ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 2023

Is it as good as it looks on paper?

- SAM LEWIS

IT’S CRAZY HOW a GPU as powerful as the RTX 4090 can be condensed to fit within a laptop, let alone alongside the rest of the components. So when we got the chance to take a look at an all-new ASUS laptop featuring an RTX 4090, we were more than excited. The ROG Zephyrus M16 from last year was an impressive device, so this revised 2023 model with an Intel i9-13900H and an RTX 4090 inside should be a recipe for success, right?

The design hasn’t changed much over last year’s model. The chassis is matte black aluminum and magnesium, making it feel tough and rugged. The hinge feels sturdy, too, and there’s no screen wobble. The design changes drastically when we take a look at the lid, though. ASUS has introduced an LED lighting panel, a.k.a. AniMe Matrix. It’s an attention-grabbing feature, but falls more into the gimmick category. You can add your own animations, have it react to music, or add text. However. you can’t see it while you’re using the laptop, so it’s a little pointless. Saying that, you can also disable it.