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| The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) weighs 1.913 kg (4.22 lbs.). |
Asus has officially refreshed its beloved ROG Zephyrus G16 gaming laptop for 2026, packing Intel’s brand-new Panther Lake processors and a beefier RTX 5070 Ti GPU. Sounds exciting, right? Well, brace yourself for the price tag: $3,699 for the version with a Core Ultra 9 386H, 32GB of RAM, and that faster graphics card.
That’s not a typo. We’re talking nearly four thousand dollars for a 16-inch gaming laptop.
But here’s the plot twist that savvy shoppers will love. While Asus and retailers quietly roll out the 2026 lineup, you can still grab last year’s ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025 model) with an RTX 5070, 16GB of RAM, and an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H CPU for an eye-popping $1,574.99 at Best Buy right now.
Yes, you read that correctly. The 2025 version is currently less than half the price of its successor. And for most people, that makes infinitely more sense.
How much more are you paying for the 2026 model? Let’s do the math
Let’s put these two head-to-head. On one side, the 2026 ROG Zephyrus G16 (Core Ultra 9 386H, RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 240Hz 1100-nit HDR display) – $3,699.
On the other, the **2025 ROG Zephyrus G16** (Core Ultra 9 285H, RTX 5070, 16GB RAM, 240Hz 500-nit OLED) – $1,574.99.
Doing the quick calculation, you’re paying 234% more for the 2026 version. That’s more than double the money. And what do you actually get for that premium?
- Same CPU performance – Yes, the new Core Ultra 9 386H is barely faster in real-world gaming and productivity than the 285H. We’re talking single-digit gains.
- Double the RAM (32GB vs 16GB) – Helpful for heavy multitaskers, but 16GB is still plenty for gaming and most creative work.
- Brighter HDR display (1100 nits peak vs 500 nits) – Nice for HDR content, but the 2025 model’s OLED is already gorgeous with perfect blacks.
- 23% faster GPU (RTX 5070 Ti vs RTX 5070) – This is the only meaningful upgrade, but it’s not a generational leap.
So unless you absolutely need that extra GPU headroom for 4K gaming or demanding AI workloads, the 2025 model is the obvious winner.
What the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 gets right
We reviewed the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) earlier this year and gave it a 90% rating along with our “Top Rated” badge. It’s not hard to see why.
The metallic chassis feels premium and surprisingly portable for a 16-incher. The speakers? Some of the best on any Windows laptop – loud, clear, and with actual bass. The RGB backlit keyboard is a joy to type and game on, and the glass trackpad is massive and responsive.
Port selection is another strong point. You get both USB Type-A and Type-C ports, a full-size SD card slot (a godsend for creators), HDMI out, and a 3.5mm audio jack. No dongles needed.
Under the hood, the Core Ultra 9 285H + RTX 5070 combo handles any AAA game at QHD resolution with DLSS enabled. Cyberpunk 2077, Call of Duty, Alan Wake 2 – all run smoothly. And for content creation, the 16GB of RAM and fast SSD chew through Premiere Pro and Photoshop without breaking a sweat.
Battery life is another highlight. Asus packed a 90 Wh battery, and we consistently got around 9 hours of real-world use (web browsing, video streaming, light productivity). That’s exceptional for a gaming laptop. You can easily use this as your daily driver for work and then game at night.
Where it falls short (the catch)
No laptop is perfect, and the 2025 Zephyrus G16 has two notable drawbacks.
First, soldered RAM. You cannot upgrade the memory after purchase. The 16GB is fine for now, but if you plan to keep this laptop for 4-5 years, you might feel the squeeze. Asus’s defense is that soldered LPDDR5X allows for thinner designs and better power efficiency – but we’d still prefer a SODIMM slot.
Second, the HDR brightness is mediocre at 500 nits. While the OLED panel delivers infinite contrast and vibrant colors, true HDR highlights need more punch. The 2026 model’s 1100-nit panel solves this, but again, you’re paying a fortune for that upgrade.
Otherwise, operating temperatures remain impressively low even during extended gaming sessions, and the fans aren’t overly loud.
Who should buy the 2025 model vs the 2026 model?
Buy the 2025 ROG Zephyrus G16 (now at $1,574.99) if:
- You want the best value under $1,600.
- You mostly game at QHD or 1080p with DLSS.
- You need a portable, premium laptop that also doubles as a workhorse.
- You don’t care about HDR peak brightness.
Buy the 2026 model (at $3,699) only if:
- You have money to burn and want the absolute fastest mobile GPU.
- You do professional HDR video editing or 3D rendering that benefits from 32GB RAM.
- You can’t stand the thought of buying “last year’s tech.”
For the other 99% of gamers and creators, the choice is clear.
Grab this deal while it lasts
Best Buy’s price on the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 GU605 (2025) – just $1,574.99 – is likely an inventory clearance to make room for the 2026 models. Once these sell out, they’re gone. And at this price, they won’t last long.
👉 Buy the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) for $1,574.99 at Best Buy
Bottom line
The 2026 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is undoubtedly a fantastic machine – faster GPU, brighter HDR, more RAM. But at $3,699, it’s priced for early adopters and deep pockets. Meanwhile, the 2025 version offers 90% of the experience for less than half the cash. That’s not just a good deal. That’s a no-brainer.
If you’ve been waiting for a sign to upgrade your gaming laptop, this is it. Just be aware of the soldered RAM, and you’ll be happy.
Looking for more laptop news? Check out our recent coverage:
- Asus quietly launches ROG Zephyrus G16 with Panther Lake
- Dell’s $699 XPS 13 takes direct aim at budget ultraportables