If you prioritize a more affordable option that offers solid performance for general use and creative tasks such as video editing and design, with an emphasis on build quality and a high-resolution display, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) could be your choice. However, if you are willing to invest more for top-tier gaming performance, dedicated graphics power for 3D applications, machine learning, and a generally more robust machine for CPU-intensive tasks, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 stands out. Keep in mind that the MacBook Pro will offer better battery life and portability over the ASUS ROG Strix G16, which is bulkier and has shorter battery life due to its gaming-centric hardware. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G16
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with an AMD Radeon Pro GPU and MacOS, which provides adequate, but not ideal, performance for 3D applications and limits game compatibility, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 includes a more powerful Nvidia RTX GPU and Windows 11, offering superior gaming and 3D performance along with higher game availability. The Strix G16 also has a higher screen refresh rate, enhancing the gaming experience, but both have quality IPS displays.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a balanced combination of a competent CPU, adequate GPU for less graphically intense engineering tasks, and a high-resolution display that covers a broad spectrum of colors, but the ASUS ROG Strix G16 boasts a more powerful processor suitable for demanding engineering software, a significantly superior GPU for intensive design and rendering tasks, along with a high refresh rate screen, although it is heavier and might not be as portable.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.5/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
291.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display with bright, vibrant colors that enhance visual clarity and detail, making it suitable for general use such as browsing and video streaming. Its wide color gamut coverage makes it excellent for engineering and design work where precise color representation is crucial. However, its refresh rate is lower than what's preferred for 3D applications, which demand smoother motion and quick screen updates for optimal experience.
Battery
12.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 has 9 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Fair
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$1,301
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 costs $1,301.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS ROG Strix G16 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers exceptional screen quality, best-in-class speakers, and excellent battery life which make it ideal for general use, on top of its lightweight design enhancing portability. Conversely, the ASUS ROG Strix G16, while also suitable for general use with its high-refresh-rate screen and powerful CPU and GPU, is heavier and has a shorter battery life which may limit its portability, but excels in gaming and other performance-intensive tasks.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.9/10
7.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS ROG Strix G16 are both good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS ROG Strix G16
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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