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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallThe 2026 ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835 is a formidable 18-inch gaming laptop, led by a new 4K 240Hz mini-LED display and top-end configurations with Intel’s Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU. But “holds onto its crown” needs qualification: in GamesRadar+’s comparison, the SCAR won more test runs than the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W, while MSI led in several demanding results. It is a strong contender, not a proven winner in every game or workload.
What is new in the 2026 SCAR 18?
ASUS identifies the 2026 model family as the ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835. The headline change is an 18-inch 3840 × 2400 mini-LED panel, paired in the highest-end configurations with refreshed processor and graphics options. ASUS also specifies up to 320W sustained maximum total system power and up to 175W GPU TGP for the top-end system. These are maximum specifications, not guarantees for every regional configuration. ASUS’s product page and its US availability announcement provide configuration details; ASUS announced US availability through ASUS and partner retailers on June 24, 2026.
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What makes the display customizable—and does it really run at 240Hz?
ASUS lists the panel as 18-inch WQUXGA (3840 × 2400), 16:10, with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. The 240Hz maximum has an important setting requirement: ASUS says the display defaults to 120Hz in Standard, Eco, and Optimized GPU modes, and 240Hz is enabled in Armoury Crate’s Ultimate GPU mode. So the panel is specified for 240Hz, but you should not assume that is the active refresh rate in every operating mode. ASUS’s specification page describes the modes.
In its May 15, 2026 announcement, ASUS called it “the world’s first 18-inch 4K 240Hz mini-LED laptop panel with ROG Nebula ELMB.” That is ASUS’s launch claim, rather than an independently verified industry-wide survey. ASUS also advertises more than 2,000 local dimming zones and up to 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness. Treat those figures as manufacturer specifications, not measurements from GamesRadar+’s review. ASUS ROG’s announcement gives the display claims.
#1 Best Overall
- BEST-IN-CLASS PERFORMANCE – Achieve unrivaled performance with Windows 11 Pro an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti Laptop GPU.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask seamlessly with 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory and store all your game library on 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD, with raw throughput up to 7,000MB/s.
- TOP-TIER ROG NEBULA HDR DISPLAY – Experience breathtaking visuals for gaming, creating, and entertainment, with Mini LED technology, 2,000+ dimming zones, dual ACR layers, a 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color for vibrant, lifelike imagery.
- STATE-OF-THE-ART ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – ROG’s advanced thermals keep your system cool, quiet and comfortable. State of the art cooling equals best in class performance. Featuring an end-to-end vapor chamber, tri-fan technology and Conductonaut extreme liquid metal applied to the chipset delivers fast gameplay.
- SHOW OFF YOUR STYLE – Express yourself with the customizable AniMe Vision, showcasing text, animations, or your own creations on the lid of your laptop. The full-surround RGB light bar creates a striking 360° glow, while Stealth Mode turns off all lighting for a sleek, professional look around the base.
Is 4K worth it on an 18-inch gaming laptop?
The high resolution can make sense if you value fine detail, a large workspace, and the panel’s color and HDR capabilities. It also asks more of the GPU than 2560 × 1600, especially in demanding games. The review’s results varied by resolution, so there is no basis here for saying every game will both look best and run fastest at native 4K. Choosing a lower in-game resolution may be a practical option when frame rate matters more than native-resolution rendering.
A reader has also asked whether a 2025 panel can be installed in the 2026 chassis. The available information does not establish that the panels are interchangeable; do not assume an upgrade is compatible based on a similar screen size or product name.
Rank #2
- BEST-IN-CLASS PERFORMANCE – Achieve unrivaled performance with Windows 11 Pro an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU at 175W TGP.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask seamlessly with 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory and store all your game library on 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD, with raw throughput up to 7,000MB/s.
- TOP-TIER ROG NEBULA HDR DISPLAY – Experience breathtaking visuals for gaming, creating, and entertainment, with Mini LED technology, 2,000+ dimming zones, dual ACR layers, a 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color for vibrant, lifelike imagery.
- STATE-OF-THE-ART ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – ROG’s advanced thermals keep your system cool, quiet and comfortable. State of the art cooling equals best in class performance. Featuring an end-to-end vapor chamber, tri-fan technology and Conductonaut extreme liquid metal applied to the chipset delivers fast gameplay.
- SHOW OFF YOUR STYLE – Express yourself with the customizable AniMe Vision, showcasing text, animations, or your own creations on the lid of your laptop. The full-surround RGB light bar creates a striking 360° glow, while Stealth Mode turns off all lighting for a sleek, professional look around the base.
How does the SCAR 18 perform against the MSI Raider A18?
GamesRadar+ compared the SCAR with the MSI Raider A18 HX A9W across a defined set of tests. The SCAR won seven test runs and lost six. MSI led in two 4K benchmarks and 3DMark Steel Nomad, while the SCAR showed a substantial improvement over the previous release and sat around the middle of GamesRadar+’s 18-inch group in one synthetic comparison. These results support calling the SCAR highly competitive, not categorically faster than its rivals. GamesRadar+’s September 30, 2026 review describes the comparison.
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GamesRadar+ tested in Turbo mode, averaged repeated runs, and ran at 1080p, 1600p, and 2400p. Performance can shift with the specific laptop configuration, power profile, resolution, game, and test method. In its account, MSI was stronger in some high-load results, while the Razer Blade 18 was more portable. The comparison is therefore most useful as a guide to trade-offs, not a universal ranking:
Rank #3
- BEST-IN-CLASS PERFORMANCE – Achieve unrivaled performance with Windows 11 Pro an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask seamlessly with 32GB of DDR5-5600MHz memory and store all your game library on 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD, with raw throughput up to 7,000MB/s.
- TOP-TIER ROG NEBULA HDR DISPLAY – Experience breathtaking visuals for gaming, creating, and entertainment, with Mini LED technology, 2,000+ dimming zones, dual ACR layers, a 240Hz refresh rate, and 100% DCI-P3 color for vibrant, lifelike imagery.
- STATE-OF-THE-ART ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING – ROG’s advanced thermals keep your system cool, quiet and comfortable. State of the art cooling equals best in class performance. Featuring an end-to-end vapor chamber, tri-fan technology and Conductonaut extreme liquid metal applied to the chipset delivers fast gameplay.
- SHOW OFF YOUR STYLE – Express yourself with the customizable AniMe Vision, showcasing text, animations, or your own creations on the lid of your laptop. The full-surround RGB light bar creates a striking 360° glow, while Stealth Mode turns off all lighting for a sleek, professional look around the base.
| Comparison point | ROG Strix SCAR 18 (2026) | MSI Raider A18 HX A9W | Razer Blade 18 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tested performance | Won 7 of 13 GamesRadar+ test runs; Turbo mode, repeated runs at 1080p, 1600p, and 2400p. | Won 6 of those runs; led two 4K benchmarks and 3DMark Steel Nomad. | Not stated in the cited comparison. |
| Screen | ASUS specifies an 18-inch 3840 × 2400 mini-LED panel up to 240Hz; 240Hz requires Ultimate GPU mode. | Not stated in the cited comparison. | Not stated in the cited comparison. |
| Portability | Large 18-inch chassis; review notes keyboard-deck flex. | Not stated in the cited comparison. | GamesRadar+ describes it as more portable. |
| Price context | GamesRadar+ discussed its tested high-end machine at around $5,000 at review time; this is not a current quote. | Not stated in the cited comparison. | Not stated in the cited comparison. |
What are the main trade-offs?
The 18-inch format brings a large display, but it is not a natural choice if portability is the priority. GamesRadar+ also reported keyboard-deck flex and noted the tested high-end configuration’s premium cost. Its review-time figure of around $5,000 is context for that particular machine, not a current price or a price for every G835 configuration. The review praised the display and performance, while its results show why a “crown” depends on workload rather than a single headline specification.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Which 2026 configuration should you verify?
G835 configurations vary by market, so confirm the exact processor, GPU, memory, storage, and display before buying. ASUS’s top-end figures—Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus, GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, 320W sustained maximum total system power, and up to 175W GPU TGP—describe ceilings or options, not every SCAR 18 sold. ASUS’s US announcement states the availability date and top-end claims.
Rank #4
- BEST-IN-CLASS PERFORMANCE – Achieve unrivaled performance with Windows 11 Home an Intel Core Ultra 9 Processor 290HX Plus, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU.
- HIGH-PERFORMANCE MEMORY AND STORAGE – Multitask seamlessly with 32GB of DDR5-6400MHz memory and store all your game library on 1TB of PCIe Gen 4 SSD.
- TOP-TIER ROG NEBULA HDR DISPLAY – See every frame on the world's first 4K 240Hz Mini LED laptop panel. Motion stays 16x sharper during fast-paced gameplay through Extreme Low Motion Blur (ELMB), colors remain vivid even in bright rooms, and 2,000+ dimming zones deliver true color and deep, cinematic blacks.
- ROG INTELLIGENT COOLING ENGINEERED FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE – ROG's advanced thermals keep your system cool, quiet, and comfortable. Featuring a 20% larger end-to-end vapor chamber, Tri-Fan Technology with 91% more airflow than the previous gen, and Conductonaut Extreme liquid metal on both CPU and GPU for sustained peak performance.
- UPGRADE WITH TOOL-FREE ACCESS – No screwdriver needed. Customize your RAM, SSD, and fans instantly with a tool-less latch design.
One July 20, 2026 TechRadar review page lists a 2560 × 1600 display and Core Ultra 9 275HX, which conflicts with ASUS’s 2026 specifications. The discrepancy’s cause is not established, so rely on the exact SKU listing and official configuration information rather than treating that page as definitive for the whole 2026 family. TechRadar’s review page is the conflicting listing.
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