ROG Strix Scar III G531 Review

It’s premium built, high refresh rate and superb gaming performance – this are one of the factors on why the ROG Strix Scar III (G531) is one of the gaming machines to beat. This, along with its power-packed features, also tells us that the Scar III is on the pricey side. But is it worth it? Let’s all find out on this review.

The unit that was loaned us from Asus is slightly smaller and more lighter compared to the Strix Scar II that I reviewed the last time. As a gaming laptop, this 15” laptop one weighs at around 2.7kg. The top chassis  still maintains its brushed aluminum exterior that has a ROG logo that lights up when it’s on.

The top chassis has an undefined, uneven shape for some reason: one is to provide an easy airflow and ventilation for the machine, and the other one is for the machine to have an easy access to its power and battery performance indicator.

It also comes with the with a brushed gunmetal grey finish, carbon-accented backlit chicklet keyboard surround and LED lights that can be customized using the Armoury Crate.

The NumLK feature can also be accessed on the touchpad when turned on. This can be of a hassle when you accidentally turned on the feature, which I encountered many times during this review.

Strategic port placements

The placement of the cables are something that can be looked up for in this unit. The lesser used ports are located at the back while some are on the left side.

Three USB 3.0 slots and the audio port located at the left side part, while the power port, USB-C port, HDMI port and the RJ-45 jack, along with the pair of exhaust fans are located strategically at the back.

Additional exhaust is located on the right side, along with the keystone that lets users personalize and enhance their machine experience.

This could have been ok if the USB-C port is also placed on the left side, along with the USB 3.0 port for easy access and mobility. The additional ventilation that is on the right side can also be a distraction for those using the mouse for applications and games.

High Performance Display That Matters

The Scar III’s 15-inch display is packed with the impressive 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms response time. Crisp visuals and smooth performance are at par, and this is something that most gamers and multimedia content creators can enjoy, thanks to this packed feature display.

Streaming and gaming works seamlessly, along with creating multimedia content from images and videos. While this works like a charm, its downside is the battery life. I tried working remotely without the battery pack but it only lasted for less than 4 hours on silent mode.

To compensate for the lack of built-in webcam on the screen, an external webcam is separately provided for the unit.

The magic of the Keystone

The Scar III also comes with the Keystone that provides customization and privacy for all users. The NFC-enabled key provides access to the secret shadow drive for private storage, and custom RGB effects that can be changed through the Armoury Crate.

Packed with Performance Specs

Packed with 9^th-gen Intel Core i9, NVDIA GeForce RTX 2070 with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM, 32GB 2666 MHZ SDRAM, and M.2 NVMe PCIE 3.0, 1TB SSD. The powerful specs tops the bill for the Scar III, along with its features that contributes to the Scar III’s powerful performance.

Benchmarks

Power that comes with the price

The Scar III is priced at Php 169,995 and so far the most expensive under the ROG Strix line of gaming laptops. The powerful i9 processor itself is a game changer, along with its performance display.

The ROG Strix Scar III is available in ROG Mall of Asia and ROG Concept Stores nationwide.

Technical Specifications – ROG Strix Scar III G531