If performance is the most important aspect of a gaming laptop, the display comes second. Asus recognized this in 2022 with the launch of its ROG Nebula displays, premium mini-LED panels that aim to maximize the gaming experience – and they’re now coming to more devices.
At CES 2023, the company announced that Nebula displays will be available on eight other ROG laptops (Flow X13, Zephyrus G16, Strix G16, Strix G18, Flow Z13, Zephyrus G14, Scar 16, and Flow 16), while the Zephyrus M16 has been upgraded from a standard Nebula panel to an HDR panel. This means that there is now at least one Nebula device in each of the main ROG laptop lines.
So why should you opt for the Nebula Display instead of a regular OLED display? The key here is mini-LED technology, something you’ll now find on Apple’s MacBooks and iPad Pro. It takes the LEDs from regular LCD screens and makes them much smaller, giving developers much more control over the final image.
Asus
Not being able to control each individual pixel like OLED is a downside in some scenarios, but it does mean the display offers deeper blacks, higher brightness, and a reduced risk of issues like screen burn-in (where an area of the panel is permanently discolored). Our mini-LED explainer focuses on TVs, but it’s relevant for laptops as well.
However, not all ROG Nebula displays are created equal. The standard version (found in the Flow X13, Zephyrus G16, Strix G16, Strix G18 and Flow Z13) offers 500 nits of peak brightness, a 1200:1 contrast ratio (the difference between minimum and maximum brightness) and Dolby Vision HDR.
But the ROG Nebula HDR displays (available on the Zephyrus G14, Scar 16, Flow 16 and Zephyrus M16) bump that up to 1100 nits and offer a 100,000:1 contrast ratio, adding VESA’s HDR certification in the process.
All Nebula displays are color-accurate (with full DCI-P3 gamut coverage claims), offer a response time of 3ms or less, and can achieve refresh rates of 240Hz.
But, of course, the display specs you get vary widely from device to device. The Strix line has arguably seen the biggest changes this year, with the Strix G18’s all-new 18-inch screen making it the biggest ROG laptop to date.
Asus
It starts at £2,599, but includes Intel’s new top-end 13e-gen, Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU and up to 32GB DDR5 RAM. The more basic specs of the 16-inch Strix G16 are reflected in its lower starting price of £1,499.
But 2-in-1 devices are also worth exploring. Another 16-inch laptop, the Flow X16 (from £2,199), is a gamer’s take on a modern convertible. It offers the versatility of a 360° without significant performance compromises, even if you upgrade to Intel’s 13.e-gen H-series (up to Core i9) alongside one of Nvidia’s next-gen GPUs.
An alternative is available in the updated Flow Z13 (from £1,999.99), which offers similar specs in a 13-inch tablet and detachable keyboard form factor. Like last year’s original, you can connect to an external mobile GPU for better graphics performance, but no improvements have been made to the heavy and bulky design, despite the increased starting price.
It’s impossible to discuss all of the new ROG devices here, but it’s worth noting that no pricing outside of the UK or availability has yet been announced for any of the new products. Don’t expect Nebula machines to be affordable, though, with the TUF Gaming range your best bet for an Asus gaming laptop under $1000/£1000.
