If you’ve been watching the thin-and-powerful gaming laptop space, the 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 quietly did something clever: it swapped its heart for a more efficient, AMD-first platform and polished up the parts that matter for creators and gamers alike. The result? A laptop that tries to be both an ultralight daily driver and a potent gaming/workstation machine — and it mostly pulls it off. Here’s my hands-on, no-fluff take on what changed, what still stings, and who should actually buy it.

First impressions: sleek, understated, and premium

Open the G16 and you won’t see neon lights or a gaudy gamer aesthetic — that’s the point. The chassis is thin, mostly aluminum, and still manages to feel surprisingly solid. The hinge and keyboard layout keep things comfortable for long typing sessions, and ASUS’s design language this year favors subtlety over spectacle. If you want a gaming laptop that doesn’t scream “gamer,” the G16 is a smart pick. Several reviewers agree it’s one of the most refined chassis choices in its class. Notebookcheck+1

The big headline: AMD inside (and why it matters)

The 2024 refresh replaces the previous Intel-focused configurations with an AMD Ryzen-centric platform — notably the Ryzen AI 9 HX-series (the marketing names can vary by region and SKU). That swap brings two big wins:

1. Improved efficiency and better battery life — The AMD chip’s power profile helps the G16 stretch battery life closer to what ultrabooks deliver, making it more usable away from outlets. Multiple tests show meaningful gains versus older Intel variants. The Verge+1
2. Stronger multitasking and creative workloads — AMD’s multi-core performance gives an edge in rendering, compiling, and heavy productivity tasks where more cores really matter.

Pairing AMD with Nvidia GPUs (up to an RTX 4070 in common configs) keeps gaming chops intact while making the laptop more balanced for creators who also game. If you want raw FPS-per-watt, this is a smarter direction for a thin-and-light 16-inch chassis. TweakTown+1

Display and audio: this is where the G16 shines

The G16 typically ships with a 16-inch 2560×1600 (WQXGA) OLED panel at 240Hz — a combination that’s rare and delightful. It means crisp detail for creative work, excellent color for content editing, and the silky-smooth motion gamers love. HDR and Dolby Vision support add punch for streaming and media. NotebookCheck and other labs tout the display as one of the laptop’s top assets. Notebookcheck+1

On audio, ASUS packed an impressive multi-driver setup. For a laptop this thin, the speakers are unusually full and loud — great for watching content without headphones and helpful when testing mixes or quick audio checks.

Performance: solid, with some real-world caveats

In everyday productivity, video editing, and multicore workloads, the Ryzen HX SKU is excellent — snappy app launches, quick exports, and smooth multitasking. In gaming, the laptop performs well for its size, especially with an RTX 4070 configuration. However, the thin chassis means GPU thermals and sustained wattage are limited compared to hulking desktop replacements; it’s excellent for high-refresh competitive play at 1440p and solid at 120–144 fps in many titles, but don’t expect desktop-RTX-4090 levels of sustained throughput. Tom’s Hardware and others note that some highest-end GPU options are power-constrained in this thin body. Tom’s Hardware+1

A practical tip: if you plan long GPU-heavy sessions (extended rendering or 4K gaming marathons), consider a heavier chassis with a higher-TGP GPU — the G16 trades peak thermal headroom for portability.

Battery life: markedly better, but mileage varies

One of the most tangible upsides of the AMD change is battery adaptability. ASUS bundles a large 90Wh battery and faster charging, and in mixed-use testing (browsing, streaming, light editing) many reviewers recorded significantly better battery runtimes compared to the older Intel models. Still — and this is important — gaming on battery or heavy rendering will drain it quickly, as with any dGPU laptop. Expect excellent standby and productivity life; don’t expect miraculous gaming endurance. @ROG+1

Build, I/O, and upgradability

ASUS still gives you useful ports: USB4/Thunderbolt-like performance on compatible USB-C, multiple USB-A ports, HDMI, and dual NVMe slots on many SKUs (so storage is flexible). Wi-Fi 7 support is available on some models, future-proofing connectivity. That said, RAM is commonly soldered (LPDDR5X in some SKUs), which limits long-term upgrade paths — pick your RAM configuration carefully at purchase. TweakTown+1

Software quirks & reliability notes

A few months after release, there were community reports of intermittent stuttering and performance interruptions on several ASUS ROG lines (across multiple years), traced to firmware/BIOS causes. ASUS has been investigating and rolling updates for affected models; it’s worth checking the support page and BIOS history before you buy or if you own one. Real-life users have seen improvements after BIOS updates, but it’s a reminder that thin, cutting-edge hardware sometimes needs a firmware maturity cycle. Tom’s Hardware+1

The downsides (so you can decide)

• Soldered RAM on many SKUs limits future-proofing. If you need 32GB+ long-term, choose the correct configuration up front. TweakTown
• Limited GPU thermal headroom compared to thicker gaming laptops — compromises sustained peak performance for portability. Tom’s Hardware
• Price: premium chassis, OLED panel, and higher-tier GPUs push the price into premium territory; value varies depending on the SKU and sales. The Verge

Who should buy the G16 (2024)?

Buy this if you want:

• A sleek 16-inch OLED laptop that’s as good for content creation as it is for gaming.
• Strong multi-core CPU performance with significantly improved battery life vs older models.
• A premium-looking machine that won’t feel out of place in meetings or client calls.

Skip or consider alternatives if:

• You need the absolute best sustained GPU performance (pick a thicker chassis with higher TGP).
• You must be able to upgrade RAM later — in which case look at more modular designs.

Final verdict — a balanced evolution

The 2024 Asus ROG Zephyrus G16 is not trying to be the loudest or the fastest in raw GPU wattage. Instead, it’s a refined, portable, and more versatile take on what a modern gaming-plus-creator laptop should be: gorgeous OLED screen, quieter style, improved battery and CPU efficiency thanks to AMD, and enough GPU power for most gamers and creators. If ASUS’ firmware issues are kept in check and you pick the right SKU for your needs, the G16 is one of the most compelling “do-everything” 16-inch laptops you can buy right now. TweakTown+2Notebookcheck+2