The original Zephyrus has redefined the ultra-slim gaming laptop standards and it’s our chance to get a thorough insights on the power of the Zephyrus S GX531 bursting with a whopping P199,995 (SRP).
This wicked ultraportable gaming laptop is probably the slimmest one from its category, built with thinner design framed by super-narrow bezels. Gaming laptops are usually bulky, big, and heavy but the GX531, being the thinnest and slimmest gaming laptop yet, is easy to carry around and has top of the line processor - an i7-9th generation, combined with the GeForce RTXTM 2080 GPU.
What you can immediately see with GX531 is the super-narrow bezels that draws you deeper into the action on the 240Hz IPS-level display. We usually encounter screen tearing on a display below 240Hz, especially when we run graphics at 30fps. But with this laptop, visuals still run smooth regardless of resolution.
The blazing fast refresh rate makes gameplay incredibly smooth with minimal input lag, while the 3ms gray-to-gray response time produces sharper visuals with no blurring. With the full sRGB color gamut and wide viewing angles, ROG Zephyrus S blends speed and beauty without compromise. Or opt for the HDR display option, which enables richer colors, brilliant whites, and deeper blacks via local dimming. The HDR display also extends battery life with Panel Self Refresh and Static Display Refresh Rate Switch technologies that cut active power consumption by up to 13%.
When it comes to gaming experience, this monster has a super smooth game play, no lags and tears. It's very enjoyable and impressive because it can still deliver superior performance even on ultra-settings. Most players usually play on very low settings on other gaming laptops to get optimum experience, but the Zephyrus doesn't restrict you like that.
This laptop packs a lot and has more than to offer. ROG Zephyrus S has ample power for AAA games, VR experiences, and serious creative work. The six-core 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 CPU delivers desktop-like performance, while the all-new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU enables photorealistic graphics thanks to real-time ray tracing technology and AI-enhanced image processing. ROG Boost ramps the GPU up to 1330MHz at 90W in turbo mode, with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 6151MHz, and both can be overclocked. An NVMe SSD up to 1TB offers speedy storage for your growing game library and professional portfolio.
ROG Zephyrus S puts audio at the forefront with dual speakers aimed right at you. The resulting output is louder, with more bass and range that help you hear every sound. This is perfectly awesome especially when you’re playing PUBG or other online multiplayer battle royale games on this laptop.
What we also like the most of this series is the cooling system and its customizable keyboard. The GX531 automatically adjusts fan speeds based on CPU and GPU temperatures, and you can quickly toggle between three modes with a convenient function shortcut. With upgraded 12v fans and anti-dust tunnels, the cooling system on the Zephyrus S is prepared to tackle the latest games with ease. The AURA SYNC keyboard ensures precise input in the heat of battle with n-key rollover and up to 20 million keypress durability. You can customize the backlight colors and effects to suit your style, and another configurable RGB zone illuminates the AAS intake at the back for ambient lighting.
ROG-exclusive Active Aerodynamic System (AAS) includes several enhancements to make the cooler more effective, improving internal airflow and allowing the fan to spin slower and quieter while maintaining low temperatures. ASUS did some adjustment on the shape of the intake to reduce noise levels further and make the acoustic profile less obtrusive. Zephyrus runs cool enough to avoid throttling and quiet enough to enjoy your game. The most important aspect of the AAS compensates for the slim chassis by making it thicker. Inspired by automotive sunroofs, ASUS engineers devised a hinge that lifts the laptop on its flexible bottom panel, opening a 6-mm gap that helps the fans breathe deeper. Try it yourself and open the lid and you’ll feel smooth mechanical motion and see the ground-effect red glow light up the little teeth on Zephyrus’ lower lip.
With the AAS, exhaust is pumped out vents in the edges of the body, and the tilted frame helps separate the layer of cool air getting sucked in from the bottom from the layer of hot air being blown out above. The vents also incorporate a slight ramp to further direct warm exhaust away from cooler intake air. These changes reduce the temperature of air entering the fans by about 10°C compared to conventional laptops.
With its price value, this is more a laptop for hardcore gamers who can deeply appreciate the importance of great specs rather than for beginners, especially if you don't intend to do gaming for a long-term. Honestly, with its price, you can already build a desktop with the same specs’ half the price, but you wouldn't carry around your desktop, right? Honestly, this is way too pricey for a gaming laptop, but if it's worth your convenience, then it could be a worthy investment for someone who's always on the go.
With the price shock in mind, we’ll give the Zephyrus S GX531 an impressive 4 ½ stars. All specs and features make this series a beast inside and outside its shell, but we can’t say that it’s practical to invest if you’re not into hardcore gaming. If you are, then Zephyrus S GX531 will be your formidable ally on your ultra-gaming adventure.