Several monitors were showcased at the Samsung Wonders Unlocked event, with two of them gaming-oriented. In recent years, the manufacturer has really stepped up its gaming monitor game, with the Odyssey series nearly always delivering on display quality and performance as some of the best gaming monitors out there.
I tested two of the latest in the Odyssey series – the Odyssey OLED G60SD and the Odyssey OLED G80SD – to see how these iterations hold up. So far, I've been very pleased with the results. Not only do they look great, but they offer plenty of upgrades, quality-of-life additions, and improved specs to justify the steep price - especially the HDR 10 support, which was stunning to witness.
Odyssey OLED G60SD: price and availability
The Odyssey OLED G series has two models: the 27-inch Odyssey OLED G60SD and the 32-inch Odyssey OLED G80SD.
The G60SD is available for preorder on the Samsung online store at $899.99 / £799 / AU$1,499, while the G80SD is priced at $1,299.99 / ££1,099.99 / AU$2,058. You'll also receive a bonus of $300 in Samsung credit if you purchase one of the new monitor models.
Odyssey OLED G60SD: specs
Here are the specs for the Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD at a glance.
Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: design
Odyssey OLED G60SD
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Odyssey OLED G80SD
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Like most other Odyssey-series gaming monitors, the Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD look gorgeous. They sport luscious QHD+ and UHD 4K OLED displays, respectively, both outfitted with glare-free technology that actually works - and quite well at that.
I tested it out by simply having the monitor near sunlight coming in through an open window (one of the most pervasive lighting situations for the average buyer), and light didn't wash out the screen in the slightest. Thanks to said tech, the flat shape of the monitors isn't a hindrance as they don't require the curved shape to filter out light. I'll go out on a limb and say that this is such an important feature that it'll make reviewing other monitors difficult, as glare is one of my biggest issues.
Other nifty new features that combat overheating and OLED burn-in are Samsung OLED Safeguard+ technology and the Dynamic Cooling System. These tools diffuse heat and reduce the monitor's core and surface temperatures, keeping the internal components safe from heat damage and preventing burn-in from static images like logos and taskbars.
The two monitors' vibrant white color stands out in the sea of plain black monitors on the market, especially when paired with the CoreSync and Core Lighting+ features. Those are RGB light rings in the back of the monitor that you can control through various settings. They're purely aesthetic but help brighten up your gaming desk setup in a fun and unobtrusive way.
I also appreciate how, despite the large screen sizes, it's easy to pick up both the monitor and stand, making moving them around a living space much easier. The thin displays also mean that it doesn't take up much desk real estate, an absolute boon for any gamer struggling with space issues.
Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: performance
Odyssey OLED G60SD
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Odyssey OLED G80SD
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I tested out both the Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD gaming monitors through Cyberpunk 2077, Red Dead Redemption 2, and more of the best PC games. The G60SD has a higher refresh rate at 360Hz versus the G80SD's 240Hz, while both sport a 0.03ms response time. Combined with AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, you can fully eliminate choppiness, screen lag, and image tears.
No matter what title I played, the gameplay was silky smooth and made the QHD+ and UHD 4K resolution shine even more. It was also explained to me that the G80SD featured no color shifting, no added latency, and could maintain its 240Hz refresh rate at 4K - an impressive feat. It has a tool called the Samsung NQ8 AI Gen3 Processor, meaning that the monitor can upscale content to nearly 4K
I was also able to try HDR10 through the G80SD and compare the image to the G60SD. We started with Red Dead Redemption 2's prologue through the wintery landscape as the protagonist navigated through a snowstorm on horseback. Not only were the colors, the whites, and the blacks far more vibrant, but the overall picture quality was much sharper and cleaner, with improved visuals.
Odyssey OLED G60SD/G80SD: early verdict
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Both the Samsung Odyssey OLED G60SD and G80SD are exceptional gaming monitors that not only boast excellent specs but also come with a host of other quality-of-life features and upgrades that enhance the gaming experience.
From a full ventilation system that prevents the dreaded OLED burn-in to HDR 10 that takes an iconic scene from a video game and elevates it to new heights to (one of my personal favorites) glare-free technology that ensures sunlight from an open window won't completely wash out your screen during a gaming session.
I'm excited to see what Samsung will churn out next, as its gaming offerings just keep getting better and better with each new year.
Laptops from Asus's Zenbook series are always impressive-looking Ultrabooks, with a unique design that sets them apart from nearly every other laptop in the market. The Asus Zenbook S 16 is no exception, sporting the iconic lined look and benefitting from a lovely thin and light chassis.
But this year's refresh has two key updates: the first being the addition of the AI processor and the second being the newly developed material it's made of. It's clear that this year Asus isn't content to sit on its laurels but instead is breathing new life into the Zenbook series.
Asus Zenbook S 16: price and availability
The Asus Zenbook S 16 is available in the US and UK, price starting at $1,699.99 / £1,599.99 (around AU$2,550). Meanwhile, Australia has other versions of the laptop (mainly the S 13) but not the 16-inch laptop.
For an Ultrabook, the retail price isn't too shabby, even bordering on reasonable. And now that it has an AI processor, that value has increased tremendously.
Asus Zenbook S 16: specs
Here are the specs for the Asus Zenbook S 16 at a glance.
Asus Zenbook S 16: design
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Zenbook design is always impeccable, with those distinctive etched-in marks and unique texture that sets it apart from some of the other best Ultrabooks you can buy. And this year's Asus Zenbook S 16 is no slouch in that regard, especially when that design is paired with the white color variant. But the darker version makes the etched lines stand out more, so both versions are distinctive in their own way.
One of the biggest talking points is the new material that the Zenbook S 16 is made from, called Ceraluminum. Through a complex chemical process, aluminum oxide (essentially rust) is transformed from a brittle material into something strong, lightweight, and sturdy. And when I tried out the laptop myself, I could feel the difference in the material. It was much lighter but felt just as tough as previous models.
It features a 3K resolution display with a 120Hz refresh rate, surprisingly high for a non-gaming laptop. It also comes with Lumina OLED, giving it a beautifully clear and crisp image that's perfect for creative and editing projects.
The keyboard is solid, with well-sized keys for any finger size and type, and a snappy feedback. But what really sells this laptop is its glass touchpad, which not only feels ultra smooth and responsive but has a feature called Smart Gesture. This means you can set up shortcuts for the top and sides of the pad to control various tasks like volume, video controls, and more.
Port selection isn't too shabby, with two USB Type-C ports, one USB Type-A port, a combo jack, and an HDMI port. No ethernet port, unfortunately - disappointing when we're dealing with an Ultrabook that should be premium in every way.
Asus Zenbook S 16: performance
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I wasn't able to properly test out the Asus Zenbook S 16 during my hands-on period, so unfortunately its true performance levels aren't known to me at this time. However, if we're going by the potential of AI processors then it's possible that this laptop could have some exceptional benchmark scores.
The ventilation system has also been revamped, potentially lending itself to longer periods of use without overheating. It's called Airvent and it improves airflow while keeping moisture and dust out. You can see the unique design of the vent above the keyboard.
Asus Zenbook S 16: early verdict
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The Asus Zenbook S 16 is probably the biggest change out of all the laptops Asus showcased so far. Not only does it have the AI processor upgrade but Asus invented a whole new material just to build the laptop with.
Coupled with useful features like the touchpad's Smart Gesture and a brand-new ventilation system, and you have an Ultrabook that could very well be one of the best laptops in the market. I look forward to test-driving the Zenbook S 16 once it releases - and very few laptops have made me feel that way this year.
Asus's TUF brand has always been its affordable line and the Asus TUF Gaming A16 refresh and the newly revealed A14 continues the tradition. However, the stark difference here is the aesthetics, which have essentially been overhauled to look far more premium.
Not only that, but the addition of the A14 means there's another, more portable option to the gaming laptop lineup. Of course, performance is the most important aspect of any laptop and I wasn't able to run benchmarks to officially test that out during my hands-on. But with those specs, it should be able to handle any PC title you throw its way - including AAA games.
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14: price and availability
Both the Asus TUF Gaming A16 and Asus TUF Gaming A14 are expected to ship on July 22, 2024 in the US, UK, and Australia.
The TUF Gaming A16 launches with a starting price of $1,799.99 / £1,799.99 / AU$2,299 while the TUF Gaming A14 launches priced at $1,399.99 / £1,299 / (around AU$2,400).
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14: specs
Here are the specs for the Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14 at a glance.
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14: design
Asus TUF Gaming A16
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Asus TUF Gaming A14
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What impressed me the most about the upcoming Asus TUF Gaming A16 and A14 models is how much more attractive they are compared to previous iterations of the TUF series. The A16 has a sleeker and more premium-looking design that defies its relatively lower price tag, and the A14 is compact and much more lightweight than you'd expect from a gaming laptop. It also features an aluminum lid and bottom cover, making the smaller model even more durable.
I like the added touch of the power light, shaped in a cute flower-like pattern. It complements the revamped look of the laptop in a simple yet non-obtrusive way. My only real complaint is that I wish we could get more colors, but considering it's a more budget-minded line the decision not to makes sense.
The A16 has a full keyboard with a numpad, taking advantage of the extra space. Both versions have well-sized and spaced-out keys that make error-free typing much easier and large touchpads perfect for navigating while gaming. The A14 in particular has a beautiful glass touchpad, which feels silky smooth.
Both also have great port selections including USB Type-A and Type-C ports, combo jacks, HMDI ports, SD readers, and the A16 even has an ethernet port. It's refreshing to have a gaming laptop with the full breathe of ports and slots available, and for the smaller one to be as close as possible.
What also impressed me was the A16's improved bezels, a full width heatsink hidden in that thinner frame, and even a pop up screw to pop out the chassis and make repairs and upgrades that much easier.
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14: performance
Asus TUF Gaming A16
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The Asus TUF Gaming A16 and A14 are outfitted with the latest AMD Ryzen 9 CPUs, as well as up to a Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU. Past benchmark results inform us that both gaming laptops should perform well with the best PC games, including more demanding AAA titles. However, I wasn't able to benchmark these laptops during my time with them, meaning this is all still speculation.
The A16 and A14 screens are both QHD+ 2.5K resolution with 400 nits of brightness, sport a 165Hz refresh rate, and a 3ms response time, which ensures a smooth and stutter-free experience for most gamers.
Asus TUF Gaming A16/A14: early verdict
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Out of the gaming laptops featured in the Asus Computex 2024 event, the TUF Gaming A16 and A14 impressed me the most by far. Asus is overhauling its affordable line, giving it a cleaner and prettier look. I especially love the A14, with its small and thinner frame that has plenty of power.
The pricing for both is pretty solid, with the A14 being quite more affordable. The A16 is a bit steep but, compared to other laptops with similar specs it's far more reasonable. Hopefully, as manufacturers lean more into AI processors, we continue to see budget and near budget machines being pushed out as there's still a market for them.
I’ve long been a fan of Acer’s excellent Orion gaming desktop line, and here at Computex 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan, I think Acer has just outdone itself. The Predator Orion X is a more compact - but no less powerful - version of Acer’s staple gaming PC, with a slick new design and some impressive specs.
With a 15.4-liter chassis and a total package weight of less than 9 kilograms, this is one of the smallest (if not the smallest) gaming desktops Acer has ever made. It measures just 25.6 x 17.8 x 33.5cm, but that small form factor case doesn’t sacrifice performance to save space; instead, the internals of this PC are smartly designed to make maximum use of the available room inside the case.
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The interior of the chassis is neatly split into three zones: one for the CPU and mainboard, one for the graphics card, and one for the fans and AIO radiator.
Don’t be fooled by the cramped design, though - this is no Corsair One, where space-saving comes at the cost of easy upgradability. Acer designed the Orion X with PC DIY in mind, so accessing these three zones is actually incredibly simple.
Hot swap
On the front of the Orion X, there are three chunky release levers. Pull one, and off pops the corresponding zone panel, making upgrading or repairing a component a cinch. When you’re done, the panels slot back into place easily with no tools required. You can optionally cover the front of the case with a transparent panel, too.
I like that the industrial aesthetic of the Orion X’s exterior makes these release levers blend seamlessly into its visual design. The style might not be for everyone, but I personally love it; the use of RGB here is relatively understated, and the large ‘ZONE 2’ printed on the side evokes a certain genre of sci-fi dystopia that I’ve been known to enjoy.
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It gets better, though. On the front panel of the Orion X, a small flap opens up to reveal a slot containing a swappable M.2 SSD enclosure. Not only is it extra storage in general, which is never a bad thing, but it’s a boon for PC gamers who like to take their games on the go with them.
This alleviates the need for a portable SSD or a USB converter - you can simply take one of the best SSDs and slap a whole PC’s worth of games into this system in an instant. It’s potentially very handy if you’re buying the Orion X as an upgrade to an existing system, too; just extract your old SSD and drop it straight in here.
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The tiny interior does mean that you may be limited in some areas when it comes to switching out certain components, but it's likely you'll never need to.
After all, the RTX 4090 is pretty future-proof. The only possible issue I can see here is if the AIO cooler fails, you'll need to specifically buy another one that fits perfectly - there's no room for a tower air cooler here.
Power under the hood
Despite its small size, the Acer Predator Orion X is packing a seriously respectable spec sheet. Acer has managed to cram a twin-fan RTX 4090 card of its own design inside this PC, so gaming performance is just about as good as it can get. With 32GB of DDR5 RAM (upgradable up to 64GB) and a 2TB PCIe SSD as standard, the GPU is well-supported.
One slightly odd choice here is the CPU, which is an Intel Core i9-13900KS. It’s a very powerful chip, no doubt about that, but I was surprised to find that the Orion X doesn’t use the newer i9-14900K, especially considering that chip has been on the market for months at this point. But then again, the 14th-gen desktop chips were merely a refresh of the 13th-gen Raptor Lake microarchitecture, and we noted in our review that the generational performance gains were next to unnoticeable, so perhaps this was just a smart move from Acer to help keep the price down.
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Speaking of price: the Orion X was actually announced at last year’s Computex, and has already been available to buy in the UK for a few months, albeit a less powerful model sporting an RTX 4080 instead of Nvidia’s flagship 4090 GPU. We don’t have official pricing for this new iteration, but given the current £3,299 price (around US$4,210 / AU$6,330), we can reasonably expect it to be less than £4,000 in the UK.
As for when it’ll arrive on the other side of the Atlantic, that’s not quite clear at this point. While researching, I found some Acer documentation that suggested it was originally slated for launch in the US in September of 2023, but that evidently didn’t happen, so we might be waiting a little longer for an American release. I certainly hope Acer gets its act together and gives us a proper global release soon, because this is one of the best compact PCs I’ve seen in ages.
While the MSI Vector 17 HX isn't going to win any awards for its physical design, this portable has all the performance necessary to stand with some of the best gaming laptops on the market.
Priced at $2,299 / £2,399 / AU$3,099 for a version sporting an RTX 4070 graphics card, it's more costly than many of its rivals. And when you consider that alongside the build quality comprises here (which we'll discuss in more depth later), sadly this means this MSI notebook doesn't quite achieve top marks - but it's still a decent machine.
That's because the MSI Vector 17 HX still largely justifies its higher-than-average price tag by including an excellent Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and a superfast Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD so you've got a wealth of power at your fingertips. The bottleneck, therefore, becomes the GPU, given the laptop's native 2,560 x 1,600 resolution 16:10 display. So, while we were sent the RTX 4070 variant for review, you may want to consider the RTX 4080 model for a power boost.
The 17-inch display unfortunately lacks any kind of HDR support which is a real shame. The IPS LED screen is bright enough at 500 nits, but looks a little washed out, especially when factoring in that some of its competitors are utilizing mini-LED and even OLED. Fortunately, with its 240Hz refresh rate, it's fast enough for you not to necessarily mind all that much.
Speaking of that refresh rate, though, you won't necessarily be able to hit frame rates that can fully take advantage of it, given the 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM on board the mobile RTX 4070 - especially at 1440p. However, if you're smart with your settings sliders in 1080p, you can expect framerates of around 100fps. 1440p hovers around the 60fps mark, although DLSS 3's Frame Generation will be able to provide a shot in the arm, at least where it's supported.
Furthermore, the MSI Vector 17 HX doesn't buck the trend of gaming laptops having less-than-stellar battery lives. Its four-cell 99Wh battery pack is decent enough for powering around four hours of light use, but gaming is more limited to about an hour and a half. You'll need to keep the 330W charger close by, or keep the rig perennially plugged in as a dedicated replacement for one of the best gaming PCs.
MSI Vector 17 HX: Price and availability
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How much does it cost? $2,299 / £2,399 / AU$3,099
When is it available? It's on sale now
Where can you get it? In the US, UK and Australia
The MSI Vector 17 HX is available from $2,299 / £2,399 / AU$3,099 for the RTX 4070 model. The peppier version sporting the more powerful RTX 4080 GPU is available for $2,799 / £2,899 / AU$3,399. That positions this gaming laptop in the upper mid-range, pitting it against weighty competition from premium manufacturers.
Price-wise, that's a similar entry point to the Razer Blade 16 and the HP Omen 17 which are far from the cheapest options on the market. With its high asking price, the MSI Vector 17 HX is considerably pricier than other 17-inch RTX 4070 gaming laptops such as the Asus ROG Strix G17, MSI Sword 17 HX, and the Acer Nitro 17. It's not the cheapest RTX 4070 laptop, that's for sure.
Price: 3 / 5
MSI Vector 17 HX: Specs
Here are the specs for the MSI Vector 17 HX at a glance.
MSI Vector 17 HX: Design
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Bulky plastic chassis
Large and fast display
Weighty at 6.6lbs / 3kg
In terms of its build, the MSI Vector 17 HX is on the bulkier side even as far as mid-range laptops go. It's a deliberate and old-fashioned design with its plastic construction and thick-angled hinges that won't be for everyone, but it's at least distinct. You won't find a carefully machine-crafted aluminum chassis here, but it's serviceable enough.
You'll feel the weight of this gaming laptop at 6.6lbs / 3kg, as the MSI Vector 17 HX is a touch heavier than some of the other 17-inch models we already mentioned above. It's still sleek enough to be portable, but its display size and heft may not be ideal if you're thinking of something for everyday use at work or school.
Our review unit had a QHD+ resolution (2,560 x 1,600) screen at 240Hz, however, some variants may feature a 165Hz Full HD display depending on configuration and asking price. There's no support for HDR here, which is a shame, and the screen has a peak brightness of 500 nits; by no means the brightest or most vivid display, but it's good enough for gaming, and fast enough, certainly.
The keyboard on the Vector 17 HX is colorful and full of personality with its multi-zone RGB lightning and decals on each key, even if it doesn't offer the best typing experience. This extends to the trackpad as well - while functional, it feels a little cheap, but you'll likely be using one of the best gaming mice instead, so it's not too big a deal.
A high point is the excellent port selection. You'll find a total of three USB-C ports, two USB 3.2 ports, HDMI 2.1, and Ethernet. They're spread out on both sides and the back of the machine, so you should be fully catered for when using this gaming laptop as a full-on desktop replacement, hooked up to the best gaming keyboard and best gaming monitor.
Design: 3 / 5
MSI Vector 17 HX: Performance
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The performance of the MSI Vector 17 HX is solid thanks to the excellent Intel Core i9-13900HX CPU combined with the respectable RTX 4070, but it's actually the GPU which will be your biggest bottleneck. That's because Nvidia's mobile mid-range graphics card only features 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 128-bit memory bus.
MSI Vector 17 HX benchmarks
Here's how the MSI Vector 17 HX performed in our suite of industry-standard benchmarks and game tests.
Geekbench 6:
Single - 2,915
Multi - 17,669 3DMark:
Night Raid - 71,732
Fire Strike - 27,029
Time Spy - 12,850
Port Royal - 7,471 PCMark 10: 8,180 Cyberpunk 2077:
1080p - 132fps (Low) ; 86fps (Ultra)
1440p - 102fps (Low) ; 72fps (Ultra)
RT Ultra - 75fps (1080p) ; 73fps (1440p)
Total War: Three Kingdoms:
1080p - 334fps Low ; 96fps Ultra
1440p - 221fps Low ; 59fps Ultra Red Dead Redemption II:
1080p -162fps (Low) ; 88fps (Ultra)
1440p - 121fps (Low) ; 67fps (Ultra) CrystalDiskMark:
Read: 7,024MB/s
Write: 5,203MB/s Cinebench R24:
Single-core - 2,100
Multi-core - 27,484 TechRadar Battery Test: 1 hour 38 minutes
1080p appears to be the sweet spot for this particular variant of the MSI Vector 17 HX, as seen with the gaming benchmarks. Specifically with GPU-heavy games like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Cyberpunk 2077, you're getting nowhere near the 240Hz refresh rate unless you drop down to Full HD.
This is reflected in the benchmarks for Total War: Three Kingdoms, a CPU-heavy title, which can exceed the maximum refresh rate with the graphical settings reduced. Ray tracing is possible, but won't quite excel in the way that a mobile RTX 4080 or RTX 4090 can (with 12GB and 16GB GDDR6 VRAM respectively). In Cyberpunk 2077 at RT Ultra, you're getting around 70 to 80fps here.
The 13th-gen Core i9 is a powerhouse CPU and this is evident in the stress-testing conducted. Geekbench 6 delivers confident scores of 2,720 and 17,308 for single-core and multi-core respectively, with Cinebench R23 providing superb results of 1,941 and 25,624 respectively. There's nothing this processor won't be able to do, and it offers a whole load of grunt, despite lacking a dedicated NPU (as seen with its Meteor Lake successor).
The Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD inside of the MSI Vector 17 HX is excellent. Despite this tech being replaced by Gen 5.0 models, you won't need anything faster than the tested sequential rates of 6,442MB/s reads and 4,873MB/s writes respectively. Modern PC games are starting to utilize the DirectStorage API for near-instant loading times and ultra textures. Interestingly, there's a Gen 5.0 port available for even faster storage.
The screen natively supports 1600p resolution with its 16:10 aspect ratio, and while you shouldn't experience frame rate drops that are too jarring, you'll need to be mindful of the limitations of the RTX 4070's VRAM. Even 8GB for the desktop version is starting to struggle nowadays in this resolution, and that uses far faster GDDR6X memory. We recommend utilizing Nvidia DLSS 3 Frame Generation where possible for a boost.
Performance: 4 / 5
MSI Vector 17 HX: Battery life
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Lasts around four hours with media playback and browsing
Can game for around an hour and a half on battery
The MSI Vector 17 HX features a four-cell 90Wh battery which is average-sized given the 17-inch chassis of this gaming laptop. In practice, you can expect up to four hours of web browsing and media playback when prioritizing efficiency over performance. You'll need to keep the charging cable handy if you're planning on working all day or enjoying a few longer movies back to back, though.
Gaming on battery power is expectedly poor. We got around an hour and a half from a full charge with Cyberpunk 2077. The mobile RTX 4070 has a TDP of 115W, making it more power-efficient than more powerful discrete graphics, but the battery is still a major concern. It's not a problem unique to the MSI Vector 17 HX, but it's worth noting all the same.
Fortunately, the power cable connects at the back of the device instead of the side, delivering a constant feed of 330W. We'd recommend using a dedicated laptop riser on your gaming desk and doing a little cable management to be more comfortable. As something to carry around with you every day, this machine isn't up to the task, but that's the cost of performance like this.
Battery: 2 / 5
Should you buy the MSI Vector 17 HX?
Buy it if...
You want a big-screen gaming laptop
The MSI Vector 17 HX has a sharp screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio. It may not be the brightest or most vivid display on the market, but its size and fast refresh rate make it worthwhile.
You want a notebook that's a powerful performer
The MSI Vector 17 HX packs in some beefy components including a powerful CPU and a seriously impressive SSD, alongside a solid choice of GPU.
You want a gaming laptop that excels in 1080p
The RTX 4070M features 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM which is ideal for speedy frame rates in Full HD and indeed FHD+ (1200p resolution) for the 16:10 aspect ratio.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best value for money
Simply put, the MSI Vector 17 HX is on the expensive side for an RTX 4070-powered gaming laptop, and you can save a bundle by opting for a competitor instead.
You want a gaming laptop that motors in 1440p
While this machine's native 1600p screen is impressive in some ways, it's held back by the more limited VRAM of the RTX 4070M, which means it can't quite hit the frame rates we'd like to see at 1440p (or 1600p, of course).
MSI Vector 17 HX: Also consider
HP Omen 16
The HP Omen 16 is more affordable than the MSI Vector 17 HX, offering a similar level of performance, albeit in a slightly more compact 16-inch form factor, and with a slower display.
Lenovo has a new line of laptops featuring Qualcomm chips, meant to handle the workload of AI tools and features while maintaining both performance and battery life. The Yoga Slim 7x 14 is the manufacturer's consumer offering, and it's shaping up to be an excellent one.
From my limited time with the laptop, I can tell you it has a relatively thin and light chassis (though the commercial offering was surprisingly lighter), yet feels sturdy. It's a portable, practical machine, which most office workers and students are sure to appreciate.
The specs are also impressive from what we're seeing right now though, depending on the final performance findings, we'll see just how much of a difference the Snapdragon CPU makes. This could be the deciding factor as to whether the Yoga Slim 7x 14 could even be one of the best laptops.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14: Price and availability
The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 was revealed just before Computex 2024. Hopefully, we'll find out more information about its availability in other regions once the event comes around.
For now, however, we know that the laptop is launching in the US through Best Buy and Lenovo's online store and will retail for $1,299 (around £1,020 / AU$1,960).
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14: specs
The specs for the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 can be seen below:
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14: Design
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When considering a standard Lenovo laptop, you think of the classic black color with a very squarish and practical build. But the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 is a beautiful Cosmic Blue color that, coupled with its thinner and lighter form factor, makes for a stylish and sleek machine you can take on the go.
The Yoga Slim 7x 14 sports a sturdy yet light chassis and a gorgeous 14.5-inch 3K OLED display, that supports HDR 600 True Black with 1000 nits of brightness. The keyboard is lovely to type on, with wider keys that mitigate mistypes for those with larger fingers or shaky hands.
The laptop packs a 1080P FHD web camera, which is of standard quality and perfectly suited for video conferencing. Unfortunately, it's covered by an E-shutter button and not a physical one, meaning there's always a risk of someone hacking your laptop and spying on you with the camera.
The most disappointing aspect of the Yoga Slim 7x 14 was the meager port selection, which only comes with three USB Type-C ports and one combo jack. I know priority was given to the thin form factor, but it's still a letdown not having some of the basic ports on the laptop.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14: Performance
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The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 is equipped with the Snapdragon X Elite, which not only is expected to give it unparalleled processing power according to all reports we've seen so far. Still, it will also provide the laptop with the battery power it needs to keep up with the energy-intensive AI tasks that it will be running.
According to these same reports, the Qualcomm CPU beats out Apple’s M3 and Intel’s Core Ultra 7 155H in Geekbench 6 – with 85% and 88% of the speed of the Snapdragon respectively. Its thermals are also impressive, it has great AI acceleration, and the battery life wins over similar market laptops in the local video playback testing.
Since my time with the Yoga Slim 7x 14 was limited, I couldn't perform any benchmarks myself. However, the laptop was quite speedy as I tried out various tasks like internet browsing. I also couldn't test out the AI features it comes with, which was a big selling point of the laptop. But I imagine that it'll work like most other offerings we're seeing right now.
Of course, once we get our hands on it for a review, we'll be able to fully and thoroughly test out all aspects of the laptop and see how Qualcomm's chips hold up.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14: Early Verdict
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The Lenovo Yoga Slim 7x 14 could potentially be one of the best laptops on the market, especially in the 14-inch sector. It's a sexy and lightweight machine that comes in an appealing color, a lovely display, a speedy and powerful processor with a long-lasting battery life, and a great keyboard and mousepad combo.
My only real gripe is the abysmal port selection that many other laptops in the same market beat out. But then again, if Apple can get away with it, Lenovo most likely can too. Otherwise, it's shaping up to be a convenient and well-rounded laptop that's perfect for consumers needing a productivity or streaming machine and the price is pretty affordable as well.
It'll also be interesting to see firsthand how well AI plays with the Qualcomm chip – whether the pair will work well together and create something greater than the sum of its parts or if it'll end up clunky and disjointed.
Another month, another rival to Valve's popular Steam Deck gaming handheld. Yes, now PC gaming brand Zotac has thrown its proverbial hat into the ring, revealing its own handheld PC at Computex 2024 in Taipei, Taiwan.
The Zotac Zone (yes, I know Zotac formats it as ZONE, but I don't want to feel like I'm yelling at you!) will feel immediately familiar to anyone who has used any of the mainstream handheld PCs currently on the market. The MSI Claw, Lenovo Legion Go, and Asus's shiny new ROG Ally X all have their own strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day, they're broadly similar devices, and the Zone is no exception.
The physical design is immediately reminiscent of the Steam Deck, since it features a pair of small square trackpads beneath the analog sticks, something notably absent from most of the Deck's existing rivals (the Legion Go has a single pad on the right-hand side). However, the controller layout and general feel of the device is a lot closer to the ROG Ally - and having used my own Ally extensively, I can say that this could be a real competitor.
Screen queen
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The star of the show here - and the thing I noticed first about the Zone - is the 7-inch AMOLED touch display. With a resolution of 1080p, 120Hz refresh rate, and impressive maximum brightness of 800 nits (more than most other PC handhelds), it's a stand-out feature that looks absolutely bloody gorgeous.
That's truly not hyperbole: I played Horizon Zero Dawn and Street Fighter 6 on this thing, and both games looked fantastic. Colors are vibrant and shadows are deep, with no visual artifacts and excellent sharpness. It's no exaggeration to say this is one of the best displays I've seen on a gaming handheld. It's worth bearing in mind, however, that this is a MIPI panel, which means it doesn't support Variable Refresh Rate in games.
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Behind that glorious screen is an AMD Ryzen 7 8840U processor, which delivered solid performance during my hands-on testing. The RDNA 3 integrated graphics perform admirably - and while I wasn't able to properly test framerates, playing on the Zone felt smooth and responsive at 1080p with graphics set to Low or Medium. The Ryzen APU is supported by 16GB of DDR5 RAM and a 512GB SSD.
The 8840U is a bit different from the AMD Z1 and Z1 Extreme chips found in several other handhelds (including the Ally and Legion Go), but it has the same number of cores and the same operating frequency. It's just a slightly newer architecture: Hawk Point as opposed to the Z1's Phoenix Point. The main difference here is an improved XDNA processor for better performance with AI workloads, which may come in handy for AI-powered game features like AMD FSR.
Trigger happy
One unique feature I quite liked was the adjustable trigger system. On the back of the unit, both main triggers have a small switch that lets you swap the trigger sensitivity between two stages - basically switching between a normal full press to register input and a hair-trigger response.
It's a neat function that could come in handy for shooters, since the triggers have quite a lot of travel in regular mode, and it's good that the two switches can be toggled independently - I could see myself using the hair-trigger mode on the left trigger for quicker aim-down-sight reactions but sticking with the regular input for actually firing my weapon, so as to avoid misfires.
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Another possible first for gaming handhelds is the inclusion of what looks like a small front-facing webcam to the left of the display. Zotac didn't have any information about this on the event floor, however, and early test units of the Lenovo Legion Go also featured a camera that never made it to the final release, so don't get your hopes up.
I didn't get an exact figure for the weight, but the Zone weighs about the same as the newly-announced ROG Ally X - which is to say, heavier than the more compact Steam Deck, but lighter than the chunky Legion Go. Despite this, it's still quite large, measuring 31cm across, so this might not be the best choice for gamers with smaller hands. There's a small kickstand at the back, which is useful if you want to hook it up to a larger screen via the Thunderbolt 4 port and play using a separate controller.
AMOLED you finish, but...
Unfortunately, no fancy trigger systems nor gorgeous AMOLED screens can hide the fact that some parts of the Zotac Zone feel a little... cheap. Zotac assured me that the unit I was testing was a relatively early beta model, so there's every chance my qualms will be addressed before the product makes it to a full release, but I'd be remiss not to mention the issues here.
Firstly, the D-pad felt very flimsy, and the analog sticks were a bit loose for my liking - some people might not be bothered by the latter, but I definitely prefer the more resistive feeling of the ROG Ally's twin sticks. The additional two rear finger bumpers are also lacking in satisfaction, with a feeble click to them. On the bright side, the triggers, main bumpers, and face buttons all feel solid.
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It's also worth noting that just like every other Windows-based gaming handheld, the OS is poorly suited to this device format. Even with a touchscreen and trackpad, the small display and lack of a physical keyboard make navigating Windows 11 rather cumbersome. I can't really blame Zotac for that, though - it's a frustration of Microsoft's making, and I've already given them the solution...
The factor that may truly prove to be the Zone's downfall, though, is the price. While Zotac hasn't officially confirmed pricing, Spanish tech site Geeknetic has reported that the launch price is expected to be around $800 (about £625 / AU$1200). That's rather expensive considering the specs here; the ROG Ally X is expected to be around the same price, but packs more memory and storage, while the Steam Deck is significantly cheaper than both.
Still, I'm excited to see the Zone hit the market so I can properly test it out. Competition breeds innovation, as they say; more PC gaming handhelds can't be a bad thing. But the competition is really starting to heat up now, so Zotac will need to bring its A-game if it wants to capture a segment of this emerging market.
The Asus ROG Zephyrus G16, part of Asus's lineup of the best gaming laptops, is mostly another refresh of the Zephyrus G16 but with the added AMD NPU. The other models featuring the Intel Core Ultra 9 have already launched earlier this year, with this new one made to give buyers more options.
Like with most other NPU-equipped laptops and PCs, the biggest question is whether they'll hold up as the next evolution of processors. Plenty of manufacturers seem to believe so and have been investing accordingly. As they slowly trickle out, we'll see how well founded these investments are.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: price and availability
The AMD NPU version of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 has been revealed in time for Computex 2024, though we don't have an official release date or pricing yet.
Currently, the Intel versions are available for purchase through the Asus online shop and most major retailers, starting at $2,899.99 (around £799 / AU$1,599). As you can see, the pricing of this gaming laptop is quite premium, as you're paying both for its thin and light frame and that it houses the AI processor.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: specs
Here are the specs for the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 at a glance.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: design
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For a gaming laptop, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is quite lightweight and could easily be one of the best thin and light gaming laptops on the market. Though the available color is uninspired, it sports a unique design feature like much of the line's previous iterations.
In this case, it's an LED light that runs diagonally across the top case, adding some much-needed flair to an otherwise bland-looking laptop. I can't imagine how badly this aesthetic gimmick bleeds through battery power, so hopefully, there's a simple way to turn it off when one needs to conserve energy.
It features a solid port selection that includes two USB Type-C ports, two USB Type-A ports, one combo jack, one SD card reader slot, and one HDMI port. Unfortunately, it's missing an ethernet port, which is odd considering that playing PC games online requires a stable connection that can't be replicated using Wi-Fi.
The display is a 2.5K OLED and sports HDR True Black 500, meaning you'll get a gorgeously clear and sharp picture quality every time. The keyboard features nice-sized keys that are well-suited for a wide range of hand types, and the touchpad is large, so you'll have plenty of space to maneuver.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: performance
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On paper, the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 refresh has some impressive specs, like an Nvidia RTX 4000-series GPU, next-gen AMD NPU, and a display with a 240Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time. With these components, it should be one of the fastest laptops out there, able to handle the massive AI workload that it's sure to be put through.
Of course, I wasn't able to benchmark the ROG Zephyrus G16 myself, so I can't say for sure exactly how it compares to current laptops on the market. It uses an AMD NPU instead of a Qualcomm SnapDragon chip, meaning that the battery life will most likely run as well as the average gaming laptop – Which is to say, not very long.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G16: early verdict
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The AMD refresh version of the Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is a solid gaming laptop with a thin and light chassis and a fun visual gimmick. Though it's clearly well-balanced and would serve most gamers well, there's nothing particularly impressive about it either. It's a mostly standard refresh except for the NPU addition.
Those needing an update should consider investing in this one, but if you have a laptop, then there's nothing you're missing out on in particular. I am curious to see how well the NPU coupled with the RTX 4000-series GPUs will perform - whether the difference between an AI processor and a normal one is that great.
There's an argument to be made for packing in as much power as possible when it comes to the best gaming laptops, and that's the space the Acer Predator Triton 17 X occupies. For the most part, it forgoes being the sleekest and smallest of its kind to go all-in on pushing boundaries for those with deep enough pockets to take the plunge.
Priced at $3,599.99 / £3,299.99 / AU$7,999, the Acer Predator Triton 17 X isn't a budget pick by any means, but that's the cost of packing in enough horsepower to give even the best gaming PCs a run for their money. While the mobile RTX 4090 doesn't exactly rival what its desktop counterpart can do, the performance margin is within an acceptable ballpark range; you can think of it as similar to an RTX 4080 desktop GPU.
Where this rig stands out from competitors is with its display. The Triton 17 X features a staggering 250Hz refresh rate with a 1600p resolution screen. That 16:10 aspect ratio means you get more real-estate for gaming, and the results are impressive. Fortunately, the components inside this Predator laptop mean you'll be able to push even the latest and most demanding games to superfast frame rates.
No corners have been cut with the quality-of-life features here, either. This laptop is armed with a six-speaker setup, an excellent keyboard, and a healthy port selection, so even when you're not gaming, you'll have a good experience. Just keep in mind that the Triton 17 X is not the most practical notebook with its 3kg / 6.6lbs heft, so it might not be your daily runner to work or school on the side.
Compounding this is the majorly disappointing battery life. The Acer Predator Triton 17 X lasts around two hours at best when enjoying media playback or browsing the web, and about an hour when getting stuck into one of the latest games. You'll want the charger nearby, but if you can overlook these issues then there's a stellar machine underneath it all.
Acer Predator Triton 17 X: Price and availability
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How much does it cost? $3,599.99 / £3,299.99 / AU$7,999
When is it available? It's out now
Where can you get it? In the US, UK and Australia
The Acer Predator Triton 17 X is one of the pricier gaming laptops on the market, coming in above the $3,000 / £3,000 mark (and at AU$8,000). Considering the hardware inside, that shouldn't come as a huge surprise, though. Acer isn't pulling any punches from the choice of CPU and GPU, through to the display, RAM, and storage. Simply put, it's far from a cheap gaming laptop, but if you want to be on the bleeding edge and have the cash to splash then it could be worthwhile.
As a frame of reference, the price of entry for the Predator Triton 17 X puts it in league with other top-end offerings such as the Origin EON 16SL when fully specced out, or the Alienware M16 and Razer Blade 16 (2023) in higher configurations. You aren't getting the best value for money on the market, nor the strongest price-to-performance ratio, but in terms of sheer raw power, the Triton 17 X has it in spades.
Price: 3 / 5
Acer Predator Triton 17 X: Design
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Stunning 250Hz mini-LED display
Packed with ports
A bit heavy at 3kg / 6.6lbs
Acer Predator Triton 17 X: Specs
Here's what's inside the Acer Predator Triton 17 X supplied to TechRadar.
CPU: Intel Core i9-13900HX GPU: Nvidia RTX 4090 RAM: 64GB LPDDR5 Storage: 2TB NVMe Gen 4.0 Display: WQXGA (2560 x 1600) 16:10 IPS 250Hz Ports: 2x USB 3.2, 2x USB-C, 2.5Gb Ethernet, 3.5mm audio jack, microSD card slot Wireless: Wi-Fi 6E; Bluetooth 5.1 Weight: 3kg / 6.6lbs Dimensions: 28 x 38.04 x 2.19cm (LxWxH)
The most notable thing about the Acer Predator Triton 17 X at first glance is the display which is certainly a leading model as far as gaming laptops go. This portable powerhouse packs in a 16:10 WQXGA (2,560 x 1,600 resolution) screen meaning more real-estate is available for gaming than 16:9 can offer. It's bolstered by a 250Hz refresh rate and is Nvidia G-sync compatible, so there's no screen tearing.
It's not the first laptop to feature a mini-LED display, but it is an excellent example of the panel tech in action. While not quite as vivid as OLED, it is considerably brighter, and the 1,000 local dimming zones do a solid job of standing in with similar black levels. Considering the hardware inside, an RTX 4090 mobile GPU backed up by an Intel 13th-gen Core i9 processor, you'll be able to take advantage of that high refresh rate, too.
Acer's design philosophy for this machine is "excellent in excess" and that's clearly demonstrated with the hardware packed into a portable form factor. Mind you, this rig weighs in at 3kg / 6.6lbs making it one of the heavier models on the market. With a 17-inch screen, it's fairly large as well, and while technically portable, the 17 X is unlikely to be something you'll commonly be slinging into a bag. It's more of an out-and-out desktop replacement.
While you're likely to plug in one of the best gaming keyboards and best gaming mice, the Acer Predator Triton 17 X features a solid keyboard and trackpad for casual web browsing and typing. It offers pleasant multi-zone RGB lighting which looks the part when playing in darker environments. The trackpad isn't as nice as some of the glass ones you'll find on a similarly priced Razer Blade, but it gets the job done. Again, a dedicated mouse will do the trick better.
No expense was spared on the connectivity front here, either. There are two USB-C ports, two USB 3.2 ports, 2.5Gb Ethernet, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm audio jack. You'll have no shortage of options for either work or play, and it's good that the manufacturer chose function over form in this respect, as some thinner laptops can sacrifice port selection to achieve their svelte nature.
Design: 4 / 5
Acer Predator Triton 17 X: Performance
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Unparalleled 1080p and 1440p gaming performance
Silky smooth refresh rate
Gets very hot and loud
You won't be surprised to learn that a gaming laptop powered by the Intel Core i9-13900HX and Nvidia RTX 4090 with 64GB of LPDDR5 RAM absolutely mowed through our suite of benchmarks and games. The display for the laptop tops out at 250Hz, and you'll have all the horsepower necessary to achieve those kind of frame rates in 1080p, and drive very smooth gameplay at 1440p as well.
Acer Predator Triton 17 X benchmarks
Here's how the Acer Predator Triton 17 X got on in our game testing.
Total War: Three Kingdoms (1080p) - 364fps (Low); 140fps (Ultra) Total War: Three Kingdoms (1440p) - 290fps (Low) ; 92fps (Ultra) Cyberpunk 2077 (1080p) - 118fps (Low); 107fps (Ultra) Cyberpunk 2077 (1440p) - 129fps (Low); 89fps (Ultra) Cyberpunk 2077 RT Ultra - 85fps (1080p); 83fps (1440p) Red Dead Redemption 2 (1080p) - 147fps (Low) ; 128fps (Ultra) Red Dead Redemption 2 (1440p) - 108fps (Low); 86fps (Ultra) Geekbench 6:
Single - 2,720
Multi - 17,308 3DMark:
Night Raid - 72,575
Fire Strike - 31,498
Time Spy - 16,866
Port Royal - 11,261 PCMark10: 8,069 CrystalDiskMark: Read - 6,441.97; Write - 4,872.65 Cinebench R23: Single - 1,941
Multi - 25,624 TechRadar battery test: 1 hour 8 minutes
It's comparable to what the MSI Titan 18 HX can do, albeit without the 4K resolution, not that you'll necessarily need 4K in such a small display anyway. It wasn't uncommon for the demanding games tested, such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Red Dead Redemption 2, to exceed 100fps when maxed out in 1440p. Even CPU-bound titles such as Total War: Three Kingdoms were no sweat for the 13900HX, as this game could exceed a lightning-fast 300fps.
Synthetic figures are equally strong as evidenced by 3DMark's range of GPU benchmarks alongside PCMark 10. Acer hasn't skimped on the choice of Gen 4.0 NVMe SSD either, with a strong performance of 6,441MB/s for reads and 4,872MB/s for writes. All told it's a very encouraging package showcasing the prowess of the hardware, but not without a few drawbacks.
While the RTX 4090M is roughly equivalent to the desktop RTX 4080 with its 16GB GDDR6 VRAM and lower power draw, the combination of CPU and GPU here does result in excess heat and loudness. It wasn't uncommon for the rig to reach upwards of 90 degrees when under stress, with the fans drowning out the otherwise impressive six-speaker surround setup. This could be counteracted by employing the use of one of the best gaming headsets, but it's worth noting all the same.
Using the HDMI 2.1 port, you'll be able to hook up the Acer Predator Triton 17 X to one of the best gaming monitors for that big screen experience should the 17-inch display not be enough for you. You may also want to invest in a dedicated laptop riser to keep the fans of the machine elevated to aid cooling, too.
Performance: 4 / 5
Acer Predator Triton 17 X: Battery life
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Lasts around two hours when web browsing or for media playback
About an hour of gaming on battery power
What's most disappointing about the Acer Predator Triton 17 X is the battery life which just about manages two hours on a single charge with media playback or casual browsing. When gaming, you can expect about an hour or so, give or take, so you'll need to keep a charger handy if you want to have a full session of gaming for the evening.
Keeping the Acer Predator Triton 17 X plugged in at all times isn't ideal in terms of its portability factor, obviously, but as we already observed, it's a little too large and bulky for that anyway. The battery life is a shame considering there's a 99.98Wh four-cell power pack inside, but it's not too big a shock when factoring in that there's 175W of power drawn by the RTX 4090M GPU alone.
Simply put, if you're after excellent battery life for a portable machine then the Acer Predator 17 X won't be for you. Instead, we recommend considering one of the best Ultrabooks, even if you won't get anywhere near the same level of processing power.
Battery: 2 / 5
Should you buy the Acer Predator Triton 17 X?
Buy it if...
You want a no-compromise gaming experience
The Acer Predator Triton 17 X packs a punch with its RTX 4090 GPU and 13th-gen Core i9 CPU backed with a staggering 64GB of RAM. All that power translates to commonly getting over 100fps in 1440p with maxed out details.
You want an out-and-out desktop replacement
With its powerful hardware and generous port selection, you'll be able to hook up the Triton 17 X to an external monitor for a big screen gaming experience.
You're in the market for a productivity powerhouse
While the Acer Predator Triton 17 X is geared towards gamers, its 250Hz refresh rate and cutting-edge hardware make it a good choice for creatives who need all the VRAM and raw performance grunt they can get.
Don't buy it if...
You want the best value for money
There's no getting around the eye-watering MSRP of the Acer Predator Triton 17 X at $3,599.99 / £3,299.99 / AU$7,999. If you're on a tighter budget, you'll clearly want to consider a more mid-range model instead.
You want a laptop with a good battery life
Despite its 99.98Wh battery, you can expect only around an hour of gaming when not plugged in. Media playback doubles that to around two hours based on our battery test (conducted at 50% battery with half max brightness). Whatever the case, don't expect much longevity with the Triton 17 X.
The Asus ROG Ally X's existence has been well known for quite some time now, but now it's been officially revealed in its entirety. Now that the cat is completely out of the bag, we know what specs it's rocking, as well as its pricing and launch date.
But how does it measure up in terms of performance, build quality, and more? I was able to briefly get my hands on the PC gaming handheld and try it out for a bit, seeing if it truly felt like a new model worth releasing. Thankfully, there are plenty of quality-of-life changes both externally and under the hood to justify its existence.
Asus ROG Ally X: price and availability
The Asus ROG Ally X will launch on July 22, 2024, and it will be available in the US, UK, Australia, and other regions.
Currently it's available for pre-order exclusively through Best Buy in the US and Curry’s in the UK for a retail price of $799.99 / £799. In Australia, you can pre-order it from JB Hi-Fi for AU$1,599. The pricing for the ROG Ally X is a bit steeper than the original model, though the latter is still available for purchase and cheaper than ever.
Asus ROG Ally X: specs
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Here are the specs for the Asus ROG Ally X at a glance.
Asus ROG Ally X: design
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There have been several changes to the Asus ROG Ally X's design, both externally and internally, which was inspired by users who gave precious feedback and modders posting videos of them revamping the original ROG Ally for upgrades.
The chassis has been enlarged, allowing for more space for an upgraded motherboard, more memory and storage, and a larger battery, among other changes. Since the chassis is larger, it's much better fitted for those with larger hands, especially as the button layout has also been adjusted to prevent accidental presses.
The joysticks have been completely overhauled to be stiffer and with 5 million rotation cycles, and just by testing them out on a few games, I could immediately feel the difference. They're also larger and the rubber grip feels more comfortable, perfect for longer gaming sessions that leave your hands sweaty. Its D-pad is more precise and just better designed as well, making it much easier to navigate menus in and out of games.
Internally, the larger chassis means that the fans are superior - though they're smaller, they push out more hot air. As a result, the vents no longer push out extremely hot air from the top as you reach over to access the top controls. This also means that Asus was able to update the components, taking a page from all those DIY videos showing buyers modifying for the same reason. It also means you can add upgrades more easily without tearing apart the entire outer casing.
Asus ROG Ally X: performance
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Though I couldn't run any proper benchmarks to test out exactly what the Asus ROG Ally X is capable of, gameplay performance is still just as smooth and nearly as stutter-free as before. The processor hasn't been upgraded for this model, nor has the display, meaning it's more or less the same experience.
The difference, however, is how all those design improvements enhance the gameplay experience. The joysticks and D-pad make navigating through game worlds much smoother, and the adjusted button layout, coupled with the slightly larger system, takes out all the frustration of accidental presses and a too-small chassis that the original system had.
Having more RAM to work with is a boon for more intensive AAA titles that the ROG Ally previously struggled with at times, and the included storage is the perfect amount to install quite a library of the best PC games.
Another upgrade that has the potential to be game-changing is the battery life, as the capacity has been doubled to 80Wh. We'll have to test and see, but if the ROG Ally X could get six hours or more, that alone would be the best reason to invest in this system since not even the Steam Deck can do that.
It'll be interesting to see just how much the improved specs affect performance, which we'll be testing once we get our hands on the PC gaming handheld and take it for a more thorough spin ourselves.
Asus ROG Ally X: early verdict
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So far, the Asus ROG Ally X seems quite promising. Though it only serves as an in-between for the eventual ROG Ally 2, it sports tons of quality-of-life changes and enhancements that address nearly every issue buyers of the original ROG Ally had. For those looking for a new PC gaming handheld that's not the Steam Deck, this could truly be a contender for a true Steam Deck rival.
However, the only drawback that could hold it back is that the processor hasn't been updated, meaning that performance will most likely not change too much from the original. And with that model's price going down while the ROG Ally X starts off quite pricey, this could end up being a major deciding factor in its success.
