The ROG Strix Scar 16 G635LX is the smaller sibling of the Scar 18 G835LX, packing similar high-end specs, design elements, and features into a more compact and lightweight chassis. While it runs slightly hotter due to its size, it doesn’t compromise on performance.

Design and Build Quality
The Scar 16 G635LX is essentially a scaled-down version of the Scar 18 G835LX, as mentioned earlier, sharing the same design language, build quality, and ergonomics. Compared to previous generations, the 2025 model features a cleaner aesthetic, updated I/O, latest-gen hardware, and improved cooling. It also retains its standout mini LED matte display and punchy speakers, a combination still uncommon in gaming laptops.

The chassis is primarily plastic, except for the metal lid, and features an all-black finish with RGB lighting elements, including a lightbar around the base. The Anime Matrix LED array on the lid makes a return. Ergonomically, the hinges hold the screen firmly. The laptop features a comprehensive array of connectivity options, including a 3.5mm combo audio jack for audio input and output, a high-bandwidth HDMI 2.1 FRL port for display connectivity, three USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A ports offering data transfer speeds up to 10Gbps, a 2.5G LAN port for high-speed wired networking, and two cutting-edge Thunderbolt 5 ports supporting DisplayPort, power delivery, and G-SYNC, with impressive data transfer speeds of up to 120Gbps.

ROG Strix SCAR 18 G835LX (2025) Review: A Powerhouse for Gamers and Creators

Specifications
The ROG Strix Scar 16 G635LX includes an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor with 8 Performance and 16 Efficiency cores, boosting up to 5.4 GHz. It’s paired with an Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with 24GB of DDDR7 VRAM and a power limit of up to 240W. Memory comes in the form of 32GB DDR5-5600 SO-DIMM RAM, expandable via two DIMM slots, while storage includes 1TB + 1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 Performance SSD (RAID 0).

Display and Other Specs
The device boasts a stunning 16-inch ROG Nebula HDR Display with a sharp 2.5K resolution (2560 x 1600, WQXGA) and a productivity-friendly 16:10 aspect ratio. This Mini LED panel features an anti-glare coating and delivers vibrant, color-accurate visuals with 100% DCI-P3 coverage. Gamers will appreciate the ultra-smooth 240Hz refresh rate and rapid 3ms response time, further enhanced by G-Sync technology. The display is also Pantone Validated, ensuring color accuracy for creative professionals, and supports Dolby Vision HDR for richer, more immersive visuals. The inclusion of a MUX Switch and NVIDIA Advanced Optimus allows users to seamlessly switch between integrated and dedicated graphics for optimal performance and battery life.

Cooling is handled by a tri-fan vapor chamber system with liquid metal on both the CPU and GPU. Power comes from a 90Wh battery, and the laptop includes both a 380W power adapter and a 100W USB-C charger. At 2.81 kg, it’s not lightweight but remains more portable than larger 18-inch alternatives.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard retains a full-size layout without a NumPad but includes dedicated media keys and full-sized arrow keys. Typing feel is excellent, with slightly stiffer actuation than previous models, and the keys are quieter than mechanical alternatives. Per-key RGB lighting is bright and customizable. The main downside is that the black keycaps and frame smudge easily, requiring frequent cleaning.

The large glass touchpad includes a virtual NumPad function activated via the top-right corner. Physical clicks are stiff, but palm rejection works well. An 1080P FHD IR Camera supports Windows Hello facial recognition, though image quality is strictly average.

Battery
The entire Strix Scar series comes equipped with a substantial 90Wh battery, delivering impressive endurance for everyday tasks like video streaming and web browsing. When you need a quick boost, the device’s power adapter with ASUS Slim Power Jack technology can recharge the battery to 50% in just 30 minutes.

For added convenience, all models support USB Power Delivery up to 100W via the USB Type-C port. This means users can stay powered up even when traveling light—just plug in a compatible USB-C charger for on-the-go top-ups without carrying the full power brick. Whether you’re gaming at home or working remotely, the Strix Scar lineup keeps you running longer with fast charging flexibility and all-day battery life.

Performance
The 24-core (8P + 16E) Ultra 9 275HX boosts up to 5.4 GHz and sustains 150-175W in Turbo mode. It delivers roughly 15-20% better multi-threaded performance than the previous-gen i9-14900HX. The Nvidia RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, armed with a substantial 24GB of cutting-edge GDDR7 VRAM and a significant power limit of up to 240W within the Scar 16 G635LX, promises to deliver top-tier mobile gaming and content creation performance.

This configuration allows the laptop to handle demanding AAA titles at high resolutions and settings, potentially even pushing the boundaries of ray tracing and DLSS capabilities for a visually stunning and smooth gaming experience on its high-refresh-rate display. The ample VRAM will also be a boon for professionals working with large datasets in applications like video editing, 3D rendering, and AI development, ensuring smooth and efficient workflows.

The Scar 16 G635LX is designed with robust cooling to allow the RTX 5090 to operate closer to its maximum potential, unlocking exceptional performance that rivals high-end desktop GPUs from the previous generation. Users can expect blazing-fast frame rates, reduced loading times, and the ability to tackle graphically intensive tasks with remarkable speed and efficiency.. A vapour chamber and liquid metal cooling keep temperatures in check, with the CPU averaging ~90°C and the GPU ~80°C under load. Fan noise ranges from ~48 dBA in Turbo mode to under 35 dBA in Silent mode.

Verdict
The ROG Strix Scar 16 G635LX (2025) is a powerful, well-cooled gaming laptop with a standout mini LED display. While its pricing may deter some, it’s a great choice for users who prioritise a matte screen over OLED alternatives, along with powerhouse performance. If you can stomach the cost, it’s one of the best 16-inch performance laptops of the year.

Price: AED 22,999

The HUAWEI AppGallery Gamers Cup has made a spectacular return to Ras Al Khaimah with the action-packed Esports Carnival 2025 held on 2nd & 3rd May at the Radisson Resort Al Marjan Island. Organized under the guidance of the Emirates Esports Federation (EESF) and in partnership with Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA), the two-day event delivered a spectacular showcase of mobile Esports, reaffirming Ras Al Khaimah’s position at the forefront of the Middle East’s fast-growing Esports scene.

 

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Building on the success of its 2024 edition, this year’s event delivered a bigger and better platform, attracting a record number of gamers, tech enthusiasts, and esports professionals from across the region. A standout addition this year was the collaboration with Jetour, whose sleek and innovative vehicles were on full display at the venue entrance, adding a dynamic lifestyle element to the experience. Additionaly, LikeCard, was a key sponsor of the event, whose generous support was instrumental in powering the tournament’s success. Providing seamless hospitality, the newly opened Rove Al Marjan Island hosted participants, ensuring their comfort and convenience throughout the weekend. Together, these partnerships played a vital role in creating a world-class atmosphere that seamlessly blended competition, innovation, and lifestyle.

The tournament featured a thrilling two days packed with competitions across the most popular two esports games on the main-stage; with PUBG MOBILE on Day 1 and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) on Day 2 with AXE MENA esports team emerging as the champion. The teams participating underwent a challenging two weeks of online qualifiers across a 100+ players competing for the top 4 seed placements for the final event to stand a chance in becoming the champion teams to win the AED 300,000 prize-pool.

In addition to the Main-Stage esports events, gaming booths for the top casual mobile games were set together with their respective prizes, in which passionate players participated in mini-tournament elimination brackets with the top 5 in each booth receiving massive prizes from HUAWEI AppGallery that totaled to an approximate of 600 on-site participants! The game booths included top mobile game titles including, King’s – Candy Crush Saga, Yalla Group’s – Yalla Jackaroo, Gameloft’s – Asphalt Legends Unite, and EA Games’ – Golf Clash.

The tournament formats for the casual games included leaderboards across all booths. The leaderboard for Candy Crush Saga was determined by racing through completing a fixed amount of levels within a time limit with the players that completed the stages in the fastest time with the highest combo score getting the top winning placements. Yalla Jackaroo featured thrilling 2v2 classic Jackaroo matches, where top players competed fiercely, eliminating rival teams one by one to claim the coveted number one spot. Asphalt Legends Unite participants played in an elimination bracket of 4 racers competing against each other in each race with the top place racers of each match competing against each other in the final race that determined their placements. For Golf enthusiasts, the elimination bracket included 1v1 matches where the winner qualified for the next stages after defeating their opponent.

A key highlight of the event was the official launch of the AppGallery Gamers Cup – Emirates Women’s Championship on May 2nd, a joint initiative with the Emirates Esports Federation to promote the representation of female gamers and foster innovation in women’s esports. During the conference, industry leaders, prominent female gamers, and media representatives participated in an engaging discussion titled “Breaking Barriers: Women in Esports”, highlighting the importance of inclusivity in the gaming community. This event also provided an excellent opportunity for one-on-one interviews, Q&A sessions, and extensive media engagement.

Adding a vibrant creative dimension to the event, the GoPaint activation brought together art and gaming in a dynamic fusion of culture and technology, where 60 young artists participated in digital painting sessions using Huawei tablets, and expressed their passion through digital art. Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority said, “We are incredibly proud to continue supporting events that speak to the interests of next-generation visitors and residents. Hosting events like the HUAWEI AppGallery Gamers Cup is a prime example of how we are embracing innovation to diversify our tourism offerings and support the intersection of technology, entertainment, and culture. Esports today are much more than just entertainment, they are a platform for talent development, inclusion, and community engagement.”

EESF General Secretary, Saeed Al Tahir added, “At the Emirates Esports Federation, we are proud to witness the growing impact of esports as a force for innovation, inclusion, and economic opportunity across the UAE. Collaborations like the AppGallery Gamers Cup – Ras Al Khaimah Esports Carnival reflect our commitment to building a vibrant and sustainable esports ecosystem that nurtures talent, celebrates diversity, and positions the UAE as a global hub for digital culture.”

William Hu, Managing Director of Huawei Consumer Business Group for the Middle East and Africa, reflected on the success of the event, stating, “The AppGallery Gamers Cup – Ras Al Khaimah Esports Carnival 2025 aligns perfectly with Ras Al Khaimah’s ambitious vision to lead in Esports and gaming initiatives. We are honored to support Ras Al Khaimah’s ambition by creating a platform where gamers can showcase their skills, driven by the vibrant community spirit, innovation, and enthusiasm that are shaping the region’s Esports future.”

The success of the AppGallery Gamers Cup – Ras Al Khaimah Esports Carnival 2025 highlights HUAWEI AppGallery’s ongoing commitment to nurturing a thriving mobile Esports ecosystem across the region. As a key milestone for the UAE’s Esports sector, the event reflects the accelerating growth and professionalization of the industry throughout the Middle East and Africa.

A month after its launch, Google’s Gemini 2.5 Pro—touted as the “most intelligent AI model” yet—has added an unexpected achievement to its résumé: beating the 1996 classic Pokémon Blue. While Google already boasted superior benchmarks over rivals like OpenAI’s GPT-4, Claude, and DeepSeek R1, this gaming milestone offers a more tangible (and nostalgic) test of its capabilities. But why does an AI mastering a 29-year-old game matter? And does Gemini 2.5 Pro really live up to the hype? Here’s what we found.

Unlike modern games with scripted paths, Pokémon Blue demands long-term strategy, adaptive decision-making, and exploration—key hurdles for AI. To win, Gemini had to:

• Plan routes and manage resources over hours of gameplay.
• Navigate turn-based battles with type advantages and random encounters.
• Avoid softlocks and sequence breaks (a notorious issue in early Pokémon games).

This isn’t just about gaming; it’s a test of goal-directed reasoning, a stepping stone toward more general AI.

The feat wasn’t an official Google project but the work of Joel Z., a software engineer streaming Gemini’s progress on “Gemini Plays Pokémon.” Despite occasional human intervention (like fixing bugs or curbing excessive Escape Rope use), the AI earned 5 Gym Badges—outpacing Claude’s 3 in Pokémon Red. Google’s leadership, including CEO Sundar Pichai, cheered the win on X, while AI lead Logan Kilpatrick highlighted its “agentic” improvements over rivals.

Google claims Gemini 2.5 Pro’s biggest upgrade is its coding prowess, calling it a “leap over 2.0″—especially in building web apps and debugging. Benchmarks back this up: it scored 63.8% on SWE-Bench, a tough software engineering test. Yet rivals aren’t far behind; Anthropic’s Claude has been grinding away at Pokémon Red, though it hasn’t cleared the game yet.

Let’s be clear: Gemini didn’t play flawlessly. Human oversight was needed at times, and true general intelligence remains elusive. But mastering Pokémon Blue—even with training wheels—shows how far LLMs can go when paired with structured environments. If AI can conquer retro games today, what about real-world problem-solving tomorrow? For now, Gemini 2.5 Pro’s Pokémon victory is a fun—and telling—glimpse into AI’s evolving potential.