Asus launches ROG Strix G18 with RTX 5080

Asus has started international sales of the 2026 ROG Strix G18, a cheaper alternative to the flagship ROG Strix Scar 18 that still keeps the same 24-core Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus. The key difference is graphics: instead of topping out with an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, this model uses an RTX 5080 Laptop GPU.

The highest-end ROG Strix G18 configuration features an 18-inch Mini LED display with 2560×1600 resolution and a 240Hz refresh rate. Asus says the panel includes more than 2000 local dimming zones, reaches up to 1200 nits peak brightness, and covers the full DCI-P3 color space. Compared with the Strix Scar 18, the resolution is lower, but that should better match the RTX 5080 and help the laptop sustain high frame rates in modern games.

More affordable versions with GPUs ranging from RTX 5060 to RTX 5070 Ti use an 18-inch IPS panel with the same 2560×1600 resolution but a faster 300Hz refresh rate. Those models trail the Mini LED version in black levels and HDR quality, though the higher refresh rate may appeal to competitive players.

Asus has also kept the cooling system aggressive. The laptop includes three fans, a full-length vapor chamber, liquid metal instead of standard thermal paste, and a full-width heatsink. Users can also upgrade memory and storage through a tool-free bottom cover, with support for up to 64GB of RAM and 2 SSDs.

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The ROG Strix G18 version with RTX 5080 is already on sale in the UK for £3699 (about $4973). In the US, Asus currently lists only a $3299.99 configuration with an RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB of DDR5 memory, and a 300Hz IPS display. The company has not yet announced a US release date for the Mini LED model.