ASUS ROG Strix Scar II w/ ROG Delta Hands-on, First Impressions

Written by Zen EstacioPublished • June 5, 2018

ASUS ROG just launched a number of devices and products today, among them is the next generation ROG Strix Scar II gaming laptop and a new gaming headset dubbed the ROG Delta.

First, let’s check out the Scar II. The design wasn’t changed at all compared to the previous generation Scar, we still have a black and grey color scheme with a dual-tone brushed finish. It’s certainly a discreet design with no over the top gaming details, except for that ROG logo, that now has RGB lighting.

What’s impressive now is the display, ASUS was able to reduce the top and side bezels to a great degree allowing for a much bigger screen to body ratio, and a sexier look. That’s not all though, the refresh rate was also bumped to 144hz from an already good 120hz and response time was reduced to 3ms from 5ms.

Of course, even with those impressive features, it won’t be any good if the display itself is sub-par. Thankfully, ASUS provided the Scar II with a Full HD panel that has 100% sRGB color gamut. While not IPS, it still a high-quality TN display with almost IPS level colors and viewing angles. Of course, it won’t be as impressive as an IPS panel when it comes to color reproduction and viewing angles, but nothing beats TN in providing high refresh rates and low response times. Overall, the Scar II received a much-welcomed display upgrade.

ASUS still wants the Scar II to maintain its identity as a laptop for FPS gamers as such they highlighted the keyboard’s WASD keys, which are the movement keys for most, if not all, shooter games. Apart from that, we get a travel distance of 1.8mm, which is just about right for fast-paced gaming. Not to mention, four isolated hotkeys that are fairly easy to reach yet carefully spaced. All in all, you’ll be getting a good looking Aura Sync keyboard, with N-key rollover and 4 different lighting zones.

The trackpad remains the same, it has a smooth finish and two large buttons for the left and right click.

Under the hood of the Scar II is Intel’s 8^th generation Core i7-8750H six-core CPU paired with Nvidia’s GeForce GTX 1070. ASUS did not cut any corners in performance as this combo will surely provide players with enough power to surpass 60fps in high to ultra-high in all but the most demanding of games. Pair those with a base RAM of 16GB and you’ll be set for years to come.

If you’re worried about thermals, then don’t fret. ASUS was smart enough to take into account the fury that comes with a six-core CPU and the beast known as the 1070. To keep this machine cool enough under pressure, the brand created a triple-fan thermal solution with just the right amount of heat pipes. You’re also given a fan boost feature just in case you need that little extra cooling. Of course, with that intense spinning comes loud noise, so be prepared to hear a mini airplane.

We get an abundant amount of connections including a USB 3.1 Type-C port, though sadly it’s not Thunderbolt 3 supported, and four USB 3.1 Type-A ports. We’re also given a mini display port and an HDMI 2.0 port for those external monitor and TV connections. It’s kind of a bummer though, that we don’t get Thunderbolt support especially for the asking price of the notebook.

Overall, the Scar II is shaping up to be quite a successor to an already impressive laptop. It has an upgraded display, a strong set of internals, and a design that’s discreet and elegant. If only it had Thunderbolt 3 support then it would’ve been a recommended buy.

Now for the ROG Delta, the brand’s newest RGB Quad-DAC gaming headset. The headset has a different feel and design from what we’ve seen with the Cerberus and Strix, it’s a little more discreet and stylish. The ear cups are oddly shaped, instead of the traditional circular design we get a pair of D-shaped cups. It will feel a little weird at first but ASUS is promising better comfort and lesser ear fatigue. So far, we haven’t had the chance to test since it’ll require prolonged use. Either way, it’s something you’re going to take time adjusting to.

The headset is equipped with a USB Type-C connector but comes with an included Type-C to USB 2.0 converter, in case you’ve not yet transitioned to a full USB Type-C setup. It’s powered by four ESS 9218 DACs and ASUS’ Essence drivers.