I will review the hardware and appearance features because the new AMD version of Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 GA605WV is identical to the previous Intel version. The main differences between these two versions will be performance and temperature. Please join me in the ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD review in the article below.
With outstanding improvements in performance and temperature, Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 version is the perfect choice for those looking for a high-end laptop with a comprehensive experience.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD Review
Slim and Well-Designed Gaming Laptop
Since the first generation of ROG Zephyrus G14, G16 was born, it has been dubbed the ” MacBook of Windows”. The laptop features a sleek aluminum body that is just 16mm thick and weighs 1.85 kg, with a 16-inch size. The ROG G16 2024 AMD isn’t the most compact laptop, but it’s thin and light enough for comfortable use anywhere.
The solid aluminum construction with a matte gray finish gives the laptop a premium and elegant look. Slash Lighting LED strip on the A side, customizable via Armoury Crate software, enhances its appeal and rivals high-end MacBooks. It is an excellent choice for users who value precision and high-quality performance.
The ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD shares the same 2-axis hinge as the ROG Zephyrus G14 2024. However, using the same sturdy hinge from a 14-inch laptop on a larger 16-inch screen may be excessive. When the screen shaking still occurs at a slight intensity. It is understandable when users can completely open the screen with one hand, shaking is inevitable.
I appreciate the palm resting under the keyboard. It provides comfort, ample space, and stability while typing. The C-side keyboard layout of the G16 2024 AMD is similar to the MacBook Pro 16-inch, offering a familiar experience.
Asus has positioned the heatsink at the bottom of the laptop, ensuring both stable performance and effective cooling. This design prevents overheating and lag, ensuring the device remains cool for the user.
The laptop includes a square grille, a wide slot near the bottom edge of the screen, the Zephyrus logo, and a status LED cluster. It also features a small heat dissipation slot. The performance and effectiveness of these components will be assessed in the ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD review below.
The screen remains as Stunning as Ever
If the hardware and connection ports of the two versions of Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 AMD and Intel are the same. The screens of both notebooks are also 240Hz OLED with a resolution of WUXGA 2560 x 1600. The display offers 100% DCI-P3 color accuracy and incorporates advanced screen technologies like G-Sync and Dolby Vision, enhancing multimedia entertainment.
The display is impressive, offering standard yet excellent quality. It features good brightness and vibrant colors, making it ideal for various entertainment purposes. Its performance in processing image data, video clips, editing, and creating images remains unmatched in its category.
The keyboard offers a cushioned, soft-touch experience
Imagine placing your hands on the table and typing on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD keyboard. It offers a solid, sturdy feel. The keys offer deep travel, ensuring a smooth typing experience superior to the MacBook. The tactile feedback is distinct, providing smoothness rarely seen in other laptops.
The hardware factor that makes everyone love and enjoy using MacBook, ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 AMD also has. The touchpad is notably large and highly sensitive. Moving your fingertips across its surface feels smooth and soft. I do not notice any difference between the G16 touchpad and the MacBook.
Essential Ports for Optimal Usage
The gaming laptop has removed the LAN port to keep its slim and lightweight design. However, it still includes all the essential ports for a comfortable user experience. The notebook features one Type-C USB 4 PD/DisplayPort, one Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 2 PD/DisplayPort, two USB-A 3.2 ports, one HDMI port, a 3.5mm AUX headphone jack, and an SD card reader.
A slight difference compared to the Intel Core Ultra version is that the USB-C port only supports USB 4 instead of Thunderbolt 4, but this does not affect much because USB 4 bandwidth is still enough to meet current usage needs.
Premium Dolby Atmos Speakers with Hi-Res Audio
The keyboard features two Dolby Atmos speaker clusters on each side, providing high-quality sound with Hi-res audio certification. The sound quality of this speaker range is rated 9 out of 10 compared to the MacBook. The device features two speaker ranges—one on the top and one on the bottom of the laptop—each with two small speaker clusters.
The clusters work together to produce a uniform sound field that envelops the listener. The detailed and balanced audio enhances the experience of listening to different music genres, eliminating the need for headphones.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 AMD specifications
- Operating System: Windows 11 Pro
- Processor: AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 2.0GHz (36MB Cache, up to 5.1GHz, 12 cores, 24 Threads)
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060/4070 Laptop GPU 8GB GDDR6
- Display: ROG Nebula Display 16-inch 2.5K OLED (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) 16:10 aspect ratio, 100% DCI-P3, 240Hz, 3ms / 0.2ms, G-Sync / Adaptive-Sync, Pantone Validated, MUX Switch + NVIDIA Advanced Optimus, Dolby Vision HDR
- Memory: 2x 16GB LPDDR5X on board, Max Capacity: 32GB
- Storage: 2TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD, 2x M.2 PCIe
- Ports: 1x 3.5mm Combo Audio Jack, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A (data speed up to 10Gbps), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C with support for DP / power delivery (data speed up to 10Gbps), 1x Type-C USB 4 with support for DP / power delivery (data speed up to 40Gbps), 1x card reader (SD Card) (SD Express 7.0)
- Keyboard and Touchpad: Backlit Chiclet Keyboard 1-Zone RGB with Touchpad and Copilot key
- Camera: 1080P FHD IR Camera for Windows Hello
- Audio: Smart Amp Technology, Dolby Atmos, AI noise-canceling technology, Hi-Res certification (for headphones), Built-in 3-microphone array, 4-speaker (dual force woofer) system with Smart Amplifier Technology, 2 Tweeters
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7(802.11be) (Triple band) 2 x 2+Bluetooth 5.4 Wireless Card
- Battery: 90WHrs, 4S1P, 4-cell Li-ion with Rectangle Conn, 200W AC Adapter
- Dimensions: 35.4 x 24.6 x 1.62 ~ 1.72 cm (W x D x H)
- Weight: 1.85 Kg / 4.08 lbs
Asus has boosted performance and gaming efficiency with its AMD chipsets. This upgrade provides users with more options, satisfying both AMD and Intel enthusiasts, and delivers a boost in performance to a popular gaming laptop.
To know more about whether this innovation is really worth it, please continue reading the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD review below.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 AMD review test
Performance Benchmarks and Work Use
First, the Cinebench R23 results demonstrate impressive performance with the 32GB DDR5 onboard memory and the powerful AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset. The single-core performance exceeds 2,000 points, while the multi-core performance reaches nearly 22,300 points, showcasing its strength and efficiency. This pair of scores is currently at the highest level in the segment.
Impressive scores and excellent image processing performance stand out. However, note the CPU temperature index on the right. At 83 degrees Celsius, the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 outperforms the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, which reached 99 degrees Celsius in the same benchmark test, even without an upgraded cooling system.
One small point to note, but one that Asus has been actively improving, is that the read and write speeds of the current PCIe 4.0 SSD are not optimal, as you can see below. The current BIOS version is incomplete, but Asus is addressing this issue promptly. Users can expect a notable improvement in SSD speeds with upcoming software updates.
3DMark Time Spy and Time Spy Extreme:
PCMark 10 Benchmark:
The AMD 81TOPS NPU within the Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU is not yet fully utilized. Nevertheless, Geekbench tests demonstrated impressive results in measuring its artificial intelligence capabilities, as shown below.
After experiencing heavy graphics tasks, I noticed a point to note about the cooling system on the C side of the laptop. Specifically, the area above the keyboard, where the CPU and GPU are located, between the power button and the media function keys, is still quite hot to the touch, up to more than 45 degrees. This results in a noticeable “triangle” of heat on the keyboard surface. This issue was also present in the Intel version released earlier this year, and unfortunately, it has not been fully resolved in the current version.
Gaming at 2K Ultra Settings Made Easy
Playing games on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 AMD was highly satisfying, especially when upgrading the resolution from Full HD to 2K. In general, if compared, the FPS index when playing at 2K resolution will be approximately the same as the FPS index when playing at Full HD resolution of the ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 Intel variant.
When testing my favorite games—Black Myth Wukong, Cyberpunk, Ghost of Tsushima, and Counter-Strike 2—at 2K resolution, the frame rate and temperature improved by 5-10% compared to the Intel version. See the screenshots below for details.
Black Myth: Wukong:
Cyberpunk:
Ghost Of Tsushima:
Counter-Strike 2:
Impressive Battery Life
The battery life of the 2024 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 varies between the AMD and Intel CPU versions. The version with AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU can extend battery life by about 1 hour when performing office tasks and surfing the web, thanks to its excellent performance optimization and low power consumption.
Even when handling light tasks such as content editing or editing, the integrated Radeon 890M graphics still perform well, reducing the frequency of activating the RTX 4070 discrete GPU. The battery life can last up to 6 hours thanks to efficient heat dissipation, offering sufficient time for tasks while on the go.
Final line
After evaluating factors such as performance power, temperature, and gaming experience at 2K resolution, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 AMD version is really a worthy choice for those who prioritize stability and cool temperature during use, especially with heavy tasks and long-term gaming.
This is an ideal investment for those looking for long-term durability. However, if you still prefer a balance between high performance and compatibility, the Intel Core Ultra version is still a reliable choice, providing an equally good experience.
Also see: Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 2024 Intel Review
If you’re interested in high-end graphics and gaming laptops, consider the Asus model on Amazon and Newegg. The base model starts at $2,299.
