If you prioritize a sleek design, long battery life, and a robust ecosystem for creative work like video editing, the MacBook Pro is an excellent choice despite a higher cost. Conversely, if you are focused on gaming or need a Windows-based system for specific applications, the ASUS ROG Strix offers better gaming performance and typically more customizability at a lower price but often sacrifices on battery life and portability. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024)
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
8.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
459.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a balance between performance and portability, with a high-quality CPU and RAM, excellent screen, long battery life, and a design that's easier to carry around, making it ideal for general use where mobility is a plus; the ASUS ROG Strix G16, while also having a capable CPU and RAM, prioritizes screen size and gaming performance but is heavier and may have a shorter battery life, which could affect its portability but is great for users who need more intensive computing power and don't mind the tradeoff.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
8.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
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 G16 (2024) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is equipped with a high-refresh-rate screen and a powerful GPU, making it ideal for gaming and 3D applications that demand smooth visuals and rapid response times. In contrast, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a quality GPU and excellent screen quality, its lower refresh rate and the limited availability of popular games for MacOS restrict its gaming capabilities compared to the ASUS.
Content Creation
9.1/10
8.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) is very 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
8.9/10
8.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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
9.3/10
8.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
459.0 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 MacBook Pro 16's screen excels in general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness matched with wide color gamuts, making it ideal for color-critical work and sharp text. However, it may lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth 3D visuals. In contrast, while the ASUS ROG Strix also offers a high-quality display for general and engineering tasks, it doesn't perform as well for gaming and 3D because the refresh rate might not be as high as what's desired for those activities.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
Fair
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) 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 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,423
$1,590
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) costs $1,590.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is favored for its high-resolution screen and powerful CPU, making it suitable for engineering and design professionals who prioritize visual details and smooth performance. The ASUS ROG Strix G16, with its dedicated gaming-grade GPU and ample RAM, excels in handling graphically intensive engineering tasks, though it may be less portable and noisier during heavy use compared to the MacBook.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (2024) compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 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 (2023) or the ASUS ROG Strix G16 (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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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
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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.