The newest external graphics card from Asus, the ROG XG Mobile 2025, is set to hit the market on February 25, as reported by IT Home. Unveiled at CES 2025, this latest model boasts a modern look and incorporates Thunderbolt 5 connectivity, a notable upgrade from the proprietary connector used in earlier versions.
The original XG Mobile eGPU, which debuted with the ROG Flow X13 in 2021, offered options including the RTX 3080, 3070, and Radeon RX 6850M XT. A significant drawback of the earlier models was the PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, which limited bandwidth to just 63Gbps—well below the capabilities of Thunderbolt 5. Previous models were also constrained by a proprietary port that only allowed compatibility with certain ROG laptops and the ROG Ally handheld. The ROG XG Mobile 2023 retained the same proprietary connection even with the inclusion of RTX 4090 and RTX 4080 GPUs, further limiting its use beyond the Asus ecosystem.
The XG Mobile 2025 addresses these issues with Thunderbolt 5 support, which enables data transfer speeds of up to 80Gbps. This is a significant improvement over Thunderbolt 4’s 40Gbps, which could help alleviate performance issues often seen in external GPU setups. Additionally, the new model is designed to work with any device that supports Thunderbolt 5, Thunderbolt 4, or USB4, expanding its versatility beyond only specific ROG laptops.
The ROG XG Mobile 2025 will feature the latest RTX 50-series laptop GPUs in two variants: an RTX 5070 Ti model starting at $1,199 and an RTX 5090 version for $2,199. The RTX 5090 variant includes 24GB of GDDR7 VRAM and operates at a power limit of 150W, which is lower than the RTX 5090 desktop counterpart that consumes 575W and has 32GB of VRAM. The more budget-friendly RTX 5070 Ti model targets mid-range users seeking an external GPU solution.
In terms of design, the 2025 model features a new translucent finish and has a slightly reduced size compared to earlier iterations. Weighing under 1kg, it offers greater portability than typical external GPU enclosures which often need a separate power brick. As in previous iterations, it also functions as a docking station, providing connections for DisplayPort 2.1, HDMI 2.1, USB-A ports, an SD card reader, and Ethernet connectivity.
By integrating Thunderbolt 5, Asus has tackled one of the major limitations of its earlier XG Mobile models—restricted compatibility. Although the pricing remains high, especially for the RTX 5090 variant, this new offering is accessible to a wider range of laptop users beyond just those with ROG Flow devices. The real question, however, is whether the performance delivered through Thunderbolt 5 can compete with the direct PCIe connections offered by previous models.
