ASUS FX503 vs. 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 GL503 side we have the Strix, Hero & Scar Editions & we also have the FX503. 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.

 

	ASUS FX503	ASUS GL503 Strix
Display	15.6 inch, 1080P, 60Hz, TN Panel	15.6 inch, 1080P, 60Hz, IPS Panel
Processor	Quadcore i7-7700HQ	Quadcore i7-7700HQ
RAM	8GB  DDR4 2400 MHz (Expandable Upto 32GB)	8GB DDR4 2400 MHz (Expandable Upto 32GB)
GPU	NVIDIA GTX1050 (4GB GDDR5 VRAM)	NVIDIA GTX1050 (4GB GDDR5 VRAM)
Storage	1TB HDD 7200RPM	128GB M.2 SSD + 1TB HDD 7200 RPM
Ports	3 x USB 3.0 port(s) Type A, 1 x HDMI, Support HDMI 2.0, 1 x RJ45 LAN Jack for LAN insert, 1 x 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, 1 x Mini Display Port, 1x HDMI, 1 x RJ-45 Jack, 1 x 2-in-1 Card Reader, 1 x 3.5 mm Headphone And Microphone Combo Jack
Wi-Fi	Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2	Integrated 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, 2×2
Bluetooth	V4.1	V4.1
Battery	64 Whrs (4 Cells)	64 Whrs (4 Cells)
Number Of Speakers	2	2
Webcam	HD	HD
Weight	2.5 Kilograms	2.5 Kilograms
OS	Windows 10 Home	Windows 10 Home
Price	79990 INR	92990 INR

 

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

The first major differentiator 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.

Next thing is is Build Quality. 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 build well but, it isn’t as good as the GL503.

Another concern are the Ports. The FX503 is missing an 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 in 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.

The Keyboard is also a little bit different between the two. The GL503 can do 4-zone RGB Lighting in it’s 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 is not present in  the FX503.

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 FX503 Instead Of Getting The More Highly Priced 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 want 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. They 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.