When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024), consider that the MacBook Pro offers a balance of performance and battery life, making it suitable for professional work like video editing or graphic design and is more portable due to its thinner design. The ASUS, on the other hand, focuses on high-end gaming and intensive tasks, featuring more powerful cooling and higher graphics capabilities but is heavier and bulkier, which might not be ideal if you travel frequently. The MacBook Pro generally integrates better with other Apple products, while the ASUS will be preferable for dedicated PC gaming or complex 3D tasks. 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 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
Excellent for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
8.7/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its quality GPU and high-resolution screen, offers strong performance and clear visuals for 3D work, but its gaming options are limited due to the incompatibility with many popular games. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 boasts a superior GPU and higher screen refresh rate, making it an exceptional choice for gaming as well as 3D tasks, and its capable CPU and premium screen quality further enhance its performance for these demanding applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
9.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a balance of a high-quality CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU suited for engineering and design tasks, with an exceptional Retina display, but the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a more powerful dedicated GPU and faster CPU for demanding engineering software, although it is heavier and less portable than the MacBook. While both have excellent screens and good keyboards, the MacBook is generally quieter and has better speakers, making it more comfortable for multimedia use, but for raw performance in engineering applications, the ASUS holds an edge.
Screen Quality
9.4/10
8.7/10
16.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G18 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
For general use, the MacBook Pro boasts a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness, making it ideal for vivid and clear content viewing, whereas the ASUS ROG Strix's similarly impressive display is slightly less suited to those valuing highest brightness and crisp images. In engineering and design scenarios, the MacBook Pro's color accuracy, covering a wide range of the color spectrum, is critical for precision in visual projects, which is where it surpasses the ASUS despite its very good performance. However, for 3D tasks where high refresh rates are key to fluid motion, the lower refresh rate of the MacBook Pro's screen could hinder performance, while the ASUS ROG Strix also falls short due to its focus on other features over refresh rate.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
Poor
16.2in
SIZE
18.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,999
$2,249
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,999 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) costs $2,249.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be excellent for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021), with its high-quality CPU and RAM, delivers smooth performance for most applications while offering a sharp display and leading battery life, making it highly suitable for on-the-go users who prioritize portability and longevity. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is built to handle more demanding tasks like gaming and creative work with its powerful CPU and RAM, and while it also has a high-quality screen, its heavier build and typically shorter battery life make it less portable but a top choice for performance-focused users.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.8/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both very good for content creation.
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
8.9/10
8.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) are both very 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 (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) 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 ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
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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