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Updated February 26, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro offers a balance of performance and portability suitable for professionals in design or video editing, due to its high-quality display and optimized software for creative tasks, along with longer battery life. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix excels in gaming and VR, with top-tier graphics and cooling systems, but is bulkier and has a shorter battery life, making it less ideal for travel. If your work involves 3D rendering or you prefer gaming, the ASUS is better, but for general use and professional creative work, the MacBook Pro is a better fit. 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 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
7.4
8.7
5.8/10
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 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a strong GPU and high-quality screen which are great for 3D work; however, its screen refresh rate and limited gaming compatibility could be a setback for gamers. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 is superior for gaming due to its top-notch GPU, higher screen refresh rate, and the fact that it supports a wider range of popular games, but it's also well-suited for demanding 3D tasks thanks to its robust CPU and excellent screen quality.
Screen Quality
9.3
8.7
16.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
487.0 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, software development, and content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a screen with high resolution and brightness, which along with its superior color accuracy, makes it excellent for general use and perfect for engineering and design tasks, but its typical refresh rate limits its performance for 3D applications. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, while having a very good screen for general tasks and engineering with decent resolution and color representation, does not offer the high refresh rate expected by gamers and professionals working with 3D content. Consequently, users focused on productivity and visual work might lean towards the MacBook Pro, whereas those favoring gaming and 3D should consider other options with higher refresh rates.
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 (2023) 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
7.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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.
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Key similarities
General Use
9.1
8.7
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be excellent for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) is very good.
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 for general use, consider that the MacBook Pro offers superior screen quality, solid battery life, high-quality speakers, and a well-designed keyboard in a sleek, portable package, though at a higher cost. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, on the other hand, provides robust performance due to its powerful CPU and RAM, but it's less portable and has shorter battery life, making it ideal for intensive tasks like gaming or 3D work, with the tradeoff of increased size and reduced mobility.
Engineering and Design
8.8
9.2
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) to be excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its powerful CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen, provides a reliable and visually stunning experience for engineering and design tasks while ensuring a quiet operation and high-quality keyboard and speakers, though it may not be as easy to carry around. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 goes a step further in performance with its top-tier GPU and RAM, making it ideal for the most demanding engineering simulations and 3D design, but it's larger and heavier, which might limit its portability.
Content Creation
9.1
8.8
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be excellent for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (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
8.5
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 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 (2023) 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.
Cost
$2,423
$2,300
$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 G18 (2024) costs $2,300.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) | ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,423 | $2,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | January 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (12C) | Intel i9-14900HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 487 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"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."
ASUS ROG Strix G18 (2024)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"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 (2023) 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.
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Why trust us
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
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Recommendations made
27,148
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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