The machine can handle machine learning work without sending data to the cloud.
Asus introduced a holographic fan system in the G1000 desktop that projects customizable visuals without affecting cooling performance. New Zephyrus laptops feature AI processors with 50 TOPS performance, RTX 5090 GPUs, and 1100-nit HDR displays for enhanced gaming and content creation.
- G1000 desktop features AniMe Holo, a holographic fan system that projects customizable visuals without affecting cooling
- Zephyrus G14 and G16 run Intel Core Ultra Series 3 with 50 TOPS AI performance, RTX 5080/5090 GPUs, and 1100-nit HDR displays
- ROG XREAL R1 AR glasses deliver 240Hz micro-OLED displays with 3ms latency and project a virtual 171-inch screen
- Flow Z13-KJP 2-in-1 laptop designed by Yoji Shinkawa runs AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 with 13.4-inch 2.5K HDR touchscreen at 180Hz
- Crosshair X870E Glacial motherboard won CES 2026 Innovation Award with 24+2+2 power stages and seven M.2 slots
Asus ROG celebrates 20 years with groundbreaking gaming hardware at CES 2026, including world-first holographic fan systems, 240Hz AR glasses, and a Kojima Productions collaboration featuring designer Yoji Shinkawa.
Asus Republic of Gamers walked into CES 2026 with two decades of momentum behind it, and the company was not interested in quiet celebration. Instead, ROG unveiled a hardware lineup that reads like a catalog of what gaming manufacturers have been promising for years: holographic displays that float inside a PC case, augmented reality glasses fast enough to track competitive play, and a limited-edition laptop designed by Yoji Shinkawa, the art director behind Metal Gear Solid.
The centerpiece is the G1000 desktop, which houses something called AniMe Holo—a dedicated fan chamber that projects customizable holograms inside the case without interfering with the cooling system. It's a solution to a problem that didn't quite exist before, which is precisely the kind of engineering that defines ROG's approach. The machine itself is built for power: RTX 5090 or AMD Radeon 9070XT graphics, up to 128GB of DDR5 memory, and 4TB of PCIe 4.0 storage. The CPU cooling runs through a 420mm all-in-one liquid cooler routed through what ROG calls the Thermal Atrium. It's excess in service of performance, which is the brand's language.
The laptop refresh tells a different story about where gaming computing is heading. The updated Zephyrus G14 and G16 both run Intel's Core Ultra Series 3 processors, each capable of 50 TOPS of AI performance for local tasks—meaning the machine can handle machine learning work without sending data to the cloud. The G14 maxes out at an RTX 5080; the G16 goes to RTX 5090. Both use Nvidia's Blackwell architecture and support DLSS 4, the latest upscaling technology. The displays are where you feel the investment: 1100-nit Nebula HDR panels with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage and Delta E less than 1, which is the kind of precision usually reserved for professional color grading. GPU power increased 23 percent in manual mode. There's also an AMD Ryzen AI variant of the G14 with Copilot+ certification. The Zephyrus Duo, meanwhile, features dual 3K OLED touchscreens running at 120Hz with 0.2-millisecond response times and five operating modes that shift the layout between gaming, streaming, and content creation.
The Kojima Productions collaboration produced the Flow Z13-KJP, a 2-in-1 device designed by Shinkawa himself. It runs an AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 processor and includes a 13.4-inch 2.5K HDR touchscreen at 180Hz. The packaging and system themes are exclusive to this model—a small gesture toward the designer's vision that extends beyond the hardware itself.
ROG's monitor division introduced two OLED displays using RGB stripe pixel technology for improved color accuracy. The 27-inch PG27UCWM can toggle between 4K at 240Hz or FHD at 480Hz, with 27 percent greater color volume than traditional OLED panels. The 34-inch PG34WCDN curves at 1800R with a 360Hz QD-OLED panel. Both support DisplayPort 2.1a with full 80Gbps bandwidth. ROG applied a BlackShield film to both that increases scratch resistance by 2.5 times and deepens blacks by 40 percent.
The augmented reality glasses, developed with XREAL and called the R1, carry 240Hz micro-OLED displays with 3-millisecond latency. They project a virtual 171-inch screen at four meters with a 57-degree field of view. Electrochromic lenses adjust tint automatically based on ambient light. Bose spatial audio creates a 3D soundstage. A control dock handles connections to PC, console, and ROG Ally with no setup required.
The motherboard lineup includes the Crosshair X870E Glacial, which won a CES 2026 Innovation Award. It features 24+2+2 power stages, seven M.2 slots, and AI Cache Boost and AI Overclocking for automatic performance tuning. Connectivity includes dual USB4 ports, twelve USB 10Gbps ports, and dual 10G Ethernet. A 5-inch color LCD on the board itself displays system statistics in real time.
Audio and peripherals complete the picture. The ROG Kithara headset uses 100-millimeter HIFIMAN planar magnetic drivers spanning 8Hz to 55kHz in an open-back design for positional audio. The Cetra Open Wireless earbuds use an open-ear design for environmental awareness and support both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz ROG SpeedNova wireless. The Falchion Ace 75 HE keyboard features magnetic switches with adjustable actuation from 0.1 to 3.5 millimeters and an 8000Hz polling rate. The Cronox full-tower case adds a rotating 9.2-inch LCD screen and accommodates graphics cards up to 400 millimeters. The entire lineup remained on display at The Venetian Expo in Las Vegas through January 8.
Notable Quotes
The isolated holographic setup keeps visuals from interfering with component cooling— ROG on the AniMe Holo system design
The Hearth Conversation Another angle on the story
What's the actual purpose of a holographic fan? Isn't that just decoration?
It's more than that. The hologram projects inside an isolated chamber, so it doesn't interfere with airflow or cooling. You get the visual spectacle without sacrificing thermal performance—which matters when you're running a 5090 GPU.
Why does a gaming laptop need 50 TOPS of AI performance?
Local AI processing. Machine learning tasks that used to require cloud connectivity can now run on the device itself. For creators and competitive players, that means lower latency and privacy—the data never leaves the machine.
The Kojima collaboration seems like a marketing move. Does the design actually change how the device works?
The hardware is solid—Ryzen AI Max+ 395, 180Hz display. But yes, Shinkawa's involvement is partly prestige. That said, the exclusive themes and packaging signal that ROG sees gaming hardware as a cultural object, not just a tool.
Why 240Hz on AR glasses? Can the human eye even perceive that?
At 3-millisecond latency, you're eliminating motion sickness and tracking lag. Competitive players will feel the difference immediately. It's not about perception in the traditional sense—it's about the absence of delay.
The monitor with RGB stripe pixels—is that a real improvement or marketing language?
It's real. RGB stripe gives you better color volume and accuracy than traditional OLED pixel layouts. You're getting 27 percent greater color volume, which matters for HDR content and color-critical work.
What does this lineup tell you about where gaming is heading?
Away from the monitor as the only window. Glasses, holograms inside the case, AI running locally—ROG is building an ecosystem where the experience extends beyond the screen. Gaming is becoming more immersive and more personal.