Asus ROG Strix Scar 18: 2026 Gaming Laptop Preview and Features

Key Takeaways

1. The new ROG Strix Scar 18 is set to release in Q2 2026, following the reveal of its 2025 version at CES 2025.
2. It will feature the Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, announced alongside new Arrow Lake-HX Plus processors.
3. The 2026 model is expected to utilize Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU more effectively than the 2025 version.
4. Asus claims that the 2026 model has a significantly higher total system TDP compared to its predecessor.
5. Pricing and availability details for the new model are currently unknown, with more specifications to be revealed in the coming months.

A new ROG Strix Scar 18 is coming soon. To give some background, Asus revealed its 2025 version at CES 2025 in January of that year. The company shared pricing a month after the announcement, but it wasn’t until April that the 18-inch gaming laptop could be ordered, currently priced at $2,699 on Amazon. In contrast, a new version of the ROG Strix Scar 18 was not present at this year’s CES.

New Processors Announced

This absence seems to be related to Intel’s recent announcement of new Arrow Lake-HX Plus processors. Today, Asus confirmed that the ROG Strix Scar 18 will feature the option of the Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor. For more information on Intel’s latest flagship Arrow Lake processor, check out our launch article.

Improved Performance Expected

Asus also mentioned that the latest Scar will utilize Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 5090 laptop GPU more effectively than the 2025 version. For context, the 2025 model provides up to 175 W power to its GPU, including 25 W from Dynamic Boost, which is currently believed to be the maximum Total Graphics Power (TGP) for the GPU.

However, Asus asserts that the 2026 model “has a significantly higher total system TDP compared to the 2025 version.” Pricing and availability details are still unknown at this point. Additionally, Asus has hinted that more hardware specifications will be revealed “in the coming months,” with a release expected in Q2 2026. Meanwhile, the company has introduced new ROG Strix 16 and ROG Strix 18 gaming laptops.

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