ASUS Republic of Gamers has brought two very different 2026 gaming laptops to the UAE: one built to replace a desktop and the other aimed at users who want premium gaming hardware in a slimmer shell.
The new range consists of the following ROG Strix SCAR 18 and the ROG Zephyrus G16. ASUS says both machines use Intel Core Ultra processors and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 50 Series Laptop GPUs, but they’re tailored for different types of buyers.
Strix SCAR 18 is the ultimate punch. ASUS says it can be configured with up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with a total system power of up to 320W. This puts it firmly in the territory of users who want a portable machine for AAA games, 3D work, video production and other demanding tasks rather than casual toting around.
To keep all this hardware under control, ASUS uses the ROG Smart Cooling system, including a vapor chamber, a sandwiched heatsink design, improved airflow and improved fans. The laptop also gets an 18-inch 4K 240Hz mini-LED ROG Nebula HDR display with over 2,000 dimming zones, HDR peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits, 100% DCI-P3 coverage, G-SYNC, Dolby Vision, and low-reflection coating.
The SCAR 18 also includes tool-free access to SSD and RAM, dual Thunderbolt 5 ports, 2.5G LAN, Wi-Fi 7, ROG Q-Latch SSD slots, Aura RGB lighting, and AniMe Vision on the lid. In other words, it’s not trying to be subtle.
The finer selection is still very high
The Zephyrus G16 takes a different route, aimed at gamers, creators, students and professionals who want powerful performance without lugging around a huge chassis. ASUS says it can be equipped with an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor and an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU that weighs less than 2 kg.
Its main selling point is the display: a 2.5K 240Hz ROG Nebula HDR OLED panel with a 0.2ms response time, G-SYNC support, 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, up to 1100 nits peak brightness, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 1000 color certification and accu. This makes it more appealing to people who split time between gaming and creative work, such as editing, design and content creation.
ASUS also equipped the Zephyrus G16 with a CNC-machined aluminum chassis, six-speaker audio, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, DisplayPort and USB-C ports with a 100W power supply, HDMI 2.1, an SD card reader, and its updated Slash Lighting array. Thunderbolt 4 is also included for Intel-based models.
ASUS says that both laptops are available in the UAE through the ASUS UAE eShop and major retailers. The Strix SCAR 18 starts at AED 29,999, while the Zephyrus G16 starts at AED 31,999.
Customers in the UAE also have access to the ASUS Premium Warranty, which covers accidental damage upon product registration for 90 days after purchase, as well as the ROG Elite Program for rewards and community benefits. ASUS said the UAE eShop will also offer weekend deals, summer promotions and online-only bundles, although it did not provide a full breakdown of configurations or exact retail options per store.
That missing detail matters a bit here, as both machines sit at the high end of the market, and the price will depend heavily on the exact CPU, GPU, and memory configuration. For now, ASUS has confirmed the launch and starting prices, but buyers will still have to check local listings for the final mix of specs they can actually get.
