RTX 50-Series Gaming Laptops: Affordable High-End Performance on the Horizon?
Buckle up, gamers! There may be a glimmer of hope for reasonably priced gaming PCs in the RTX 50-series generation. Asus has just unveiled prices for its latest RTX 50-series laptops, and if they hold true, decent high-end mobile gaming might not require a kidney this time around.
ROG Strix G16: A Promising Contender
The ROG Strix G16 with an RTX 5070 Ti mobile stands out with a $1,900 price tag. That's a surprisingly reasonable sum for a laptop featuring the same GB205 GPU as the RTX 5070 desktop, albeit with fewer CUDA cores. This new G16 undercuts the RTX 4070 version of the G16 2024 by $400.
To put things in perspective, the RTX 5070 Ti mobile boasts 5,888 CUDA cores compared to the RTX 4070 mobile's 4,608, a notable 30% increase. Architectural enhancements and AI wizardry further sweeten the deal.
However, it's worth noting that the RTX 5070 Ti version of the laptop comes with a less desirable screen and only 16 GB of RAM. Nevertheless, this price point instills cautious optimism for affordable RTX 50-series gaming laptops.
Other Asus ROG Laptops: Business as Usual
The rest of the Asus ROG laptops seem to follow a similar pricing strategy as previous generations. The ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) with an RTX 5080 mobile goes for $3,400, while a ROG Zephyrus G16 with an RTX 4080 mobile can be had for $3,297 at Newegg.
High-End Prices Still High
While there's some promise at the RTX 5070 and RTX 5070 Ti level, the high-end market remains largely unaffected. The RTX 5080 and RTX 5090 graphics cards have performed well, but their high price tags have been a sticking point, especially when factoring in DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation.
Conclusion: Cautious Optimism
With these initial price listings, it seems that decent high-end mobile gaming may not break the bank this generation. However, it's important to exercise caution and wait for actual reviews and stock availability before making any definitive conclusions.