The great white shark. The Zephyrus G15 might look like a stylish all-rounder laptop at first glance. However, there’s powerful high-end hardware from AMD and Nvidia under the hood. We have tested the 15-inch gaming device extensively.
If you decide to buy the top model of the new ROG Zephyrus G15, you will get an extremely powerful overall package. In this way, the GA503Q model that we tested can boast a very powerful Ryzen 9 5900HS CPU and a GeForce RTX 3080 laptop GPU that is only specified with a TDP of 100 watts (including Dynamic Boost). Furthermore, a 1 TB NVMe-based SSD and 32 GB of DDR4 RAM (dual-channel) were installed in our test model, 16 GB of which are soldered to the motherboard. Meanwhile, a matte WQHD display with FreeSync and 165 Hz takes care of image reproduction. Note: According to our specs document, a 144 Hz Full HD display is available as a secondary panel option, but we wouldn’t recommend it due to the low color-space coverage (45% NTSC).
Memory
32768 MB
, 16 GB on board 16 GB SO-DIMM DDR4-3200, max. 48 GB, all slots full
Display
15.60 inch 16:9, 2560 x 1440 pixel 188 PPI, CMN N156KME-GNA (CMN152A), IPS level, WQHD, glossy: no, 165 Hz
Mainboard
AMD Promontory/Bixby FCH
Soundcard
Realtek ALC289 @ AMD K17.6 – Audio Processor – High Definition Audio Controller
Connections
4 USB 3.1 Gen2, USB-C Power Delivery (PD), 1 HDMI, 1 Kensington Lock, Audio Connections: 1 combined port (mic/headset), Card Reader: microSD
Networking
Realtek PCIe GBE Family Controller (10/100/1000/2500/5000MBit/s), Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/ax = Wi-Fi 6), Bluetooth 5
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 20 x 355 x 243 ( = 0.79 x 13.98 x 9.57 in)
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64 Bit
Additional features
Speakers: 6 speakers, Keyboard: chiclet, Keyboard Light: yes, 200-watt power adapter, Armoury Crate, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
1.99 kg ( = 70.2 oz / 4.39 pounds), Power Supply: 490 g ( = 17.28 oz / 1.08 pounds)
Note: The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.
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The Zephyrus G15 is available in gray or white. The latter edition is definitely an eye-catcher. On the one hand, white is hardly ever used in the laptop segment, and on the other hand, various detail accents like small dots or holes on the lid provide for a different look. Visually, the device looks very high-end, especially since the cover and keyboard area are made of a magnesium-aluminum mix (the surfaces tend to creak when twisted, though).
Stability is okay for such a slim case, as long as you don’t make too many demands. The build quality is at a high level. All elements of the test device merge smoothly with each other. The hinge construction is a bit unusual for a gaming laptop. The hinges were designed in such a way that the rear area of the base unit is raised by several millimeters when the lid is opened (a maximum angle of 180°, a one-handed opening is possible), which simultaneously favors ventilation (however, the display tips backwards rather quickly when the surface is shaken).
The G15 also impresses with its low weight. Just under 2 kg is the lowest value in the test field and can be transported quite comfortably. Things are similar in terms of dimensions. The combination of a slim-bezel design and 2.0 cm of height guarantee a slim appearance.
Lenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE MSI GS66 10SGS Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3 Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q Razer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q ❌
359.34 mm / 14.1 inch
259.04 mm / 10.2 inch
19.9 mm / 0.783 inch
2.4 kg5.25 lbs358 mm / 14.1 inch
248 mm / 9.76 inch
20 mm / 0.787 inch
2.2 kg4.78 lbs359 mm / 14.1 inch
255 mm / 10 inch
18 mm / 0.709 inch
2.1 kg4.63 lbs355 mm / 14 inch
243 mm / 9.57 inch
20 mm / 0.787 inch
2 kg4.39 lbs355 mm / 14 inch
235 mm / 9.25 inch
17.8 mm / 0.701 inch
2.2 kg4.85 lbs
The connectivity is not bad for such a compact gaming laptop. In this way, the 15-incher accommodates an RJ45 port, an audio jack, an HDMI 2.0 output, a Kensington lock slot, and a card reader that can only accept microSD models, though, which is a bit of a pity. Speaking of a pity: Due to the use of AMD, the G15 has to do without Thunderbolt. As for the USB ports, Asus has opted for two Type-A ports and two Type-C ports (3.2 Gen 2 each) with 100 watts of Power Delivery and DisplayPort support.
While right-handed users should be satisfied with the distribution of the ports, lefties will probably complain because of the layout, since the ports on the left side have been pushed too much to the front. Attached cables can significantly restrict the range of motion of an external mouse.
The wireless module from Intel (Wi-Fi 6 AX200) supports WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax and Bluetooth 5.1. The speed in our test (1 meter distance to the reference router, the Netgear Nighthawk AX12) was very good.
Asus provides the Zephyrus G15 with a 200-watt power adapter weighing just under 0.5 kg and measuring 15 x 7 x 2.5 cm.
Since the 15-incher doesn’t have a maintenance hatch, the entire bottom of the case has to be removed to reach the components. The bottom cover is secured with 13 screws (note: three of them are located behind rubber seals). Not only does the cooling system, which consists of two fans and several heat pipes (Liquid Metal), await inside the case, but also a SO-DIMM slot (occupied), two M.2 slots (1x free), the battery, and the wireless module are accessible.
Asus provides a 24-month warranty for the device.
The keyboard left us with mixed feelings. Starting with the key size, which is only convincing when it comes to the main keys. The arrow keys and the F-row, on the other hand, are quite narrow. Not every user will like the layout, either. In this way, for example, the left Shift and | are stuck directly together. A single-line Enter is also unusual for a German model. However, the missing Insert and Print Screen keys bothered us the most in the test.
Asus should also work on the labeling. Depending on the ambient brightness, the keys can hardly be read when the backlight is activated. At least the backlight can be adjusted in several levels or turned off completely if desired. Moreover, we would describe the typing feel as quite modest. The keyboard neither reacts particularly crisp nor particularly mushy to input. Practical: Sound can be conveniently controlled using special keys.
Asus deserves praise for the generously sized touchpad. 13 x 8.5 cm is a rarity in the 15-inch segment; it allows running long distances on the display without having to reset your finger. Thanks to the huge touchpad, the palm rest is also generously sized, which benefits ergonomics. Beyond that, the touchpad impresses with a smooth and very gliding-friendly surface. There’s nothing to complain about multitouch support either (zooming and scrolling using two-finger gestures). Only the loud and somewhat rattly click noise is a drawback.
WQHD displays currently represent the perfect compromise between image sharpness and resource consumption. Asus uses a 165 Hz model from CMN (N156KME-GNA) for the Zephyrus G15; it’s well suited for gamers due to the high frequency and the relatively low response time (under 10 ms gray-to-gray).
316
cd/m²305
cd/m²308
cd/m²321
cd/m²327
cd/m²303
cd/m²311
cd/m²295
cd/m²292
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
CMN N156KME-GNA (CMN152A)
X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 327 cd/m² Average: 308.7 cd/m² Minimum: 15 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 89 %
Center on Battery: 327 cd/m²
Contrast: 991:1 (Black: 0.33 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 4.49 | 0.6-29.43 Ø5.7, calibrated: 2.27
ΔE Greyscale 4.2 | 0.64-98 Ø5.9
99% sRGB (Argyll 3D) 86% AdobeRGB 1998 (Argyll 3D)
Gamma: 2.173
CMN N156KME-GNA (CMN152A), IPS-Level, 2560×1440, 15.60MSI GS66 10SGS
AU Optronics B156HAN12.0, IPS, 1920×1080, 15.60Razer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
AU Optronics B156HAN12.0, IPS, 1920×1080, 15.60Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
AUO B156HAN12.0 (AUO7A8C), IPS, 1920×1080, 15.60Lenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
AUO048E, IPS, 1920×1080, 15.60 Response Time Grey 50% / Grey 80% *
8.8 (4.4, 4.4)
11.2 (6, 5.2)
-27%
6 (3, 3)
32%
14.4 (7.2, 7.2)
-64%
8 (4, 4)
9%
Response Time Black / White *
11.2 (6.8, 4.4)
10 (5.2, 4.8)
11%
9 (5, 4)
20%
10.4 (5.2, 5.2)
7%
8 (4, 4)
29%
PWM FrequencyBrightness middle
327
339.4
4%
347
6%
320
-2%
470
44%
Brightness
309
331
7%
328
6%
318
3%
468
51%
Brightness Distribution
89
92
3%
89
0%
88
-1%
85
-4%
Black Level *
0.33
0.24
27%
0.285
14%
0.24
27%
0.21
36%
Contrast
991
1414
43%
1218
23%
1333
35%
2238
126%
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 *
4.49
1.58
65%
2.35
48%
4.03
10%
3.28
27%
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 max. *
8.42
3.8
55%
4.15
51%
8.43
-0%
7.31
13%
Colorchecker DeltaE2000 calibrated *
2.27
1.47
35%
1.16
49%
0.98
57%
0.8
65%
Greyscale DeltaE2000 *
4.2
2.3
45%
3.04
28%
5.94
-41%
4.49
-7%
Gamma
2.173 101%
2.24 98%
2.35 94%
2.42 91%
2.4 92%
CCT
7014 93%
6952 93%
6658 98%
6751 96%
7438 87%
Color Space (Percent of AdobeRGB 1998)
86
64.8
-25%
65
-24%
66
-23%
65
-24%
Color Space (Percent of sRGB)
99
99.4
0%
99
0%
99
0%
99
0%
* … smaller is better
However, professional users who want to do photo or video editing, for example, and who rely on high color-space coverage should also be happy with the WQHD panel. According to our tests, the 15-inch display covers 99% of the sRGB space and 86% of the AdobeRGB space – a very good result. For comparison: The competition manages a maximum of 66% of AdobeRGB.
The color accuracy, which is decent out of the box, can be brought to a very good level via calibration (see Calman screenshots).
The rest of the panel’s values are less spectacular. With a brightness of just under 310 cd/m² and a contrast of around 1,000:1, the ROG Zephyrus G15 settles in the midfield. The same applies to the black level (0.33 cd/m²). The viewing angles are at the typical IPS level.
ℹ
Display response times show how fast the screen is able to change from one color to the next. Slow response times can lead to afterimages and can cause moving objects to appear blurry (ghosting). Gamers of fast-paced 3D titles should pay special attention to fast response times.
↔ Response Time Black to White11.2 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 6.8 ms rise
↘ 4.4 ms fallThe screen shows good response rates in our tests, but may be too slow for competitive gamers.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.8 (minimum) to 240 (maximum) ms. » 14 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (24.4 ms). ↔ Response Time 50% Grey to 80% Grey8.8 ms … rise ↗ and fall ↘ combined↗ 4.4 ms rise
↘ 4.4 ms fallThe screen shows fast response rates in our tests and should be suited for gaming.
In comparison, all tested devices range from 0.8 (minimum) to 636 (maximum) ms. » 8 % of all devices are better.
This means that the measured response time is better than the average of all tested devices (38.7 ms).
ℹ
To dim the screen, some notebooks will simply cycle the backlight on and off in rapid succession – a method called Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) . This cycling frequency should ideally be undetectable to the human eye. If said frequency is too low, users with sensitive eyes may experience strain or headaches or even notice the flickering altogether.
Screen flickering / PWM not detected
In comparison: 51 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 9711 (minimum: 5 – maximum: 142900) Hz was measured.
As usual, Asus puts its powerful Armoury Crate software on the system, which offers dozens of settings and tuning options. Our measurements were conducted using the “Performance” profile.
Despite its compact dimensions, the Zephyrus G15 is a true high-end laptop that should have enough power for all common application scenarios in the coming years.
With the Cezanne generation, AMD further increases the pressure on its main competitor Intel, which is increasingly falling behind in terms of technology.
The 7 nm Ryzen 9 5900HS in the G15 belongs to the upper class and can boast 8 cores (16 threads in parallel via SMT) and 16 MB of L3 cache. The base clock speed of 3.3 GHz is increased up to 4.6 GHz under load via Turbo. According to Cinebench R15, the 35-watt CPU reaches between 3.0 and 4.5 GHz in single-core scenarios, whereas the clock rate settles at around 4.0 GHz when all cores are loaded.
Compared to Intel’s Comet Lake chips, the R9 5900HS does very well. As you can see in the tables below, even the expensive Core i9-10980HK top model can’t keep up with the AMD CPU. Correspondingly, the choice of a Cezanne processor is spot on from a price-performance perspective.
Cinebench R15 CPU Multi 64Bit
2020 Points
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64Bit
142 fps
Cinebench R15 Ref. Match 64Bit
99.6 %
Cinebench R15 CPU Single 64Bit
211 Points
Help
System benchmarks also benefit from the fast CPU. With a PCMark 10 score of 6,896 points, the Zephyrus G15 is able to outperform the competition, which – at least on paper – lags between 5% and 26% behind. Subjectively speaking, all comparison devices offer a very high system speed.
GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, R9 5900HS, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N
6896 Points ∼100%
Lenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
6574 Points ∼95% -5%
MSI GS66 10SGS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
6154 Points ∼89% -11%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
5484 Points ∼80% -20%
Average of class Gaming
(2603 – 7511, n=326)
5375 Points ∼78% -22%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR
5093 Points ∼74% -26%
PCMark 10 Score6896 points
Help
Asus doesn’t mess up when it comes to latencies either. The LatencyMon tool shows that the 15-incher is fully suitable for practical use. Some rivals reveal weaknesses here.
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQ
6243.8 μs * ∼100% -1658%
Lenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK, 2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0)
1622.8 μs * ∼26% -357%
MSI GS66 10SGS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H, Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQ
1387.9 μs * ∼22% -291%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H, Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR
785 μs * ∼13% -121%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q
GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, R9 5900HS, SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013N
355.1 μs * ∼6%
* … smaller is better
Although the storage drive comes from the rather unknown brand SK Hynix, the 1 TB SSD can easily compete with the Samsung models from the competition. The PCIe 4 drive achieves a very high speed for both small and large files. A second M.2 slot is available for upgrades.
SK Hynix HFM001TD3JX013NMSI GS66 10SGS
Samsung SSD PM981 MZVLB512HAJQRazer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLRAcer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
Samsung SSD PM981a MZVLB512HBJQLenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
2x Samsung PM981a MZVLB1T0HBLR (RAID 0) Write 4K
156.4
132.5
-15%
135.7
-13%
131.7
-16%
110.42
-29%
Read 4K
66.69
45.03
-32%
46.98
-30%
47.34
-29%
55.12
-17%
Write Seq
2318
1987
-14%
2180
-6%
2884
24%
Read Seq
2151
1434
-33%
1949
-9%
2303
7%
Write 4K Q32T1
525
467.5
-11%
510.1
-3%
423.9
-19%
466.56
-11%
Read 4K Q32T1
452.1
536
19%
569.3
26%
487.7
8%
516.87
14%
Write Seq Q32T1
3055
2003
-34%
2984
-2%
2822
-8%
3423.6
12%
Read Seq Q32T1
3607
3306
-8%
3238
-10%
3478
-4%
3519.4
-2%
Score Total
5090
4588
-10%
4843
-5%
4677
-8%
4583
-10%
Score Write
2464
2029
-18%
2215
-10%
2367
-4%
1737
-30%
Score Read
1778
1662
-7%
1725
-3%
1529
-14%
1901
7%
Access Time Write *
0.029
0.1
-245%
0.038
-31%
0.038
-31%
0.037
-28%
Access Time Read *
0.064
0.059
8%
0.051
20%
0.065
-2%
0.051
20%
4K-64 Write
2177.16
1721.47
-21%
1886.93
-13%
2007.16
-8%
1378.48
-37%
4K-64 Read
1429.48
1502.66
5%
1484.47
4%
1205.16
-16%
1549.29
8%
4K Write
126.8
117.25
-8%
95.45
-25%
98.89
-22%
102
-20%
4K Read
53.56
50.96
-5%
45.48
-15%
47.55
-11%
43.01
-20%
Seq Write
1600.23
1901.41
19%
2322.09
45%
2612.8
63%
2561
60%
Seq Read
2949.59
1086.4
-63%
1949.74
-34%
2766.61
-6%
3088
5%
* … smaller is better
CDM 5/6 Read Seq Q32T1:
3607 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write Seq Q32T1:
3055 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K Q32T1:
452.1 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K Q32T1:
525 MB/s
CDM 5 Read Seq:
2151 MB/s
CDM 5 Write Seq:
2318 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Read 4K:
66.69 MB/s
CDM 5/6 Write 4K:
156.4 MB/s
: Ø3592 (3397.72-3606.39)
In order not to overtax the cooling system of the slim 15-inch case, Asus uses the weakest version of the RTX 3080 laptop GPU that has an 80-watt TDP (100 watts including Dynamic Boost).
3DMark Cloud Gate Standard Score
42022 points3DMark Fire Strike Score
20784 points3DMark Time Spy Score
9391 points
Help
The low TDP has a correspondingly negative impact on performance. Despite the large number of shaders, which is far from the desktop counterpart’s level (6,144 vs. 8,704), the RTX 3080 laptop version can hardly distinguish itself from devices based on the RTX 2080 (Super) Max-Q in the 3D benchmarks. As a result, buyers shouldn’t expect a big performance leap.
8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM is also a bit meager in 2021 considering the video memory requirements of many modern games. A minimum of 10 GB would have been appropriate here (at least the 3080 laptop version is also available as a 16 GB model).
We tested how the GPU behaves over a prolonged period of time with the RPG heavyweight The Witcher 3 for about 60 minutes (Full HD/Ultra). On average, the RTX 3080 laptop GPU ran at 1,260 MHz (base clock speed of 780 MHz) and did not suffer from any performance drops
As long as you limit yourself to the native resolution, the Zephyrus G15 delivers very good performance in games. 2560×1440 pixels and maximum details is even possible in demanding titles, although it’s not always enough to exceed 60 FPS (see comparison table).
GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, R9 5900HS
62.2 (7.22min, 44P0.1, 51.4P1 – 208max) fps ∼100%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H
58.2 (47min) fps ∼94% -6%
Average of class Gaming
(9.3 – 89.2, n=76)
46.3 fps ∼74% -26%
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q
GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, R9 5900HS
90.2 fps ∼100%
Lenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i9-10980HK
88.8 (73min, 83P1 – 93max) fps ∼98% -2%
Razer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10875H
87.7 fps ∼97% -3%
Acer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H
83.4 (67min) fps ∼92% -8%
MSI GS66 10SGS
GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, i7-10750H
74.3 fps ∼82% -18%
Average of class Gaming
(12.6 – 115, n=434)
54.8 fps ∼61% -39%
Although the Zephyrus G15 can get very loud in 3D mode with a maximum of 49 to 51 dB, noise development is roughly on par with the competition, which also screams for a headset when gaming. The situation is much quieter in idle mode. On the one hand, the fans sometimes turn off completely (silent operation), and on the other hand, the base noise level is quite decent considering it’s only 27 dB.
dB(A)
0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2038.142.342.437.241.92536.438.437.337.535.43144.945.646.644.248.64031.832.631.629.232.25041.840.635.635.538.46329.83231.426.4298026.425.819.517.229.410029.123.919.117.924.61252829.120.418.529.616027.530.824.925.330.420031.429.726.824.82925033.630.324.921.833.831537.22520.91834.640034.321.819.315.435.750035.122.417.915.736.963037.120.714.112.138.180038.219.712.111.340.1100037.417.811.511.439.7125039.618.811.21141.6160038.416.411.311.340.1200038.814.811.811.341.1250038.614.311.811.640.6315036.813.912.212.239.540003413.412.512.336.6500031.113.312.812.533.2630029.813.112.812.732.7800024.713.513.112.728.61000019.613.813.212.621.31250017.612.812.912.317.21600017.612.312.211.713.7SPL48.530.426.425.450.5N6.31.40.80.77.2median 34median 17.8median 12.9median 12.5median 34.6Delta5.15.23.835.1hearing rangehide median Fan NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q
Noise Level
Idle
26 / 27 / 31 dB(A)
Load
49 / 51 dB(A)
30 dB
silent
40 dB(A)
audible
50 dB(A)
loud
min: , med: , max: Earthworks M23R, Arta (15 cm distance) environment noise: 25 dB(A)
Heat development is a bit worse on the Zephyrus G15 than on its (technically outdated) opponents. In thiss way, we were able to obtain up to 51 °C (~124 °F) on the top and up to 56 °C (~133 °F) on the bottom of the chassis in the stress test with the FurMark and Prime95 tools. The case reaches about 30 °C (~86 °F) in idle usage. Furthermore, the components don’t get excessively hot under load. While the GPU reaches just over 70 °C (~158 °F) in 3D applications, the CPU heats up to slightly over 80 °C (~176 °F).
49 °C
120 F51 °C
124 F49 °C
120 F 45 °C
113 F47 °C
117 F43 °C
109 F 36 °C
97 F39 °C
102 F36 °C
97 F
Maximum: 51 °C = 124 F
Average: 43.9 °C = 111 F
55 °C
131 F56 °C
133 F55 °C
131 F50 °C
122 F52 °C
126 F48 °C
118 F40 °C
104 F46 °C
115 F39 °C
102 F
Maximum: 56 °C = 133 F
Average: 49 °C = 120 F
Power Supply (max.) 44 °C = 111 F | Room Temperature 20 °C = 68 F | Fluke t3000FC (calibrated), Voltcraft IR-900
(-) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 43.9 °C / 111 F, compared to the average of 33.4 °C / 92 F for the devices in the class Gaming.
(-) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 51 °C / 124 F, compared to the average of 39.8 °C / 104 F, ranging from 21.6 to 68.8 °C for the class Gaming.
(-) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 56 °C / 133 F, compared to the average of 42.7 °C / 109 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.2 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 33.4 °C / 92 F.
(±) Playing The Witcher 3, the average temperature for the upper side is 37.8 °C / 100 F, compared to the device average of 33.4 °C / 92 F.
(±) The palmrests and touchpad can get very hot to the touch with a maximum of 39 °C / 102.2 F.
(-) The average temperature of the palmrest area of similar devices was 28.8 °C / 83.8 F (-10.2 °C / -18.4 F).
A big surprise awaits when it comes to the sound system. In contrast to most laptops, which are especially weak in terms of bass, the Zephyrus G15 offers a very balanced and powerful sound – by laptop standards – that outshines the competition. No wonder, since Asus has installed a total of 6 speakers.
dB(A)
0102030405060708090Deep BassMiddle BassHigh BassLower RangeMidsHigher MidsLower HighsMid HighsUpper HighsSuper Highs2037.247.72537.544.23144.252.74029.234.25035.537.36326.4378017.243.510017.952.912518.55816025.358.820024.859.425021.863.23151863.440015.463.850015.767.563012.168.380011.368.2100011.46912501168160011.367.8200011.369.4250011.667.7315012.263.8400012.362.8500012.559.6630012.756.9800012.760.51000012.656.41250012.352.71600011.751.1SPL25.478.1N0.743.6median 12.5median 63.2Delta35.535.335.132.931.831.83236.535.132.428.93328.936.328.848.32761.52752.924.860.92462.822.763.32269.521.267.82174.82075.919.472.718.97117.770.117.86917.671.817.668.117.671.417.673.717.670.417.571.617.671.617.669.617.459.717.583.630.662.51.5median 69.6median 17.84.62.4hearing rangehide median Pink NoiseAsus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503QApple MacBook 12 (Early 2016) 1.1 GHz
Frequency diagram (checkboxes can be checked and unchecked to compare devices)
(±) | speaker loudness is average but good (78 dB)
Bass 100 – 315 Hz
(+) | good bass – only 4% away from median
(+) | bass is linear (6.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 – 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids – only 4.6% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (2.1% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 – 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs – only 3.5% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (5.7% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 – 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (9.2% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 3% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 96% worse
» The best had a delta of 6%, average was 17%, worst was 37%
Compared to all devices tested
» 2% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 21%, worst was 65%
(+) | speakers can play relatively loud (83.6 dB)
Bass 100 – 315 Hz
(±) | reduced bass – on average 11.3% lower than median
(±) | linearity of bass is average (14.2% delta to prev. frequency)
Mids 400 – 2000 Hz
(+) | balanced mids – only 2.4% away from median
(+) | mids are linear (5.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Highs 2 – 16 kHz
(+) | balanced highs – only 2% away from median
(+) | highs are linear (4.5% delta to prev. frequency)
Overall 100 – 16.000 Hz
(+) | overall sound is linear (9.3% difference to median)
Compared to same class
» 2% of all tested devices in this class were better, 1% similar, 97% worse
» The best had a delta of 7%, average was 19%, worst was 50%
Compared to all devices tested
» 2% of all tested devices were better, 0% similar, 98% worse
» The best had a delta of 3%, average was 21%, worst was 65%
The built-in graphics switching solution (Nvidia Optimus) leads to moderate energy consumption in idle usage. 10 to 17 watts could also come from a much weaker multimedia laptop. Under load, our measuring device displayed between 108 and 182 watts, which is also acceptable in view of the performance offered – especially when you consider the competition.
Asus impressively proves that gaming laptops with long battery life are no longer wishful thinking. A maximum of 12 hours of idle usage at minimum brightness is just as remarkable as a good 9.5 hours of Internet surfing over WLAN (brightness reduced to 150 cd/m²). With these rates, the Zephyrus G15 sprints past all its rivals. However, 3D performance also drops massively without a power adapter as our test with The Witcher 3 showed (over 90% less FPS).
Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)12h 08min
NBC WiFi Websurfing Battery Test 1.39h 24min
Load (maximum brightness)1h 30min
R9 5900HS, GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU, 90 WhMSI GS66 10SGS
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 99.99 WhRazer Blade 15 RTX 2080 Super Max-Q
i7-10875H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 80 WhAcer Predator Triton 500 PT515-52-70N3
i7-10750H, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 84 WhLenovo Legion 7 15IMH05-81YT001VGE
i9-10980HK, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q, 80 WhReader / Idle
728
614
-16%
522
-28%
495
-32%
WiFi v1.3
564
413
-27%
366
-35%
378
-33%
204
-64%
Load
90
94
4%
113
26%
78
-13%
85
-6%
H.264
437
92
+ lightweight and compact case
+ colorful WQHD panel
+ long battery life
+ sleek design
+ good sound
– insufficient or wrong information on the manufacturer’s homepage (TGP missing, GPU designation)
– RAM partly soldered
– suboptimal keyboard layout
– quite loud in 3D mode
– no webcam
As long as you’re aware of the fact that the GeForce RTX 3080 laptop version can only unfold its potential to a limited extent due to Asus’s low TDP setting and that it can be slower than a fast RTX 3070 laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q cuts a fine figure.
One of the biggest highlights turns out to be the WQHD panel, since it attracts customers with 165 Hz, relatively fast response times, FreeSync, and good color-space coverage.
Other selling points are the surprisingly rich sound, the long battery life, and the sleek design. In terms of looks, the white edition stands out nicely from the competition.
We didn’t like the noise level in 3D mode and the keyboard layout as much. The fact that Asus omits a webcam and solders part of the RAM is also annoying.
You will soon be able to purchase our test configuration directly from the manufacturer at a price of $2,499.99. You will also be able to find an RTX 3070 version with 16 GB of RAM in the Eclipse Gray color variant on BestBuy for $1,799.99.
Asus ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q – 01/31/2021 v7
Florian Glaser
Connectivity
55 / 80 → 69%
Application Performance
95%
Gaming – Weighted Average
Florian Glaser, 2021-02- 2 (Update: 2021-02- 3)
