Gaming laptops are powerhouses by rule. They are bulkier than the regular ones, feature higher refresh rates, top-class display and graphics and advanced processing systems. But what makes a good gaming laptop great is not how it fares in these core sectors but how it performs in other non-core departments. Consider the keyboard layout: most gamers expect a console-like ease from laptops and how the keyboard is laid out makes a big difference. Unfortunately, many gaming laptops fumble on this seemingly simple area and spoil the show. Asus’ Republic of Gamers (RoG) gaming laptops display remarkable alacrity when it comes to paying attention to details that matter, especially in non-core faculties.

The RoG Strix SCAR looks like the beast it is supposed to be. It is heavy and thick. The body is gunmetal gray, finished with the dark feel of “bullet-proof” Kevlar fibre on the keyboard. The four shortcut keys placed above the keyboard are not customisable, however. The keys respond faster and are easy to negotiate. The multi-function touchpad is spacious enough but requires more finesse and functions. That said, most gamers aren’t worried about the touchpad, so let’s give it a skip. The body has the RoG trademark back panel, with the scar and the RoG emblem, and feels rough enough to avoid slips and falls. Given the weight, above 2.5 kg, it is likely users may drop it while moving the laptop around. But the body can withstand moderate falls, according to Asus.

Asus claims the Scar edition is customised to assist (gun) shooting experiences, especially for the kind we see in FPS (first-person-shooter) games such as Counter-Strike and TeamFortress. If you are a MOBA gamer (that is multiplayer online battle arena in English), you should look out for the Hero variant. The SCAR Edition has Intel’s 7th-Generation processors offering quad-core processing power that can match gaming desktops.

Seamless performance

The graphic faculty is supported by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 graphics with up to 8 GB of GDDR5 and this enables the ROG Strix SCAR Edition to deliver superior gaming performance. The review unit had a 15.6-inch display, which offers a Full HD wide-view. The IPS panel has matte, anti-glare properties. One can easily feel the comfort while playing games for longer durations. The device does not heat up, and the cooling fan — which plays spoilsport in many gaming laptops and desktops — delivers a silent, powerful performance in the Asus RoG Strix Scar Edition.

All the variants in the RoG series boast superb refresh rates. This one also sticks to the legacy, offering users 144 Hz refresh rate and a response time of seven milliseconds. The colour reproduction and graphics rendering are really honest, thanks to, among others, the NVIDIA G-sync technology. The device comes preloaded with Windows 10 Operating System.

Quite understandably, Asus has provided the RoG Strix series with enough ports. There is a charging slot on the left, one for the ethernet, a compact display-port, one for HDMI, two USB Type-A 3 ports and an audio jack. The other side has three more USB ports (one supports Thunderbolt) and a full-sized SD card reader. There is a 256 GB SSD storage and an extra 1 TB hybrid FireCuda SSHD. Guess that would be enough for your gaming needs and other work-related content storage.

Asus also offers a clutch of applications that are tailor-made for the RoG ecosystem. RoG Aura Core, for one, can help you create lighting profiles for the keyboard and other areas, while RoG Gaming Center helps you monitor your system stats such as memory and release RAM, create game-specific profiles, and more.

Underwhelming battery

Now, the biggest let-down, like in many other RoG variants, is the battery life. In our experience, the battery drained out in just about an hour-and-a-half of gaming.

Given the price tag, the battery life is not up to satisfactory levels. That apart, this affordable gaming laptop delivers a great experience while doubling up as a multi-tasker. In sum, it could be your son’s gaming PC while also being your family laptop that meets all other entertainment needs.

 

Price: Starting ₹92,990 (Review unit: ₹1,84,990)

Pros: Good refresh rates, display, multi-tasking performance

Cons: Fast-draining battery, confusing touchpad, heavy

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