ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 vs Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97

ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 takes 9 weighted points vs 5.3, winning on CPU Benchmark, Storage, Refresh Rate. The Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS counters in a higher tier — worth it if its strengths match your needs.

Winner

ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97

Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX · NVIDIA RTX 5070

Under $2500
4.2 (167)
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VS

Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS

Intel Ultra 7 165U vPro · Integrated (Intel iGPU)

Under $2000
4.5 (86)
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS
Gaming7.4/103/10
Productivity6/105.8/10
Programming6.7/105.6/10
Engineering / 3D7.1/104.1/10
Student5.2/105.9/10
Travel / Portability4.5/107.1/10
AI Workloads7/104/10
Value for Money8.7/104.5/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS
CPUIntel Core Ultra 9 275HXIntel Ultra 7 165U vPro
PassMark Score56,48816,974
CPU Cores8P+16E2P+10E
GPUNVIDIA RTX 5070Integrated (Intel iGPU)
G3DMark Score20,472—
RAM32 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableYesNo (soldered)
Storage2 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display18″ IPS14″ IPS
Resolution2560x16001920x1200
Refresh Rate240 Hz60 Hz
Pixel Density168 PPI162 PPI
TouchscreenNoYes
Weight6.61 lbs2.4 lbs
Thickness0.91″0.59″
Amazon Rating4.2 ★ (167)4.5 ★ (86)
Value Score8.7/104.5/10

CPU Comparison

The ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97's Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is ~233% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (56,488 vs 16,974). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking.

GPU & Gaming

Only the ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 has a dedicated GPU (RTX 5070, 20,472 G3DMark) — it wins gaming outright.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6/10 vs 5.8/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but the iGPU-only Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS will typically outlast the ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 unplugged.

Display

ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97: 18″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 240 Hz. Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS: 14″ IPS 1920x1200 @ 60 Hz. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97: 32 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 2 TBSSD. Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS: 32 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97's socketed RAM is a longevity advantage.

Build & Portability

6.61 lbs / 0.91″ vs 2.4 lbs / 0.59″. The Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS is 4.2 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 4.5 vs 7.1.

Value

Value scores land 8.7/10 vs 4.5/10. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the ASUS ROG Strix G18 G815LP-XS97 — it wins the weighted spec battle. Choose the Lenovo Gen 12 ThinkPad X1 21KC000MUS only if portability matter more to you.

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