ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2025) G835LX / ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) GA403UI

The cores are a mix of performance and efficiency cores; there is no Hyper-Threading, so core and thread counts are equal.

24 MB is 8 MB of L2 plus 16 MB of L3 cache. The processor’s integrated Radeon 780M graphics handles light work when Advanced Optimus is active.

1647 MHz is the 1597 MHz boost clock plus a 50 MHz ASUS overclock. 175 W is the highest total graphics power; the 25 W Dynamic Boost share moves to the GPU when CPU load is low. The GPU is soldered and cannot be upgraded.

1655 MHz is the 1605 MHz boost clock plus a 50 MHz ASUS overclock. The 90 W ceiling is lower than RTX 4070 configurations in large 16–18-inch laptops and was chosen for the thin chassis. The GPU cannot be upgraded.

The MUX switch connects the internal display directly to the NVIDIA GPU to reduce latency in games; Advanced Optimus does this switch without a restart.

The MUX switch connects the internal display directly to the NVIDIA GPU; Advanced Optimus does this switch without a restart.

The Mini LED backlight dims in many small zones independently, which keeps dark areas dark in HDR content; it is not as precise as pixel-level OLED control.

Each OLED pixel makes its own light, so blacks are fully dark; leaving static images on screen for long periods raises the risk of image retention.

Both slots are filled in this variant and ASUS’s stated maximum is already reached; an upgrade means replacing the modules.

Memory cannot be increased later, so the amount should be chosen at purchase.

RAID 0 combines the two drives into one fast volume; if either drive fails all data can be lost, so regular backups matter. ASUS states that only single-sided SSDs are supported.

There is a single M.2 slot, so more capacity means replacing the existing SSD with a larger one.

Thunderbolt 5 can offer up to 120 Gb/s in one direction, useful for fast external storage and high-resolution monitors. Independent testing criticised the lack of rear ports.

There is no wired Ethernet port; independent testing listed this and the lack of Wi-Fi 7 as drawbacks.

A compatible router is needed to benefit from Wi-Fi 7 speeds.

Independent testing found the Enter and arrow keys small.

The 380 W adapter is needed for gaming performance; the 100 W USB-C adapter is for light use and charging on the go. ASUS notes that box contents can vary by region.

On battery the GPU runs at a lower limit; full performance needs the 180 W adapter.

The carried weight rises noticeably with the adapters.

ASUS notes that accessories can vary by region.