ASUS unveils its 2026 ROG gaming lineup, featuring radical dual-screen designs, cutting-edge processors, and significant price hikes driven by global component shortages.
ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) has officially announced its 2026 gaming laptop lineup, introducing a redesigned Zephyrus Duo, refreshed Zephyrus G14 and G16 models, and updates to the ROG Strix Scar 18 and Strix G16/G18 series.
The new devices feature Intel Panther Lake and Arrow Lake processors, AMD Ryzen options, and Nvidia RTX 50-series GPUs. Pricing varies by market, with multiple sources reporting increases attributed to global component shortages.
New Product Announcements
ROG Zephyrus Duo
The Zephyrus Duo is a new gaming-focused variant derived from ASUS' Zenbook Duo series. It features two 16-inch 3K OLED displays, each with a 120Hz refresh rate and 0.2ms response time. The main and secondary displays are edge-to-edge.
The magnetic detachable keyboard, measuring 5mm thick, automatically recharges via pogo pins when reattached. A built-in kickstand supports various usage modes, including clamshell, detached keyboard, tent, flat, and side-by-side dual-screen positions.
The device measures 19.6mm (0.77 inches) thick. Weight has been reported differently by sources: one source states 6.2 pounds, another states 6.28 pounds (2.85kg). The laptop includes a six-speaker audio setup. Ports include two Thunderbolt 4, two USB 3.2 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, a 3.5mm combo audio jack, and a full-size SD card reader. Connectivity supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.0. The device does not include Thunderbolt 5 or a dedicated Ethernet jack.
Hardware Configurations:
- Flagship configuration: Intel Ultra 9 Processor 386H, Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090, 64GB LPDDR5X RAM, 2TB SSD
- Second configuration: RTX 5070 Ti, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Pricing and Availability (Australian market):
- RTX 5070 Ti model: $8,999, scheduled for June release
- RTX 5090 model: $12,999, scheduled for May release
- Pricing for other markets has not been finalized.
ROG Zephyrus G14
The 2026 Zephyrus G14 features a 14-inch 3K display with 120Hz refresh rate. It includes a 35-segment LED slash lighting system on the lid that displays battery level. The model now includes a full-size SD card slot. It will be offered with both Intel and AMD processor options.
Pricing (Australian market):
- Configurations range from $4,999 to $7,399
Pricing (UK market, VAT included):
- Entry-level model (GU405AP-SY004W) with RTX 5070 and Core Ultra 9 386H: £2,899
ROG Zephyrus G16
The 2026 Zephyrus G16 features a 16-inch 2.5K display with 240Hz refresh rate. Design modifications include the LED slash lighting system, easier-opening hinges, factory-calibrated HDR-compatible OLED displays capable of 1,000 nits brightness, and a redesigned bottom panel for improved cooling.
Pricing (Australian market):
- Base configuration with RTX 5070: $6,499
- Top configuration with Intel Ultra 9 386H, RTX 5090, 2TB SSD: $9,999
Pricing (UK market, VAT included):
- Base model (GU606AP-TB003W) with RTX 5070 and Core Ultra 9 386H: £3,199
- Flagship model (GU606AX-TB002W) with RTX 5090 and 64GB memory: £4,899.99
ROG Strix Scar 18 (G835)
The 2026 ROG Strix Scar 18 features an 18-inch 4K Mini LED display with 240Hz refresh rate, 1,600 nits peak brightness (3% APL in HDR), and ROG Nebula ELMB technology. Combined CPU and GPU power draw reaches up to 320W, supported by an 18% higher wattage power adapter.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus (up to 200W power draw)
- Graphics: Options include GeForce RTX 5080 (175W) and RTX 5090 (175W)
- Memory and storage: Up to 64GB LPDDR5X RAM, 2TB SSD
Pricing:
- US: RTX 5080 variant with 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD at $4,299
- UK: RTX 5080 variant at £4,199; RTX 5090 variant with 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD at £5,299. UK orders include a free copy of Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight.
- Eurozone: RTX 5080 variant at €4,499
ROG Strix G16 and G18
Updated models feature up to Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 laptop GPU. They ship with 380W power adapters (100W increase over previous models).
Specifications:
- Memory: Up to 64GB DDR5-6400 across two SO-DIMM slots
- Storage: Up to 2TB PCIe 4.0
- Battery: 90Wh
- Ports: Dual Thunderbolt 5, Wi-Fi 7, 2.5 Gigabit LAN
- Tool-free access for internal components
- Full-surround RGB light bars
Display:
- ROG Strix G18: Mini LED display with over 2,000 local dimming zones, 240Hz refresh rate
- ROG Strix G16: 2.5K IPS panel with 300Hz refresh rate
Physical Dimensions:
- ROG Strix G16: 354 x 264 x 226~304 mm, 2.7 kg
- ROG Strix G18: 399 x 294 x 231~320 mm, 3.5 kg
Colors: Eclipse Grey and Volt Green finishes
Pricing: Not yet announced
ASUS TUF A14
The TUF A14 features a 14-inch 2.5K display with 165Hz refresh rate. It is described as meeting military-grade durability standards.
Pricing (Australian market):
- Base model with AMD Ryzen 7 260 and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060: $3,199
- Two additional configurations at $3,499 with different processor options
Pricing Trends and Market Factors
Multiple sources report price increases across the 2026 lineup compared to previous-generation models.
In the UK market, the base Zephyrus G16 with RTX 5070 is priced 30% higher than the previous year's base model with RTX 5060, and 60% higher than current retail prices of older models. The flagship Zephyrus G16 with RTX 5090 is 25% higher than last year's flagship model.
Sources attribute these price adjustments to an ongoing global DRAM shortage affecting GPU and RAM components, with demand from AI data centers cited as a contributing factor. Panther Lake production is reported to be in its initial ramp-up phase. As an example, one source reported that a desktop RTX 5090 GPU's price increased from approximately $4,000 at launch to nearly $6,000.
Availability
Pre-orders are open for select models in certain markets. Launch is scheduled for next month, with some configurations available at a later date. ASUS ROG is celebrating its 20th anniversary coinciding with the 2026 product lineup announcement.
Related Announcement: ASUS Zenbook Duo (Second Generation)
Separately, ASUS introduced the second-generation Zenbook Duo at CES 2026. This model features the Ceraluminum finish, an improved magnetic latch system for the detachable keyboard, and a "hideaway" hinge reducing the gap between its two 3K 144Hz Lumina Pro OLED displays to 8.28mm (70% reduction). It includes a 99Whr battery (up from 75Whr) with a five percent smaller footprint. Weight is 3.6 pounds, thickness ranges from 0.77 to 0.9 inches.
Specifications:
- Processor: Intel Core Ultra 7 355 or Ultra 9 386H
- Memory and storage: Up to 32GB RAM, 2TB storage
- TDP: 45 watts
- Ports: Wi-Fi 7, two USB-C Thunderbolt 4, one USB-A 3.2 Gen 2, full-size HDMI 2.1
- Stylus support: ASUS Pen 3.0
Pricing and release date: Not yet announced.