The BEST 15” Gaming Laptop? Asus Strix GL502VS Review
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Description
For gaming and productivity how good is the Asus Strix GL502VS? Freshbooks sponsor link: For your unrestricted 30 days free trial, go to freshbooks.com and enter in “Linus Tech Tips” in the how you heard about us section. Cooler Master sponsor link:
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The Asus Strix GL502VS is presented as a gaming laptop that bucks the ultra-thin trend by embracing a sturdier, more traditional chassis. The host emphasizes that it isn’t the lightest or most premium-feeling machine, and there is a conscious nod to its RGB-free, straightforward aesthetic. Despite that, the review highlights strong points such as a robust GTX 1070 GPU paired with a quad-core i7 CPU, and a fast NVMe boot drive, which collectively deliver excellent gaming performance at 1080p with high to very high details. Thermal behavior is addressed early on: initial out-of-the-box temps were poor in the test unit, but reseating the cooler resolved those issues, and under realistic gaming loads the system maintains solid performance with only minor throttling under synthetic stress tests. The display and keyboard receive particular praise for contributing to an overall productive and enjoyable experience, with the IPS panel delivering bright visuals and the keyboard offering long key travel and tactile feedback. The review balances these positives against some compromises, such as a modest build feel relative to premium competitors and a trackpad that could be improved, but ultimately concludes that the GL502VS offers exceptional value for its price, delivering strong gaming and productive capabilities in a portable 15-inch form factor. The verdict is affirmative: it is recommended for gamers who want strong performance without paying a premium, and for users who also value a good all-around typing and viewing experience in one machine.
Topics · hardware · computers · gaming · laptops · performance · display · peripherals
Questions answered
- What is the Asus Strix GL502VS best at according to the review?
- The review identifies strong gaming performance with a GTX 1070 GPU and a fast NVMe boot drive, along with a bright IPS display and a comfortable keyboard, making it a solid choice for gaming and productive use at a good price.
- What are the main drawbacks mentioned?
- The main drawbacks noted are an out-of-the-box thermal issue on the tested unit that was fixed by reseating the cooler, a trackpad that is usable but not outstanding, and a build feel that is not as premium as some rivals.