Finding the Best ASUS Gaming Laptops

Welcome to our guide to the best ASUS gaming laptops based on raw hardware performance, critic and user reviews, design and general pure gaming pedigree.

ASUS have been releasing some of the best gaming laptops on the market for a number of years now. Their ROG (Republic Of Gamers) brand of gaming hardware, computers and accessories was launched in 2006 and has grown into a powerhouse brand that is loved by gamers across the globe. Hardcore gamers will instantly recognize the aggressive looks of the ROG range of laptops and the logo has come to signify the choice of champions. Their aggressive looks are always backed by some of the most powerful hardware on the market, giving you peace of mind when it comes to your overall gaming experience. While the ROG range is ASUS’s premium gaming range, they do occasionally release some none ROG laptops that still offer decent hardware specs and ASUS laptop deals for those users who are on tighter budgets. These ASUS laptop models present the best that the market currently has to offer.

To get an idea of how all the different processors and graphics cards stack up against each other, head over to our best gaming laptops guide. While this article is focused purely on ASUS laptops, there are also some budget friendly gaming laptops starting from $500 and ranging up to $1000 mid-range gaming laptops. Most of the cheaper machines will easily run basic tasks and will allow you to enjoy your favorite games when set to lower graphics settings. But to make sure that you can enjoy the best AAA titles on high and ultra settings, then we recommend looking at spending a few extra dollars on a higher-end machine. So if you are after a great portable gaming solution for those AAA gaming titles, then the ASUS range of laptops is well worth considering. If you are also a fan of either Razer or MSI you may also want to head over to our Razer laptops guide and MSI Laptops guide for some additional gaming laptop picks from top tier manufacturers.

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Best ASUS Laptops under $1000

ASUS FX502VM-AH51 15.6-inch

Finding a gaming laptop with an NVIDIA GTX 1060 for under $1000 is like winning the lottery, however, ASUS have released a winning formula with the ASUS FX502VM-AH51. This laptop offers up a powerful GTX 1060 for under $1000. This price category is usually flooded with GTX 1050 and even GTX 1050 Ti GPUs, and while they can handle modern games, they lack the power of the GTX 1060. The GTX 1060 even offers support for VR gaming. While keeping costs down, ASUS have gone for an i5 processor which could struggle with VR games in the long run. The 16GB of DDR4 RAM and Intel Core i5-6300HQ will easily handle any of the current games and you will have loads of space to install them on the 1TB hard drive. While it does feature a 7200rpm hard drive, it still doesn’t match the speeds offered by SSDs. Luckily there is a free M.2 slot to install a superfast SSD without having to replace the 2.5-inch hard drive. The powerful hardware does have its downside though, it will mean that the ASUS FX502VM-AH51 will run hot while gaming. The laptops thinner form doesn’t help either as thicker laptops offer far better airflow for cooling. Some users have also mentioned that the trackpad has much to be desired, though most gamers will use a good gaming mouse. At the end of the day, these minor issues are something that we can easily look past due to the powerful GPU and its great price.

Specs

ASUS K501UW-AB78 15.6-inch

While many gaming laptops feature aggressive stylings and are usually quite bulky, the ASUS K501UW-AB78 is quite different. Featuring a sleek aluminum design, the ASUS K501UW-AB78 is thin and light for a gaming machine, making it great for gamers after a portable solution. Sporting a 6th generation Intel Core i7-6500U processor and 8GB of RAM, the ASUS K501UW-AB78 will make light work of your daily tasks. But for more intensive apps and for better gaming performance and we recommend upgrading the RAM to at least 16GB. The dual cooling fans keep the ASUS K501UW-AB78 cool when under load, but users can expect to hear the fans slightly when pushing the laptops hardware. No gaming laptop would be complete without a dedicated graphics card. The ASUS K501UW-AB78 features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, which will run Fallout 4 and Overwatch on ultra settings, but more intensive games will have to be run on medium and high settings to maintain good frame rates. One feature that is missing from the ASUS K501UW-AB78 is the addition of USB 3.1 Type-C. This would help to future proof the laptop as users could easily connect an External GPU dock to run more powerful desktop graphics cards. While some of its competitors are still offering smaller 256GB SSD’s, the ASUS K501UW-AB78 comes standard with a 512GB SSD for double the storage space. While the Full-HD display offers rich colors and great viewing angles, it is slightly small for gaming. But users will easily be able to connect a monitor or TV via the HDMI port for a much more pleasurable gaming experience.

Specs

ASUS ZX53VW-AH58 15.6-inch

If an ASUS ROG laptop is just slightly out of your price range, then you will be pleased to know that ASUS have a few cheaper options that still manage to offer great gaming experiences. The ASUS ZX53VW-AH58 even features a superfast M.2 SSD which will give you a slight edge while loading into multiplayer games and will allow you to boot into Windows in seconds. With 512GB of storage space, you get enough space to install some of the larger games on the market while still leaving some room to store all of your media files. With a Skylake-based Intel Core i5-6300HQ processor and 8GB of RAM, you will have no issues with everyday tasks and running most AAA games. However, you might want to look at upgrading the RAM to 16GB as the installed 8GB would be the first culprit if the ASUS ZX53VW-AH58 started feeling sluggish. The graphics are delivered by the dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M with 4GB of video memory. While it is not as powerful as the newer GTX 1060, this card does help to bring down the price of this gaming laptop. However, the GTX 960M will still run quite a few of the latest gaming titles on ultra settings with acceptable frame rates. For you to enjoy your favorite games, you get a matte Full-HD display which offers rich colors and good viewing angles for gaming and watching 1080p videos. One of the biggest complaints has been that the trackpad is subpar and you might experience a few misclicks while using it. However, most gamers will use a good gaming mouse while playing games or even just surfing the web.

Specs

ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH71 15.6-Inch

The ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH71 does come in at just above $1k, but it is still a worthwhile laptop to make this list.  It features the latest Intel Core i7 6700HQ processor and a full 16 GB of RAM along with a 1 TB hard drive running at 7200 RPM.  This means that you can not only store almost anything you want on this laptop, but everything should load relatively fast.  Backed by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M, you will easily be able to run all the latest generation of games at relatively high frame rates and only the latest next gen titles will really tax your system.  On top of that, this device includes the latest and fastest USB 3.1 Type-C port to allow for some of the fastest transfers using compatible devices along with next generation DDR4 RAM for additional performance boost over older machines .  If you are on the hunt for a gaming powerhouse and you have a little extra to spend, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH71.  It provides all the specs you need for the perfect all around laptop and gaming powerhouse in one and, with its newly released Skylake based chipset, your hardware won’t be left in the dirt for some time to come.

Specs

ASUS K501UX-AH71 15.6-inch

ASUS are known for their ROG line of gaming laptops that are crammed full of powerful hardware. But the laptops in the ROG range are usually heavy and bulky, and sport poor battery performance. The ASUS K501UX-AH71 is a wolf in sheep’s clothing and despite its ultrabook like appearance, this laptop boasts some powerful hardware. The Skylake Intel Core i7-6500U processor is backed by 8GB of RAM, which will allow it to cope with any day-to-day tasks including Photoshop. Equipped with a dedicated NVIDIA GeForce GTX950M, the ASUS K501UX-AH71 can run modern gaming titles. While the GTX950M may not be the most powerful graphics card, it will run games on medium to high settings with decent frame rates. While many gaming laptops only feature Full-HD displays, the ASUS K501UX-AH71 comes equipped with a Full-HD display that offers rich colors, decent viewing angles and a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080. But the lack of an IPS display does affect the overall performance of the panel. A solid state drive offers lightning fast Windows boot and gaming loading times, but the limited 256GB of storage space is a drawback with modern games increasing in size. While many other gaming machines offer extremely poor battery life, the ASUS K501UX-AH71 will give you a decent 5 hours off of a single charge. The ultrabook like design also means that this laptop is extremely portable and can easily be carried around as a daily work machine.

Specs

Best ASUS Laptops under $2000

ASUS ROG GL502VS-DB71 15.6-inch

When it comes to high-end gaming laptops, there are only a few names that are worth considering and ASUS is one of them. Their Republic Of Gamers (ROG) laptops have always been some of the most sought after laptops when it comes to serious gamers. One of their latest offerings is the new ASUS ROG GL502VS-DB71 and like many of their products, it does not disappoint. While it is not the thinnest or lightest laptop, it is well below the industry standard when it comes to 15.6-inch gaming laptops. Powering this beast is a Skylake based Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor and 16GB of DDR4 2133MHz RAM, which combined will easily offer lag free gaming and enough power for designers and video editors. ASUS have jumped on board with the new 10-series range of NVIDIA graphics cards and the ASUS ROG GL502VS-DB71 features the GeForce GTX 1070 laptop edition. The GTX 1070 outperforms its predecessor and its performance is on par with the GTX 980M. The new Pascal architecture offers superior performance when it comes to VR gaming and will make the ASUS ROG GL502VS-DB71 more future proof as some of the other ROG laptops. To store all of your games and multimedia files, the ASUS ROG GL502VS-DB71 comes with both a 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive and a superfast 256GB M.2 solid state drive. But with games ever increasing in size, you will have to choose which games you want to install on the SSD. The 15.6-inch Full-HD display offers wide viewing angles and rich colors thanks to its In-plane switching technology. You also get G-SYNC which allows the display to synchronize its refresh rate with the GTX 1070’s rendering rate.

Specs

ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH74 17.3-Inch

The ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH74 is an updated version of the ROG DH71. Sporting an Intel Skylake Core i7 6700HQ processor and a 16GB of DDR4 RAM, the ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH74 will cope with any day-to-day tasks with ease. Ample storage space is provided by a 1TB mechanical hard drive running at 7200 RPM, and a lighting fast M.2 128GB solid state drive provides fast boot and game loading times. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960M offers good graphics performance and the updated 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM offers better performance than the ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH71. The GTX 960M will easily be able to run all the latest generation of games at relatively high frame rates, but the GTX960M is a mid-range graphics card meaning it’s not as future proof as models sporting the GTX970M or GTX980M cards. The display offers rich colors and wide viewing angles are provided by its in-panel switching. While the ROG GL552VW-DH74 does not come with a QHD+ or 4K display, the 17.3-inch does offer Full-HD and a maximum resolution of 1920×1080. The USB 3.1 Type-C port allows for super fast transfer speeds and will also allow for users to connect a Thunderbolt compatible display. If you are on the hunt for a gaming powerhouse and you have a little extra to spend, you can’t go wrong with the ASUS ROG GL552VW-DH74.

Specs

ASUS ROG Strix GL502VM-DB71 15.6-inch

The ROG range of gaming laptops from ASUS have always been on the frontline of offering a great gaming experience. The ASUS ROG Strix GL502VM might not be winning the race for the thinnest gaming laptop, but at 4.9 pounds and at just 0.94 inches thick, it is below the category standard. You get the usual aggressive gaming looks that you will find on the higher-end ROG laptops, but ASUS has toned it down just a bit to offer a very sleek laptop. Sporting an Intel Skylake Core i7-6700HQ processor and 16GB of DDR4 2133MHz RAM, the ASUS ROG Strix GL502VM will easily offer lag free performance when it comes to current gaming titles. You can upgrade the RAM to a maximum of 32GB and ASUS have left one slot free to add a second 16GB RAM module. We recommend the G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 2400 (2 x 16G) kit as a replacement for an improved gaming experience. ASUS have also gone with the new 10-series graphics from NVIDIA and features the GeForce GTX 1060 laptop edition. The GTX 1060 offers a huge improvement in performance over its predecessor the GTX 960M. You now get 6GB of GDDR5 video memory and you will be able to play demanding titles such as Battlefield 4, The Division and Fallout 4 on ultra settings. You will however see a massive drop in frame rates with a 4K monitor and a resolution of 3840 x 2160. You get a single 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive, but there is a free M.2 slot for you to add a superfast solid state drive. The Full-HD display offers wide viewing angles thanks to its In-plane switching technology and offers a good 83% sRGB color gamut, which is good news for designers.

Specs

ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH71 17-Inch

If you are looking for a great balance between power and price, the ASUS ROG GL752VW-DH71 could be just what you’re looking for in a laptop.  Featuring the latest Intel Core i7 Skylake processor, the laptop runs cool and fast, despite not having an SSD.  It comes with an NVIDIA GTX960M, which isn’t the most powerful video card out there but it does get the job done.  This laptop is a little large, mostly due to the giant 17.3-inch screen that is bright and clear running a Full-HD resolution of 1920 x 1080.  With 16GB of DDR4 RAM, you will have more than enough memory to run multiple apps side by side without having to worry about any slow downs.  However, if battery life is what you’re looking for, avert your eyes, as this model won’t allow you to leave an electrical outlet for very long at all.  All in all, if you are on the hunt for a well balanced laptop that will play almost any game, even if it isn’t at the highest settings, this could be the perfect match for you.

Specs

Best Premium ASUS Laptops

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ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition 17.3-inch

If you are a serious gamer with a big budget, then the ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition is well worth looking at. Its aggressive looks are backed up by some very powerful hardware. Powered by a 6th generation Intel Core i7-6820HK processor and 32GB of DDR4 RAM, the ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition will have no issue running the latest games or hardware intensive design apps. The benefit of the i7-6820HK is that it has an unlocked multiplier, which will allow you to easily overclock the processor. While many gaming laptops are still offering the GTX 980M, the ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition comes with an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with 8GB of video memory. The GTX 1070 offers 10-15% better performance than its predecessors and this is very noticeable with the frame rates that it can achieve. It scored 13916 on 3DMark’s Fire Strike graphics test, unseating the previous contender the Origin Eon17 SLX by almost 2000 points. To store all of your games and multimedia files, ASUS has installed both a 256GB solid state drive and a 1TB 7200rpm mechanical hard drive. But with the size of modern games, you will easily fill the SSD in no time. The Full-HD 17.3-inch display offers G-SYNC and while it is not a 4K display, it offers sharp image quality and vivid colors. The ASUS ROG G752VS-XB72K OC Edition is also VR ready, making it slightly more future proof than some of its competitors. However the battery life is poor but this is nothing new when it comes to gaming laptops.

Specs

ASUS ROG G752VY-DH78K 17.3-inch

The ASUS G752VY-DH78K is one of ASUS’s top of the line gaming laptops that combines space age looks with powerful hardware. Boasting a Skylake Intel Core i7-6820HK processor which is backed by a massive 64GB of DDR4 RAM and a top of the line NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, the G752VY will run any modern gaming title on its highest settings. The Intel Core i7-6820HK has a lower clock speed than the i7-6700HQ, but with its unlocked multiplier it is easier to overclock and can be overclocked to a higher frequency. To make sure that there is enough space for modern games and to make sure those games load insanely fast the G752VY come standard with two 256GB SSD’s and a 1TB 7200rpm SATA III hard drive. The two SSD’s can be upgraded to two Samsung 950 Pro NVMe SSD’s, but this will add $660 to the already hefty price tag. The Full-HD display offers rich colors, wide viewing angles and G-Sync, but only has a maximum resolution of 1920×1080. Reviews have praised the G752VY for its low temperatures and low fan noise levels thanks to its cleverly designed cooling system. It also comes with a Dust-release thermal solution, which is meant to prevent dust from building up on the internal components. The battery life is rather poor and no real improvements have been made from its predecessor, but the ASUS G752VY-DH78K larger size makes it a perfect desktop replacement.

Specs

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Conclusion

If the laptops in this guide are too expensive, you can try our gaming laptops under $500 guide where you might find something that will fit your budget. However, in this lower price range you cannot expect to find a machine that will play the latest AAA gaming titles with brilliant performance and graphics. If you do prefer the best, try our Best Gaming Laptops article to find the best gaming laptops available.

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