Product Listing

ASUS ROG Strix Scar III GL531GW review: A gaming notebook with a touch of BMW Designworks

By Koh Wanzi - 24 Nov 2019
Launch SRP: S$3598

Introduction

Note: This article was first published on 27 July 2019.

ASUS ROG Strix Scar III GL531GW

RGB lighting all around

There's good news for you if you really, really like RGB lights. The refreshed ASUS ROG Strix Scar III GL531GW comes with even more LEDs crammed into it, and it wasn't as if the previous version was lacking. 

The Scar series of laptops are designed for FPS players, but I'm happy to see ASUS ditch the tacky camouflage pattern on the Scar II in favor of a more stealthy carbon fiber design. The Scar III now boasts a wraparound RGB light bar, a speedy 240Hz edge-to-edge display, and a nifty Keystone fob that unlocks some possibly useful features.

Here's an overview of its specifications:

  • 15.6-inch 1,920 x 1,080-pixel 240Hz IPS-type display
  • Intel Core i7-9750H
  • 16GB single-channel DDR4-2666 RAM
  • NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070
  • 1TB M.2 PCIe SSD
  • 66Wh battery
  • 360 x 275 x 24.9mm
  • 2.57kg

The above will cost you S$3,598, an expectedly steep price given the 1TB SSD and 240Hz screen. You're also getting the full-fat, or Max-P, version of the GeForce RTX 2070. That said, the laptop is a little on the chunky side, so this will not be your first port of call if you're looking for a portable machine. Read on for a closer look at what it offers. 

Join HWZ's Telegram channel here and catch all the latest tech news!
7.5
  • Design 8
  • Features 8.5
  • Performance 7.5
  • Value 6.5
  • Mobility 6
The Good
Good build quality
240Hz IPS display is bright and vivid
Easily accessible DIMM slots and storage bay
The Bad
Single-channel memory comes with a massive performance hit
Not a Max-Q notebook, so chassis is rather thick and heavy
Mediocre battery life
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.