ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4060) Review: Strong Buy?
“Best laptop I’ve ever purchased,” one Best Buy reviewer wrote — and across platforms, that kind of hype shows up a lot. ASUS ROG Strix G16 Gaming Laptop (RTX 4060, Intel i9-14900HX) lands as a high‑performance 16‑inch machine that most owners feel delivers more speed than they expected, even if a vocal minority questions whether the RTX 4060 is the right match for an i9. Verdict: a strong buy for gamers and creators who want top‑tier CPU muscle and a fast QHD panel, with some caveats around thermals, noise, and GPU balance. Score: 8.7/10.
Quick Verdict
Conditional Yes. Buyers who prioritize CPU-heavy workloads and high-refresh QHD gaming are thrilled; value‑focused gamers who want more VRAM or a tighter CPU/GPU pairing are more hesitant.
| Pros (from users) | Cons (from users) |
|---|---|
| “Very fast” real‑world performance for gaming + multitasking | Some report the CPU/GPU pairing is overkill for gaming |
| QHD+ 240Hz Nebula display gets frequent praise | Heat under load still comes up in community talk |
| Solid cooling for many owners; keyboard stays comfortable | Fans become clearly audible during heavy use |
| Good upgradeability and port selection | RTX 4060 8GB seen by some as limiting for future AAA games |
| Strong for creative apps (music, Adobe, editing) | Price sensitivity vs cheaper 4060 laptops |
Claims vs Reality
ASUS marketing leans hard into “next‑level performance,” tri‑fan cooling, and the Nebula QHD+ 240Hz screen. Digging into user feedback, most owners agree on the performance and display claims, while cooling/noise and value feel more nuanced.
Claim 1: “Power up your play” with i9‑14900HX + RTX 4060 at high TGP.
The Best Buy corpus is almost uniformly enthusiastic about speed. Best Buy user oscar said: “it is incredible… very fast… I can play everything and stream at the same time.” Best Buy user fabrizzyo echoed that it’s “very fast and i can play everything and stream at the same time.” For competitive gamers and multitaskers, this aligns with ASUS’s promise — the laptop doesn’t just run games, it handles background tasks smoothly.
Yet community voices push back on value and pairing. Reddit user (no username provided in data) argued: “if you’re buying it for gaming then that’s a pretty bad cpu to gpu match up… the cpu wildly outclasses the 4060.” Another Reddit commenter was harsher: “the 4060 8 gb is a piss poor card. you will not be able to play anything on high settings.” That’s a clear gap between the marketing’s “dominate everything” vibe and how some enthusiasts view 8GB VRAM in late‑2024 AAA titles.
Claim 2: Tri‑fan cooling keeps temps in check.
Many owners say it works as advertised. Best Buy user oscar highlighted “incredible temperatures when playing, you can't feel it on the keyboard,” and Best Buy user johnny said there were “no heat issues, even with graphic intensive gaming.” For long sessions, especially on a desk, those reports suggest ASUS’s cooling design is doing its job.
But the community thread shows a more complicated reality. Reddit user (no username provided) shared that out of the box “cpu hit 95c easy and gpu 87c max,” and that undervolting brought it down to “78c max on my cpu and 68c max on my gpu.” Another review source, PCMENA, noted “under intense workloads, the system did get noticeably warm… fans are quite audible.” So while the official story is “cool and quiet,” multiple users still describe heat and noise as part of the package, especially without tuning.
Claim 3: Nebula QHD+ 240Hz display is “pixel‑perfect.”
The display praise is one of the strongest areas of agreement. Best Buy user oscar called it “beautiful,” and Best Buy user evanc said “the display is out of the world clarity… bright screen, dynamic colors.” Owners aren’t just noticing the refresh rate — they’re describing color, brightness, and clarity in day‑to‑day use.
There’s little direct negative feedback about the panel in the provided data. The only real contrast is indirect: some buyers who focus on value feel the GPU may not fully exploit a 240Hz QHD screen in every modern title, reinforcing the “CPU/GPU mismatch” narrative rather than a panel quality complaint.
Cross-Platform Consensus
A recurring pattern emerged: praise is concentrated on raw performance and the screen, while complaints center on thermals/noise and whether the RTX 4060 makes sense at this price. Divisive discussions are mostly about “balance,” not build quality.
Universally Praised
Performance is the headline. Across Best Buy’s 28 reviews, owners repeatedly frame the laptop as a “beast” and a noticeable upgrade from older machines. Best Buy user julio, a music producer, said: “this thing runs faster than any mac i’ve had… i also use it for gaming… great product.” For creative professionals who also game, that story matters — it’s not just FPS, it’s rendering, DAWs, and Adobe workloads moving quickly. Best Buy user seanh similarly bought it to “handle photoshop and illustrator but could also play games too,” and said they were “very happy with this computer.” These accounts back ASUS’s positioning as a hybrid gaming/creator rig.
Gamers also highlight smoothness and the ability to run demanding titles. Best Buy user eldrick wrote: “I get great performance in call of duty. and avatar pandora.” Best Buy user philip b said it “runs exceptionally well… no issues… for any of my gaming.” The language is consistent: owners feel the laptop meets high‑settings expectations and doesn’t stutter under load.
The display gets near‑universal love. Best Buy user johnny described a “bright screen, dynamic colors,” and called the resolution “great screen resolution.” Best Buy user evanc went further: “nebula display… out of the world clarity.” For esports players or anyone sensitive to motion clarity, that 240Hz QHD panel seems to be a true differentiator, not a spec-sheet novelty.
Finally, several users appreciate practical design and upgrade paths. Best Buy user oscar liked that it “has several upgrade options.” Best Buy user abdou ls called it “not too big or heavy,” and appreciated connecting to a TV for a larger screen. The community doesn’t frame it as ultralight, but as reasonably portable for a 16‑inch gaming chassis.
Common Complaints
Thermals and fan noise are the most consistent negatives when they appear. PCMENA’s review states the system “did get noticeably warm” under heavy workloads and that “fans are quite audible.” On Reddit, heat is discussed in more detail, often by users who monitor temps closely. Reddit user (no username provided) said that stock settings can push the CPU to “95c easy,” and described undervolting as the fix. That paints a picture of a laptop that’s capable, but sometimes needs tuning for comfort or acoustics during marathon sessions.
Another recurring complaint is value versus GPU tier. Some community members consider the i9 + RTX 4060 pairing inefficient for pure gaming. Reddit user (no username provided) advised that “an i5 would run just fine” with a 4060, suggesting buyers could save money by stepping down the CPU. Another Reddit commenter said “you can easily find laptops with an rtx 4060 for half the price,” arguing the GPU becomes the bottleneck. For budget‑minded gamers who care more about GPU horsepower than CPU headroom, that’s a meaningful warning.
VRAM limits are also a concern for a minority of users. Reddit user (no username provided) claimed “8 is not gonna cut it anymore,” pointing to 10GB+ usage in some games. While not echoed in retailer reviews, this sentiment shows up in enthusiast spaces and should matter to buyers targeting the most demanding AAA settings at QHD.
Divisive Features
The CPU/GPU “match” is the central divisive topic. Some owners feel the RTX 4060 is plenty. Reddit user (no username provided) who owns a 4060 Strix said it “shreds through everything I’ve thrown at it at ultra graphics.” Best Buy reviewers generally align with that optimism, rarely mentioning limitations.
Others disagree sharply, framing the RTX 4060 as dated at this price. Reddit user (no username provided) called it “piss poor” for high settings in modern games. This isn’t a dispute about whether the laptop is fast — it’s about how future‑proof or cost‑effective that speed is compared to laptops with RTX 4070/4080 options.
Noise is another split. Some users downplay it: Reddit user (no username provided) said the fans reach “50 db at 6500rpm so it is not that loud.” But PCMENA and other community comments stress that fans are clearly audible when the machine is pushed. For headset gamers, that may be trivial; for quiet‑workspace creators, it’s more noticeable.
Trust & Reliability
Trustpilot content in the provided data is largely awards and press blurbs rather than user complaints, so scam or seller‑fraud patterns don’t surface there. The reliability picture is instead inferred from longer‑term ownership notes in retail and community spaces. Best Buy user vladyslavc said they were writing “5 months after purchase” and that it “works without errors.” Best Buy user amse, who owned it for four months, called it “great and definitely an upgrade,” and didn’t describe degradation over time.
Reddit discussion adds a durability angle indirectly: owners talk about undervolting and thermal management to keep performance stable. The fact that users can lower temps significantly without losing gaming performance suggests a path to long‑term stability, though it also implies that stock behavior can be aggressive.
Alternatives
Only a few alternatives are mentioned explicitly by users. On Reddit, buyers bring up looking for “a mobile 4070” or “anything below a mobile 4080 is all the same except for 4050.” That indicates the main comparison set inside the community is other Strix configurations or competing laptops with RTX 4070/4080 tiers, not a specific named rival model.
The story here is simple: for users who want more GPU headroom, especially at QHD, the community nudges toward RTX 4070 or 4080 laptops. For users who value a high‑end CPU for work plus solid mid‑range gaming, the RTX 4060 Strix remains attractive.
Price & Value
Current market pricing in the data clusters around $1,599–$1,799 for the RTX 4060/i9 configuration. The eBay listing shows $1,699 new, and Slickdeals highlights $1,599.99. Best Buy’s MSRP example is $1,699.99 with frequent sales. Enthusiast feedback suggests that value perception depends on use case.
For mixed work‑and‑play buyers, the price feels justified. Best Buy user julio’s creative‑work story and Best Buy user seanh’s Adobe use both position the G16 as a “do‑everything” laptop that replaces a desktop or MacBook. For that group, the i9 matters.
For gaming‑only buyers, some feel the cost is inflated relative to other RTX 4060 machines. Reddit user (no username provided) said similar 4060 laptops can be “half the price,” and another advised shopping for a 4070‑tier deal instead. The practical community tip is to buy during sales or open‑box periods, because the value equation looks much better closer to $1,500.
Resale trends aren’t directly discussed, but the continued demand for 16‑inch Strix models and the presence of active listings suggest stable second‑hand interest, especially for well‑kept units.
FAQ
Q: Does the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (RTX 4060) overheat?
A: Community reports are split. Best Buy user oscar said it has “incredible temperatures when playing” and Best Buy user johnny reported “no heat issues.” But Reddit users describe stock CPU temps around “95c easy,” often recommending undervolting to reduce heat.
Q: Is the RTX 4060 enough for QHD+ 240Hz gaming?
A: Many owners say yes for current games. Best Buy reviewers regularly say they “can play everything.” One Reddit owner said it “shreds through everything… at ultra graphics.” Others argue 8GB VRAM is limiting and the 4060 can be a “bottleneck” at QHD in newer AAA titles.
Q: How loud are the fans under load?
A: Under heavy gaming or rendering, multiple users say fans are audible. PCMENA notes they are “quite audible during intensive tasks.” A Reddit owner measured “up to 50 db,” calling it “not that loud.” Expect noticeable noise at peak performance.
Q: Is the i9‑14900HX overkill with a 4060?
A: Some gamers think so. Reddit users called it a “bad cpu to gpu match up” and suggest an i7 or i5 would be fine for gaming. But creators and multitaskers praise the i9’s headroom for Adobe apps, music production, and streaming.
Final Verdict
Buy if you’re a hybrid user who games at QHD and also needs a powerhouse CPU for streaming, music production, or creative work — the cross‑platform chorus of “very fast” and “best laptop I’ve ever purchased” fits that profile. Avoid if you’re gaming‑only and want maximum FPS‑per‑dollar or more VRAM for future AAA titles, since community critics see the RTX 4060 as the weak link. Pro tip from the community: undervolting can cut CPU/GPU temps significantly without sacrificing performance, turning a hot‑running unit into a cooler, quieter long‑session machine.
