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| Asus is finally selling the ROG Zephyrus G16 in North America with an Intel Panther Lake processor. |
After months of silence following its CES 2026 debut, Asus has finally begun rolling out the next-generation ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 in North America. But if you were hoping for a modest upgrade over last year’s critically acclaimed model, prepare for sticker shock.
The sleek 16-inch gaming laptop is now listed on Asus Canada and Asus US websites, replacing the 2025 versions that many reviewers (including us) praised for their balanced performance and design. However, the 2026 lineup comes with a dramatically higher entry price – and some head-scratching configuration premiums that have left early adopters scratching their heads.
A Silent Launch After Months of Hype
Asus originally teased the new Zephyrus G16 during its CES 2026 keynote back in January, showing off an upgraded chassis, Intel’s latest Core Ultra 9 386H processor, and Nvidia’s full GeForce RTX 50-series mobile GPU lineup. But the company stayed unusually tight-lipped about pricing for weeks, only confirming UK costs at the very end of March.
Now, North American buyers finally have concrete numbers. The base model of the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) starts at **1,000 more than the outgoing 2025 model’s current street price. For context, the 2025 version is still available on Amazon for $2,799 as of this writing, making the year-over-year jump particularly hard to swallow.
US Pricing: Two SKUs, One Bizarre RAM Upgrade Cost
Asus US has revealed two configurations for launch, both powered by the same Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor:
| Configuration | Price |
|---|---|
| RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD | $3,699 |
| RTX 5070 Ti, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD | $4,799 |
The second option is raising eyebrows across the tech community. For an extra $1,100, the only change is a RAM bump from 32GB to 64GB – no GPU upgrade, no additional storage, no display improvements. Asus has not offered any explanation for the steep premium, though industry observers speculate it could be tied to specialized memory modules or supply constraints.
“That’s an insane markup for 32GB of RAM,” one Reddit user commented in a thread tracking the launch. “You could buy a whole separate laptop for that difference.”
Higher-tier models with RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 GPUs have not yet been priced for the US market. But based on Canadian figures (more on that below), prospective buyers should prepare for five-figure territory.
Canadian Pricing Reveals Full Lineup – And Even Higher Costs
While Asus US is holding back on its top-end SKUs, Asus Canada has published a complete pricing structure for six variants. The Canadian lineup includes RTX 5060, 5070, 5070 Ti, and 5080 models – but notably no RTX 5090 option at launch.
Here’s the full Canadian pricing (converted to USD for reference):
| GPU | RAM | SSD | CAD Price | ~USD Equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTX 5060 | 32GB | 1TB | CAD 3,099 | $2,986 |
| RTX 5070 | 32GB | 1TB | CAD 4,299 | $3,132 |
| RTX 5070 Ti | 32GB | 1TB | CAD 4,999 | $3,643 |
| RTX 5080 | 64GB | 2TB | CAD 6,999 | $5,099 |
The Canadian RTX 5080 configuration costs roughly 5,610) for 64GB RAM and 2TB storage, according to regional listings.
For US buyers hoping for an RTX 5090 Zephyrus G16, expect pricing to land somewhere between 6,000 – assuming Asus follows its typical cross-border markup patterns.
What You Get for the Money (Besides a Hefty Bill)
The 2026 Zephyrus G16 isn’t just a spec bump. Asus has redesigned the chassis with a slightly thinner profile, improved thermal architecture (vapor chamber + liquid metal), and a 16-inch OLED panel now pushing 240Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time – up from 165Hz on some 2025 models.
Key specs common across all 2026 GU606 SKUs:
- CPU: Intel Core Ultra 9 386H (16 cores, 5.2GHz boost)
- Display: 16-inch 2.5K (2560x1600) OLED, 240Hz, G-Sync
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, Thunderbolt 4 (2 ports)
- Battery: 90Wh with 240W USB-C charging
- Weight: 4.3 lbs (1.95 kg)
The Core Ultra 9 386H is Intel’s first mobile chip with built-in AI accelerators (NPU) capable of 45 TOPS, making the Zephyrus G16 one of the first “Copilot+ PC” gaming laptops. Nvidia’s RTX 50-series GPUs also bring DLSS 4 and improved ray tracing cores.
But do these upgrades justify a starting price nearly 33% higher than the outgoing model? That’s the question Asus seems to be daring shoppers to answer.
The 2025 Model Is Still a Steal – For Now
If the 2026 pricing gives you pause, you’re not alone. The previous-generation ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) remains widely available – and it’s currently discounted on Amazon for $2,799. That model typically shipped with Intel Core Ultra 9 185H, RTX 4080 or 4090 options, and the same gorgeous OLED display (though at 165Hz on some trims).
Given that RTX 50-series performance gains are rumored to be modest (10-20% outside of AI features), many gamers may find better value in the 2025 clearance deals. Asus has not announced when it will discontinue the older line, but once inventory runs out, the $3,700+ entry point will be the only way in.
Availability and Final Thoughts
Asus is now shipping the ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 in both the US and Canada, though stock appears limited. The company’s official spec pages (Asus US and Asus Canada) list the two US SKUs as “available for pre-order” with shipping expected in late April.
For those willing to pay a premium for the latest AI features, slightly better thermals, and a 240Hz OLED panel, the 2026 G16 delivers. But the 3,000 configurations will push budget-conscious buyers toward Asus’s own TUF or Strix lines – or toward a heavily discounted 2025 model while supplies last.
Bottom line: The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) is technically impressive, but Asus’s quiet launch and baffling pricing strategy suggest even the company knows it’s a tough sell. Check your wallet before clicking “buy.”
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