Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 Laptop Review
Design
We didn’t think it could be done, but the Asus ROG Zephyrus GX501 actually stuffs an Nvidia GTX 1080 into a 1.79cm-thick (0.7-inch) laptop. That’s not only surprisingly thin for a gaming notebook, but it’s also slimmer than most traditional laptops, including the compact Dell XPS 15.
To efficiently cool such a svelte package, Asus came up with an innovative design, which sees the bottom panel drop down like a ramp for better airflow. The mechanism engages automatically as you open the Zephyrus, creating a 6mm gap.
That might sound like a pretty small space for airflow, but Asus has engineered a high-air chamber to give this ultra-thin gaming laptop the cooling capabilities of a much thicker machine.
One caveat to this expandable panel is it ends up feeling flimsy. The underside extension bends to the touch and there’s a slightly springy step to the laptop when you set it on a desk. That said, you won’t really notice the issue outside of carrying around the GX501 from beneath while the screen is open.
Gimmicks and accolades aside, the Zephyrus is a damn beautiful piece of machinery. Asus has gone for a uniquely squared-off design for the metal chassis. Then, the all-black exterior with copper trim adds up to a sharp, futuristic style. The screen lid of the GX501 draws your eyes in with a distinctly geometric design paired with a brushed aluminum finish that fans out in two directions.
Branding on gaming laptops is usually something we tend to just ignore, but the use of the prominent ROG logos over text on the exterior and interior of the laptop are nice touches, too.
Between the overall aesthetics of the laptop and its transforming design, the Zephyrus looks like a gaming laptop pulled from the future, and we love the way it looks.
Our Verdict
The Asus ROG Zephyrus sets a high bar for powerful, thin gaming laptops with exceptional performance, whisper-quiet operation, and truly innovative design.
For
- Astonishingly powerful
- Innovative and quiet cooling
- Sharp, futuristic aesthetic
- Excellent display and speakers
Battery life
The only thing that’s not impressive about the Asus ROG Zephyrus is its maximum battery life of 2 hours. Regardless of however few applications we ran at the same time, or turning off the keyboard backlight, we weren’t able to squeeze any more battery life out of the GX501. Best of luck with getting more than an hour while gaming, holding a video call or doing anything strenuous while the laptop is unplugged.
Just two hours of battery life is terribly short for any type of laptop, but honestly, it doesn’t come as much of a surprise. The laptop features two of the highest-end, most power-demanding mobile components you can fit into a 15-inch chassis. With everything pushed into the rear chamber, that means the only room for batteries at all is just beneath the keyboard and trackpad, only further limited by the thinness of the notebook.
Against
- Laughable battery life
- Poor keyboard ergonomics
- No SD card slot
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