The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) typically suits users looking for a balance between performance and portability, with a focus on professional tasks like video editing and music production, thanks to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics. It runs MacOS, which might be preferable for users who are integrated into the Apple ecosystem. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, despite being somewhat more expensive, is geared more towards gaming and might be better if you're interested in high-refresh-rate gaming experiences or tasks that benefit from a powerful GPU. It has a gaming-oriented design, runs Windows 11 Home, and is slightly heavier, which could be a downside if portability is a priority for you. Each option offers different strengths: the MacBook Pro offers a high-resolution display and a sleek design, while the TUF Gaming A16 provides robust game-related features and a higher refresh rate for its display. 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
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with its AMD RX 7600S GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 165Hz, provides a smooth gaming and 3D experience, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16, despite having a decent GPU with the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M, is limited by a lower refresh rate of 60Hz and macOS, which is incompatible with many popular games. Additionally, the screen quality and CPU are important but less critical factors, where both laptops deliver capable performance, but the higher refresh rate and gaming-friendly Windows environment give ASUS a clear edge for gaming and 3D applications.
Software Development
7.9/10
7.3/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is somewhat better.
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.
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
294.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Pro 16 boasts a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it suitable for general use and engineering tasks, but its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for high-frame-rate 3D work. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 offers a decent resolution and brightness suitable for everyday tasks and adequately reproduces colors for engineering, but its gaming-oriented branding doesn't translate to superior 3D performance due to a lackluster refresh rate. Both models, therefore, excel in different areas but neither is optimal for 3D applications that require fast screen refresh capabilities.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 both have good portability, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$838
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $838.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS TUF Gaming A16 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers exceptional screen quality, a highly reputable keyboard, and a slightly lighter build for enhanced portability, alongside strong CPU and RAM capabilities for general use. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16, while also featuring solid CPU and RAM specifications, positions itself well for general use with a durable design, effective heat management, and high refresh-rate screen, which is beneficial beyond gaming contexts.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with a powerful Intel CPU and an AMD GPU, suitable for engineering and design due to its high-resolution display and color accuracy; however, its portability is hindered by a heavier build and fewer modern port options.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
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 TUF Gaming A16 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.
Battery
12.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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."
"The A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.