The best Asus laptops: Best overall, best for gaming, and more

The Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 is a gamer’s ultimate dream. This laptop features lightning-fast GPU and CPU performance plus a stunning 17.3-inch 4K display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The rugged all-metal chassis, six speaker sound system, and customizable keyboard really adds to the premium experience as well. However, you’re going to pay out the nose for it. If you’ve got a flexible budget and you won’t settle for anything other than the best of the best, the Zephyrus S17 is truly the bees knees.

(See our roundup of the best gaming laptops for even more options.)

Granted, the premium Asus ROG Zephyrus S17 can be out of range for many people’s budgets. Coming in at a more palatable price point is the Asus ROG Strix G15 Advanced Edition, another all-AMD laptop that delivers fast CPU and GPU performance without busting your wallet. It’s packing an AMD Ryzen 5900HX processor, an AMD Radeon RX 6800M GPU (comparable to an RTX 3070 or 3080), 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage. According to our review, the GPU “doesn’t outpace higher-wattage RTX 3080 laptop GPUs, but it’s a worthy competitor for conventional gaming tasks.” Unsurprisingly, the Strix G15 is one chunky machine, measuring 28mm at its thickest part. Although the additional thickness allows more space for cooling components, it’s not very portable. But, as long as you don’t plan on taking this laptop everywhere you go, it’s a powerful gaming rig that’s well worth the money.

(You can find more midrange gaming laptop options in our roundups of the best gaming laptops and best gaming laptops under $1,000.)

Not surprisingly, the Zenbook Pro 14 Duo takes the place of its predecessor as the best Asus laptop for content creation, and it does so with thoughtful improvements that make it an even better product. What makes this laptop uniquely suitable for content creators is its dual-display design, and in this latest model, both screens get an upgrade: The 14.5-inch primary screen is a taller, brighter 120Hz OLED; the 12.7-inch secondary ScreenPad Plus, which sits just above the keyboard, is now tilted at more of an angle for better visibility. Together they enable more flexible work organization and multi-tasking.

Add to that 12th-gen Intel CPUs and up to an Nvidia RTX 3050 Ti GPU, a large and comfortable keyboard, generous port selection, and a stylish look, and you can see why we recommend this Asus laptop in particular is ideal for creators.

(For even more options in the content-creation space, see our roundups of the best laptops for graphic design and best laptops for video editing.)

1.

What kind of laptop is best?

When looking for a laptop, the first question you should ask yourself is what kind of laptop you’re looking for. There are traditional clamshells, 2-in-1’s, and much more. The displays on convertible laptops (aka 2-in-1’s), for example, can swing around 360 degrees, or in the case of the ROG Flow Z13 above, detach from the keyboard altogether. This allows you to use the laptop like a tablet. They can also be propped up like a tent for viewing movies or participating in video calls.

2.

What CPU should I get?

If it’s CPU power you’re looking for, the cream of the crop is the Core i9-12900H on the Intel side, with 14 total cores and 20 threads and a boost speed of 5GHz. Intel processors are available in Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, and Core i9. The higher the number, the more powerful the CPU. As for AMD options, the Ryzen 3 is good for basic productivity and web browsing. If you need more power, the Ryzen 7 chip is well suited for content creation like video editing. Finally, if you’re dealing with 4K video, spring for a Ryzen 9.

3.

Should I go with discrete graphics or integrated graphics?

You’ll want a discrete graphics card for hardcore gaming or editing videos. It’s separate from the CPU, so you can expect higher performance out of it. Integrated graphics, on the other hand, are attached to the CPU and use less power as a result. This is perfectly fine for everyday tasks, especially if you’re not doing anything that’s graphics-intensive.

4.

How much RAM should I get?

8GB of RAM is fast enough for general use. However, if you’ve got a gaming laptop, 16GB of RAM is the way to go, and content creators will want even more.

5.

What size display is best?

If you’re a video editor or someone who does a lot of multimedia work, you’ll want a display that’s anywhere from 15 to 17 inches. The sweet spot is really anywhere from 13 to 14 inches, though. The bigger the display, the heavier your laptop is going to be. A 13- or 14-inch display is the best in terms of portability and value.

6.

What should I expect as far as battery life is concerned?

If you plan on taking your laptop anywhere with you, aim for something that can last 10 to 12 hours on a single charge. That’s more than a full work day, so it should theoretically get you through long flights or a day of classes. Obviously, more is always better. Just know that the bigger the battery, the heavier the laptop.

7.

What kind of laptop is recommended if I’m on a budget?

The price really depends on your budget. If you’re strapped for cash (been there, trust me), go for an entry-level business laptop. These laptops are good choices for students or young professionals. If you can afford to spend more, the versatility of a 2-in-1 laptop is really worth it.

8.

What ports will I need?

A wide array of ports is always a plus in my book, as it eliminates the need for an adapter. I’d recommend a laptop that has both USB-C and USB-A. An HDMI port is good, too. This is especially useful for when you want to hook up to an external monitor.