ASUS ROG GL503GE vs Lenovo Legion Y530 – an epic gaming battle

The time has come for another epic laptop battle which is definitely going to catch the attention of gaming enthusiasts. On the one side, we have a high-end gaming beast which is a refresh of the previous generation of ROG machines in the face of ASUS GL503GE, whereas the mid-range model Lenovo Legion Y530 – a worthy successor to the best selling Y520, waits on the other side. We will check their performance, build quality and other essential specification to help you decide which is the more suitable device for you.

ASUS ROG GL503GE: Full review

Lenovo Legion Y530: Full review

Contents


Design and construction

Firstly, we shall turn our heads to the construction of both devices. The ASUS GL503GE incorporates a simple design which is a breath of fresh air compared to the gaming-centric aggressiveness of other similar notebooks. Here, the main order of the day is plastic with the lid being brushed aluminum, and although it is prone to twisting, pressing the back of the panel doesn’t cause ripples on the LCD screen. What contributes to the overall sturdiness are its hinges that boast smooth linear travel and make opening the notebook with one hand possible. As for the interior, although it features a plastic finish, it feels premium and quite robust. Beneath the finish, we notice carbon fiber threads that are reminiscent of the Dell XPS series.

Moving on, unlike its rival, Legion Y530 employs only plastic in its construction. Lenovo has also opted for a more simplistic appearance as its matte black body lacks any RGB lights, aggressive strips, and other flashy elements characteristic of other gaming devices. In terms of dimensions, Legion Y530 happens to be the slightly more portable gaming device measuring at 23.9 – 24.9 mm in height and tipping the scale at 2.30 kg (5.07 lbs) as opposed to 24 mm and 2.6 kg (5.73 lbs) respectively.

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

Opening the lids of the notebooks reveals the input devices. ASUS has included a standard touchpad with dedicated mouse buttons which is comfortable to use and extremely responsive. However, we have some complaints about the keyboard. Although it boasts clicky feedback, standard layout, and good key spacing, the key travel is not ideal for gaming as it’s rather short, and also the navigation keys are slightly crammed up and not big enough. However, we should mention the additional buttons located above the keyboard for volume control, quick access to the ROG Gaming Center allowing you to easily adjust the LED keyboard backlight, cooling fans, display profiles and other settings.

Moving on to Legion Y530, the gaming beast features a keyboard which is identical to the one we saw in Y520. We can clearly see why it has become one of the main selling points – you are presented with long key travel excellent for typing and gaming, bigger arrow keys and media control buttons so the layout will definitely suit gamers. The touchpad is also comfortable to use sporting dedicated mouse buttons.

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

Now let’s take a look at the connectivity side of things. GL503GE offers a decent variety of I/O distributed quite evenly. The port range includes 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 (Type-C) port, 3x USB 3.0 ports, 1x USB 2.0 ports, HDMI 2.0, RJ-45 LAN port, 2-in-1 card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack, as well as Kensington lock slot.

ASUS ROG GL503GE

The Legion Y530 also doesn’t drag behind with almost all its ports located along its back. There is a full-sized USB 3.0 Type-A port each on both left and right sides. Right next to the one on the left we see an audio jack, whereas a hardware reset opening is located next to the one on the right. And finally, along the back are distributed a USB 3.0 Type-C, Mini DisplayPort 1.4, USB 3.0 Type-A, HDMI 2.0, Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45), charging port and a lock slot.

Lenovo Legion Y530

Display

Both notebooks feature 15.6-inch displays with Full HD (1920×1080) resolution which translates into a pixel density of 142 ppi and have a 0.18 x 0.18 mm pixel pitch but that is not of such importance as the following specs. However, GL503GE incorporates a 120 Hz TN panel as opposed to an IPS one in Y530. In addition, the screen of the former has а model number Chi Mei N156HHE-GA1, while Lenovo’s one has a model number LG LP156WF9-SPK1 (LGD0563).

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

Given the nature of the panels the gaming devices use, it won’t come as a surprise that the viewing angles on GL503GE’s display are quite uncomfortable, unlike Y530’s panel that boasts comfortable ones. However, tables turn as far as brightness levels are concerned, where the GL503GE beats the Legion Y530 with a maximum brightness of 351 nits in the center vs 265 nits respectively. In terms of color temperature, both devices have quite colder than the optimal – 7650K on the GL503GE and 7760K on the Legion Y530. The former also exceeds its rival when it comes to contrast ratio with 1280:1 vs 1100:1 respectively.

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

And so we continue with the color reproduction. GL503GE’s panel stands out super vibrant colors covering completely the sRGB color gamut and 96% of the DCI-P3. And with the help of our Gaming and Web design profiles, the colors become accurate enough for color sensitive work. On the other hand, Lenovo’s Legion Y530 display covers only 55% of the sRGB which is not suitable for color editing. When it comes to color accuracy, ASUS GL503GE has an average dE before calibration of 10 and after calibration, the value is reduced to 2.2 (lower is better). On the other hand, Y530’s average dE is 5.2 before calibration and after it is significantly reduced to 3.3.

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

Moving on, we are pleased to inform you that Lenovo Legion Y530 does not use PWM to control monitor brightness, making it safe to use in the viewed aspect. However, we cannot say the same about ASUS GL503GE, whose panel uses PWM to adjust the brightness of the screen up to 95 nits. On a more positive note, this is done with a very high frequency that doesn’t particularly have such a negative impact on one’s eyesight. This issue can be completely fixed by our Health-Guard profile.

ASUS ROG GL503GE
Lenovo Legion Y530

Our display profiles

Here at LaptopMedia, we create a set of custom-tailored profiles for every notebook we review. They boost the productivity of a display and reduce negative effects such as blue light emissions and PWM. You can read more about them here.

Buy our profiles from here:

ASUS GL503GE: Profiles

Lenovo Legion Y530: Profiles

Specs sheet comparison

A similarity between the two gaming devices that we instantly notice is the 8th generation Intel Core i7-8750H processor. It features six physical cores ticking at base speeds from 2.2 GHz to 2.8 GHz, while the Turbo one is 4.1 GHz (up from 3.8 GHz). Additionally, the TDP of the chip is rated at 45W and it also boasts 9 MB of cache (vs 6 MB on Core i7-7700HQ).

More information about Intel Core i7-8750H and its position in our Top CPU Ranking you can find HERE.

What’s more, both notebooks also rely on the same graphics processors. They are equipped with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti based on the GP107 chip paired with 4GB of GDDR5 memory connected via a 128-bit interface and 768 CUDA cores.

More information about the GTX 1050 Тi and its place in our Top GPU Ranking you can find HERE.

ASUS GL503GE Lenovo Legion Y530
CPUIntel Core i7-8750HIntel Core i7-8750H
RAMDDR4, 2666 MHzDDR4, 2666 MHz
GPUNVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5)NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti (4GB GDDR5)
HDD/SSD2.5″ HDD/SSD slot + 2280 M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slot2.5″ HDD/SSD slot + 2280 M.2 PCIe 3.0 x4 NVMe slot
Display15.6”, Full HD (1920 x 1080), 120 Hz, TN15.6”, Full HD (1920 x 1080), IPS
Features
  • 1x USB 3.1 Type-C
  • 3x USB 3.0 Type-A
  • 1x USB 2.0 Type-A
  • HDMI 2.0
  • mini Displayport
  • Card reader
  • 1x 3.5mm Combo audio jack
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Security Lock slot
  • 3x USB 3.0 Type-A (3.1 Gen 1)
  • 1x USB 3.0 Type-C
  • HDMI 2.0
  • mini Displayport
  • combo audio/microphone jack
  • Backlit keyboard
  • Security Lock slot
Battery64Wh52.5Wh
Profile thickness24 mm (0.94″)24.9 – 23.9 mm (0.98″)
Weight2.60 kg (5.7 lbs)2.30 kg (5.1 lbs)
Price Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned) Buy from Amazon.com (#CommissionsEarned)

Battery

Due to the fact that both models are equipped with identical hardware (CPU and GPU) the power consumption is almost the same. ASUS GL503GE boasts larger battery capacity – 64Wh, while the Y530 has a battery unit of 52.5Wh. The runtimes on both of them are quite good and there is not such a major difference in numbers.

We start with our Web browsing test where our own script browses automatically through over 70 websites. ASUS GL503GE managed to keep the lights on for 330 minutes which is 13 minutes less than the result of the Lenovo Legion Y530 – 343 minutes.

The second test is for Video playback where we put an HD video on loop. ASUS GL503GE managed to score 312 minutes on a single charge, while the Y530 lasted for 278 minutes.

And finally, our Gaming test using F1 2015. ASUS’ battery offers 111 minutes while the Lenovo Legion Y530 delivered 106 minutes of gaming away from the plug.

In order to simulate real-life conditions, we used our own script for automatic web browsing through over 70 websites.

For every test like this, we use the same video in HD.

We use F1 2017’s built-in benchmark on loop in order to simulate real-life gaming.


Performance

As we have already mentioned, both notebooks feature the same hardware, therefore the performance is very similar too. The GTX 1050 Ti is powerful enough for gaming at high settings in most of the AAA titles. What’s more, lighter games such as CS:GO won’t pose a problem even at maximum graphics. The difference in the frame rates are not so drastic – usually in the 5% range.

GTA-V-benchmarks

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5)Full HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)
ASUS GL503GE74 fps46 fps (+10%)
Lenovo Legion Y53081 fps (+9%)42 fps

Far Cry PrimalFull HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)
ASUS GL503GE51 fps43 fps
Lenovo Legion Y53054 fps (+6%)44 fps (+2%)

Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon WildlandsFull HD, High (Check settings)Full HD, Very High (Check settings)
ASUS GL503GE41 fps36 fps
Lenovo Legion Y53044 fps (+7%)38 fps (+6%)

Temperatures

We have a new method that evaluates the cooling system and for gaming computers, it comprises of 100% CPU load plus real gameplay test (Rise of the Tomb Raider).

Max CPU load

In this test, we reach 100% CPU cores load, while monitoring the fluctuations in their frequencies and chip temperature. The first column shows a computer’s response to a short load (2-10 seconds), the second column simulates a serious task (between 15 and 30 seconds), while the third column is a good indicator of whether the laptop is suitable for extended and heavy loads such as video rendering.

Average core frequency (Base freq. + X); CPU Temp.

Intel Core i7-8750H (45W TDP)0:02 – 0:10 sec0:15 – 0:30 sec10:00 – 15:00 min
ASUS GL503GE2.89 GHz @ 66°C2.89 GHz @ 69°C2.53 GHz @ 71°C
Lenovo Legion Y530 [Sample]3.24 GHz @ 94°C3.20 GHz @ 94°C2.97 GHz @ 94°C

As you can see from the table above, Lenovo Legion Y530 has higher average core frequencies that come at the expense of higher temperatures. ASUS GL503GE also showed decent performance but this time at fairly lower temperatures.

Real gameplay

This test is longer. Here, the GPU is loaded to the max trying to process maximum frame rates per second.

GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 2 min)GPU frequency/ Core temp (after 30 min)
ASUS ROG GL503GE1696 MHz @ 74°C1671 MHz @ 83°C
Lenovo Legion Y530 [Sample]1696 MHz @ 72°C1683 MHz @ 75°C

Unlike the previous test, here the temperatures and performance seem quite normal. Lenovo Legion Y530 manages to surpass ASUS ROG GL503GE in both aspects.

Verdict

To sum things up, you won’t make a wrong choice whichever notebook you decide to opt for. Both of them offer a quite simple design which may appeal to the majority of users. However, ASUS’s solution boasts a firm and reliable construction thanks to the brushed aluminum lid and hinges that contribute to the overall sturdiness. On the other hand, the all-plastic body of Legion Y530 doesn’t exactly create this impression. However, it appears to be the slightly more portable gaming device in terms of dimensions.

We also have every reason to confirm that ASUS GL503GE beats its Lenovo rival in the display department. Despite its TN nature, it stands out with its high brightness and contrast, while the serious color deviations can be reduced to a reasonable level thanks to our Gaming and Web design profile. We should also highlight the refresh rate of 120 Hz that, along with the G-Sync technology, will contribute to your smooth gaming experience. The only drawback is the presence of PWM up to 95 nits but this issue is easily fixed with our Health-Guard profile.

As for battery runtimes, both notebooks are almost on par. However, ASUS’ 52.5Wh unit provides slightly better battery life with the most impressive result being 330 minutes on our Web browsing test. And finally, the cooling systems of the two notebooks seem good enough to handle effortlessly i7-8750H + GTX 1050 Ti.

ASUS ROG GL503GE: Full review

Lenovo Legion Y530: Full review



Why choose ASUS ROG GL503GE?

  • Firm and reliable construction
  • Great display with better brightness and contrast
  • A wider variety of ports
  • Better battery life




Why choose Lenovo Legion Y530?

  • Slightly more portable
  • Better viewing angles
  • Lack of PWM


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Akshay Nilawar
Akshay Nilawar
5 years ago

I need to make the decision in between two gaming laptops the fst is the ASUS strix gl503ge with i7-8750H, GTX 1050Ti and TN pannel with 120Hz and the other is Lenovo legion y530 with i7-8750H, GTX 1050,with IPS pannel of 144Hz. I was quite confused between this two laptop expecially in display this artical help me a lot to make my decision on my own thanks LM and I would also like to use ur health guard for my laptop.

Anon
Anon
4 years ago
Reply to  Akshay Nilawar

Go for asus

Jonelle
Jonelle
4 years ago
Reply to  Akshay Nilawar

What did you buy? asus or lenovo?

Akshay
Akshay
4 years ago
Reply to  Jonelle

Lenovo