Is there a better alternative?

Yes. The Asus Zephyrus M has many competitors, and it can’t fend all of them off.

　　The MSI GE63 has an older Core i7-8750H processor, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem in our tests. The MSI GE63 is often available for $1,500 or less, so it’s a great value.

　　Lenovo’s Legion Y740 and Dell’s Inspiron G7 15 Gaming offer similar hardware, a more attractive price, and a slightly lower price. They’re a good choice if you want a less subtle, yet more refined, pick.

　　Our favorite pick in this price range, however, is Acer’s Predator Triton 500. It’s attractive, powerful, slim, and slightly less expensive. You can also buy upgraded models with up to an RTX 2080 Max-Q, if you’d like.

　　

How long will it last?

The Asus’ Zephyrus M has the latest hardware and feels sturdy, so it should last at least several years. The mid-range Nvidia RTX 2060 will feel obsolete within three years, but the processor will be mighty for at least five years.

　　

Should you buy it?

No. The Zephyrus M makes a good impression, but my frustrations mounted as the weeks went by. Competitors offer more refined laptops for the same price, and sometimes less.