ASUS FX503 vs. ASUS ROG GL503 Strix – Is the Cheaper FX503 Right For You?

ASUS has recently launched the successors to their 502 series gaming laptops & the new series carries the upgraded 503 signature. They have actually announced a ton of different models to choose from this year.  In the ASUS ROG GL503, we have the Strix, Hero & Scar Editions and we also have the ASUS FX503.

Asus FX503 Gaming Laptop Review
Asus Rog FX503 Gaming Laptop Review

So, last year when we did that FX553 & GL553 comparison like article, we saw that many of you were actually interested to know the differences between the two as the specification list was quite similar & the price difference between the two was a significant reason for many people to go for the cheaper FX553 instead of going for a GL553.

This year the conditions are the same again. The FX503 is significantly cheaper compared to the GL503 Strix Edition & the specifications are quite similar. So we thought, making this comparison can benefit some of you guys to take a better purchase decision in case you’re having difficulty to choose. If you’re not aware though, the FX503 will cost around 79990 INR while the GL503 Strix will cost around 92990 INR for the i7-7700HQ Base Variants. The FX503 also comes with the i5-7300HQ starting at 69990 INR.

So, let’s have a specification comparison between the GL503 Strix Edition & the FX503 so, the major differences show up.

Feature Comparision between ASUS FX503 and ASUS GL503 Strix

ASUS FX503

ASUS GL503 Strix

Display15.6 inch, 1080P, 60Hz, TN Panel15.6 inch, 1080P, 60Hz, IPS Panel
ProcessorQuadcore i7-7700HQQuadcore i7-7700HQ
RAM8GB  DDR4 2400 MHz (Expandable Up to 32GB)8GB DDR4 2400 MHz (Expandable Up to 32GB)
GPUNVIDIA GTX1050 (4GB GDDR5 VRAM)NVIDIA GTX1050 (4GB GDDR5 VRAM)
Storage1TB HDD 7200RPM128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD 7200 RPM
Ports
  • 3 x USB 3.0 port(s) Type A, 
  • 1 x HDMI, Support HDMI 2.0, 
  •  One RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 
  • One 2-in-1 Card Reader, 
  • 1 x 3.5 mm Headphone And Microphone Combo Jack
  • 1 x Type C USB 3.0, 
  • 3 x USB 3.0 Type A, 
  • 1 x USB 2.0, 
  • One Mini Display Port, 
  • One HDMI
  • 1 x RJ-45 Jack, 
  • 1 x 2-in-1 Card Reader, 
  • One 3.5 mm Headphone And Microphone Combo Jack
Wi-FiIntegrated 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2
BluetoothV4.1V4.1
Battery64 Whrs (4 Cells)64 Whrs (4 Cells)
Number Of Speakers22
WebcamHDHD
Weight2.5 Kilograms2.5 Kilograms
OSWindows 10 HomeWindows 10 Home
Price79990 INR92990 INR

 

The specification comparison chart has probably cleared a lot of your doubts already. Now, let us figure out the drawbacks of the FX503 over the GL503 a bit deeper.

Display comparison between ASUS FX503 and GL503

The first major differentiator between these two models is the Display. The FX503 has a 15.6 inch 1080P TN Panel while the GL503 has an IPS Panel. So, the IPS Panel GL503 is way more color accurate & has better viewing angles compared to the TN Panel on the FX503. So, in case you want to do some Color Accurate work in your Laptop alongside playing Games on it, the GL503 is the one you should be looking at. But, in case you are not doing color accurate work, the Display of the FX503 should be enough.

Build Quality of ASUS FX503 versus GL503

Both of these Laptops have good build quality but, the GL503 is better compared to the FX503. The design Language on the GL503 has that new 2017 ROG look with that improved Metal-Plastic chassis. The FX503 is built well but, it isn’t as good as the GL503.

Ports in ASUS FX503 versus GL503

Another concern is the Ports. The FX503 is missing a USB C Port, a Mini Display Port & a USB 2.0 Port compared to the GL503. Now, the USB C port on the GL503 is not Thunderbolt 3 capable so, if you want to hook an External GPU, you cannot do that on any of these laptops. So, it’s not a huge reason to buy the GL503 or dump the FX503 just because of that USB C port. However, if you want all those extra ports, the GL503 is a better option. Otherwise, you can have a look at the FX503.

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Keyboard

The Keyboard is also a little bit different between the two. The GL503 can do 4-zone RGB Lighting in its keyboard while the FX503 has Red Lighting that you cannot change. So, if you want RGB Lighting in your Keyboard, the FX503 does not have that. The GL503 also have extra Volume Control keys that are not present in the FX503.

Thermals

The last thing is Thermals. The GL series, in general, have better thermal management compared to the FX series. So, we are expecting similar scenarios for the GL503 & the FX503. But, we have to test out this one when we get our hands on to make a 100% confirmation.

Should You Get The Cheaper ASUS FX503 Instead Of Getting The More Highly Priced ASUS Rog GL503?

This depends on your particular needs. If you have already read the content above carefully, you probably already know but, if you need an opinion in general, remember to figure out the purpose of why you are getting the laptop.

If you want to Play Games & also do some color accurate work like Photo or Video editing on your laptop, the GL503 is the one to go for. The higher price of the GL503 is because of the Better Build Quality & most importantly the Significantly Better Display. So, if you are someone who wants that, go for the GL503.

However, if you’re a person who just wants to pick a GTX1050 laptop for Playing Games & do just basic day-to-day stuff, the FX503 is enough for you. The gaming performance between the two is almost identical, so, if Gaming is your only big priority, save that extra money & go for the FX503 instead.

Something you need to be aware of, the GTX1050 isn’t going to give you 60 FPS+ frame rates at 1080P in AAA titles at High Graphics settings so, if you are looking for something like that. this is not the price point you should be looking at. Get something that has at least a GTX1060 inside. There is a GTX1060 Model of the GL503 Strix but, it’s significantly more expensive at 13990 INR. So, if that’s what you’re looking for & you have the budget then go for that one instead.

Ok, that’s it for this comparison. If you still have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section below. Also, let us know if you want comparisons of specific devices that may benefit you in your next purchase & we’ll try to cover that up.