AnalysisAI original

INSANE Display, Mid Laptop - ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2026) Review

Hardware Canucks · 2026-09-13 · 20 min

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beLF8DkuyPQ
#ASUS#Counter-Strike 2#desktop replacement#ELMB#Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus#Mini LED#NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090#ROG Strix SCAR 18#single-channel memory
Share:

Video summary

ROG Strix SCAR 18 pairs a brilliant 4K 240Hz Mini LED display with RTX 5090 power, but costs $5,300 and ships with one RAM stick.

ASUS’s 2026 ROG Strix SCAR 18 raises the RTX 5090 model’s price from $4,500 to $5,300, adding an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and a 4K 240Hz Mini LED screen with ELMB motion-blur reduction. ELMB makes fast movement noticeably clearer in games such as Dota 2, though it can cause PWM flicker; the reviewer also encountered display glitches. The new CPU brings modest gains in many tests, while gaming improvements are generally small. A major out-of-box drawback is the single 32GB memory module: replacing it with two 16GB sticks improved several benchmarks, including a 5% Cinebench 2024 gain and faster Premiere Pro renders. At over eight pounds, the SCAR is a desktop replacement, with strong cooling and easy tool-less upgrades, but its keyboard, trackpad, webcam, speakers, and hinge disappoint. Battery life reaches over eight hours of browsing, but just over an hour of gaming. The display is the standout; otherwise, the costly upgrade is a mixed bag.

Chapters

  1. 0:00The New* SCAR 18: $5,300 RTX 5090 model adds a 190W Ultra 9 290HX Plus and 4K 240Hz display
  2. 1:27ELMB, display bugs, and 8-pound bulk define the SCAR 18
  3. 5:19Real World Benchmarks: 290HX Plus lifts CPU scores, while RTX 5090 results stay flat
  4. 8:00The Single DIMM Problem: one 32GB stick limits performance, while two 16GB modules improve results
  5. 9:42Gaming Results and Cooling: up to 18% faster in Counter-Strike 2, with a thicker vapor chamber
  6. 11:26Sponsor Spot
  7. 12:13Build Quality, Ports, Keyboard, and Trackpad: solid connectivity but awkward controls
  8. 15:03How Do You Mess This Up?: weak RGB, webcam, and speakers contrast with tool-less upgrades
  9. 18:25Final Thoughts: ELMB display stands out, but the SCAR 18 needs refinement elsewhere

What the full analysis includes

8 chapters · 27 key points · 8 section summaries · mind map

Preview of the first chapter · The New* SCAR 18: $5,300 RTX 5090 model adds a 190W Ultra 9 290HX Plus and 4K 240Hz display

  • •The RTX 5090 model rose from $4,500 to $5,3000:21
  • •The 2026 model uses Intel’s Ultra 9 290HX Plus0:46
  • •Its first 4K 240Hz ROG Nebula HDR mini LED panel is the key upgrade1:13

The remaining 24 key points, section summaries and mind map are in the full analysis. Analyze this video to see everything →

This is a Tier 1 public summary

Whether the chapter key points, section summaries and mind map are public is up to the person who shared it. Want the full analysis?Submit one yourself.

More from this channel

Related analyses