Asus ROG Strix XG16AHP-W Review: A Souped-Up Portable Gaming Monitor for iPad Air Price

The Asus ROG Strix XG16 transportable gaming monitor — now accessible in India, a 12 months on from its worldwide launch — is constructed for a really particular objective. To be honest, its identify says as a lot. Not simply as soon as, however twice in truth. ROG, or Republic of Avid gamers, is the moniker Asus makes use of — as you possibly can guess — for units that cater to gaming audiences at the start. Add to that the opposite necessary key phrase, “transportable”. The Strix XG16 is, basically, a major or secondary monitor for gaming on the go. Asus would hope that you simply pair it with an ROG laptop computer, and hold it inside the household. After all, you might be free to make use of it with a Steam Deck (principally a PC) or a Nintendo Swap (which I largely did).

However it doesn’t matter what route you’re taking, its ergonomics get in the way in which. There’s two methods for the Asus ROG Strix XG16 to face — both by itself utilizing the built-in kickstand, or with the assistance of a elaborate, adjustable tripod that is bundled alongside. You can use any digital camera tripod due to the standardised mount on the again, although there’s little level to it since you have obtained a specialised one within the field. This can be a greater resolution exterior India, the place Asus sells two variants: one with the tripod and one with out (the technical names are XG16AHP-E and XG16AHP-W, respectively). In India, Asus is just promoting the latter model. That does imply you are compelled to pay for the tripod even if you happen to do not look after it.

Asus ROG Strix XG16AHP-W evaluate: design and specs

Whether or not you utilize the kickstand or the tripod, the Asus transportable monitor’s footprint is large. With the wafer-thin kickstand — it tilts from 5 to 27.5 levels — the ROG Strix XG16 by no means actually feels on steady footing. I attempted to apply it to the backseat of a automotive, but it surely wobbled it doesn’t matter what place I put it in. And even when it isn’t wobbling, it is practically unimaginable to get it in a super viewing place. (As a result of the XG16 has an IPS panel and never OLED, the viewing angles aren’t nice both.) Both the highest half of the show feels too removed from the underside half, as you enhance the lean angle. However on decrease tilt angles, the 15.6-inch show feels small, as that you must push it away from your self to lower viewing angles.

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The Asus ROG Strix XG16 appears to be like comical on the ROG tripod
Picture Credit score: Akhil Arora/Devices 360

The tripod has its personal issues. For one, it is pretty heavy. Two, it wants as a lot house as stands for a lot bigger screens. On my every day work desk, the ROG Strix XG16 tripod took up as a lot room because the built-in stand for my 24-inch Dell monitor. That is loopy. Owing to this, the 15.6-inch show additionally appears to be like comical on the tripod, extra so if you happen to apply it to the tallest setting. And whereas most screens have buttons on the entrance, the XG16 has them on the highest of the show. It was awkward to make use of them, particularly once I had it on the tripod. Lastly, there isn’t any simple solution to take it with you. When you can tuck the show right into a neat sleeve, offered by Asus, there isn’t any carrying case for the tripod.

Asus ROG Strix XG16AHP-W evaluate: efficiency

On the subject of the gaming monitor elements, I’ve no complaints. The ROG Strix XG16 boasts of 144Hz refresh charge and Nvidia G-Sync help out of the field. I did not have any sources that would output that, however I did check 120Hz with my PlayStation 5. As with all issues 120fps, you possibly can’t really feel the leap from 60fps. You positively really feel it going from 30fps to 60fps, but it surely’s not the identical once you double it once more. The colors are unbelievable — in truth, Asus is so positive in regards to the XG16’s color accuracy that it features a very nerdy calibration report sheet within the field. I like it. The ROG Strix XG16 is fantastically tuned proper out of the field, although with a little bit of calibration, you will get it to look even higher.

And whereas the Asus transportable monitor is unquestionably vivid sufficient for indoor use — I by no means pushed it over 50 p.c brightness — it is nowhere close to vivid sufficient to outshine the solar in India. To be honest, most shows aren’t.

Sadly, I am unable to say the identical in regards to the built-in audio system. They’re merely not loud sufficient, even when the background sound was simply the din of rain throughout an open window. You might be higher off connecting to a pair of headphones. The ROG Strix XG16 surprisingly sports activities a 3.5mm audio jack, in case you have nonetheless obtained a pair of old style earbuds mendacity round. Both means, I’d’ve preferred quantity buttons on the Asus monitor itself. It is a ache to dive via the menus and make the changes each time, extra so given the buttons are awkwardly positioned, as I mentioned earlier than.

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With the kickstand unfolded, the Asus ROG Strix XG16 takes up a whole lot of house
Picture Credit score: Akhil Arora/Devices 360

Because it’s constructed for use on the go, the ROG Strix XG16 sports activities a 7,800 mAh battery, with Asus claiming a battery lifetime of as much as three hours. I did not put it via a stress check — 144Hz output at max brightness — although, as that has little relevance in the actual world. What issues extra is the way it performs in day-to-day duties. Whereas watching a full-screen reside video at 50 p.c brightness, the ROG Strix XG16 misplaced a couple of fifth of its battery over a interval of 45 minutes. Deployed as a secondary monitor at 30 p.c brightness and with only a Slack window open, the Asus monitor’s battery went from full to zero in 4 hours.

Talking of utilizing it as a secondary show, I discovered extra use for the ROG Strix XG16 in that division, moderately than a gaming show. Throughout work hours, I may transfer my TweetDeck tab to it and control incoming information, whereas I wrote in a doc or watched a TV present I might to evaluate on my major Dell monitor. At different instances, I flicked Wimbledon or Commonwealth Video games streams onto the ROG Strix XG16, whereas I may browse the Web on one other show. And although I do not edit movies a lot as of late, managing an Adobe Premiere Pro timeline is unquestionably simpler when you possibly can shift the preview and a bunch of controls over to a second display.

However even when the ROG Strix XG16 is used on this vogue, it does not make for essentially the most elegant of setups. Owing to the built-in kickstand on the again and the truth that the monitor can stand by itself, the ports have been pushed to the left aspect. Meaning the wires — you all the time want one cable for enter, and a second one when the battery wants charging — jut out to the left. I am not too choosy about seeing cables on my desk, but it surely’s nonetheless not a pleasant look. I attempted to cover the cables by putting the ROG Strix XG16 side-to-side with one other monitor, however the positioning of the ports meant the wires would conflict with the opposite monitor. There is no means round it.

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See how the cable will get in the way in which, when the Asus ROG Strix XG16 is positioned subsequent to a different monitor
Picture Credit score: Akhil Arora/Devices 360

Verdict

Extra importantly although, as a secondary show at residence, Asus’ 15.6-inch full-HD providing is simply unnecessarily costly. The ROG Strix XG16 was launched at an MRP of Rs. 60,999, however Asus advised me that the value would ultimately go right down to Rs. 48,999, and it is now promoting for less than that. Both means, that’s nonetheless loopy cash — that is iPad Air cash. In case you’re out there for a secondary monitor, you will get 24-inch full-HD screens for a 3rd of the value. In order for you a gaming monitor able to 144Hz refresh charge, you will get 27-inch full-HD choices for lower than half the value. Admittedly, none of those will aid you on the transfer, as they must be all the time plugged in.

However that is the sort of place Asus has put itself in. The ROG Strix XG16 is designed for a really slender use case. Asus has clearly made it for players on the go, which explains the distinguished ROG branding. (There is a glowing ROG emblem on the again of the monitor too.) Even for those who do discover it helpful, how usually will that occur? Ask your self, what number of instances have you ever wished a Nintendo Switch show whilst you’re travelling? What number of instances have you ever wished a secondary show in your laptop computer on the go? And earlier than you reply these questions in your head, consider the cumbersome and un-ergonomic setup that this entails.

I do not imagine there are 48,999 causes.

Asus ROG Strix XG16AHP-W was launched in India in late June, and first went up on the market in early August. It’s at the moment accessible through Flipkart.

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