introduces ROG’s first 14-inch Nebula HDR display, with 504 dimming zones, 600 nits of peak brightness and 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour space for vivid and immersive content. If HDR isn’t a priority, gamers can opt for models with the iconic AniMe Matrix panel to make their laptops truly one of a kind.

Finally, the legendary Zephyrus Duo 16 continues to stand at the apex of our lineup. With a dual display setup comprising of a 16-inch Mini LED panel and a 4K touchscreen that slides to meet it automatically as the laptop is opened, the Duo 16 is a dream machine for gamers and content creators on-the-go. This year, the Duo 16 has been upgraded with even more power, featuring an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processor with 16 cores and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch. No matter how many tasks gamers are juggling at once, the Zephyrus Duo has all the tools needed to maximise FPS and productivity.

The 2023 Flow X13 now features up to an AMD Ryzen Zen 4 processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, a huge upgrade over its predecessor.

A dedicated MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allow the machine to intelligently route the display signal to get the highest performance in-game, and the best battery life for everything else. Liquid metal on the CPU lowers temperatures up to 13° C compared to traditional thermal paste, giving users more headroom for gaming and content creation alike.

The Flow X13 comes equipped with up to 32 GB of ultrafast LPDDR5 RAM, which in addition to boasting a 50% faster data rate than last year’s model also uses 18% less power than LPDDR4, helping the X13 last all day. The 2023 Flow X13 chassis has also had a complete redesign, shrinking its footprint by 10 mm while maintaining the 15-inch keyboard layout and increasing battery capacity from 62 to 75 Wh. The hinge was reimagined and now allows for more access to fresh air, in addition to adding a unique texture to the aluminium lid inspired by gravitational waves that adds grip for easy carrying.

An FHD IR camera with Windows Hello support and a larger touchpad make unlocking and navigating the machine effortless.

When combined with the Flow X13’s new touchscreen QHD, 165 Hz Nebula Display on a 360° hinge, this incredible convertible device is ready to game anywhere, anytime. The Flow Z13 is equally impressive. This year, the GPU was upgraded with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU, with a TGP of up to 65 W — a 62% increase compared to the previous generation Z13. The Z13 also has a dedicated MUX Switch with NVIDIA Advanced Optimus support. Liquid metal and vapour chamber technology make this possible, and the incredible 13-inch QHD 165 Hz refresh rate Nebula Display will make gamers favourite content truly shine.

Finally, the ROG Flow X16 has gotten new internals, with up to a new Intel Core i9 13900H processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU with a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus.

Its Nebula HDR Mini LED touchscreen display has been improved, with 1100 nits of peak brightness and a blazing 240 Hz refresh rate, offering the best possible HDR experiences available with an ultraportable machine.

All 2023 Flow machines also feature Corning Gorilla Glass DXC, a special coating that increases hardness by 40% while significantly reducing surface reflections, making the Flow family easier than ever to use outdoors and in brighter environments and maintaining industry-leading scratch resistance.

Of course, the 2023 Flow family is joined by a brand-new XG Mobile, this time with the incredible horsepower of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Laptop GPU with a maximum TGP of 175 W. Unlike other external graphics solutions, which are big and bulky, the compact XG Mobile provides loads of extra ports as well as a significant boost in graphical horsepower while being easily portable for travel and able to quickly dock and transform a Flow machine into a desktop-class experience anywhere.

The new ASUS ROG products’ availability is still to be announced.

The post ASUS ROG Unleashes Arsenal of Maxed-Out Laptops @ CES 2023 appeared first on Shane the Gamer.