The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is more geared towards gaming and high-performance tasks, thanks to its more powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 graphics card and the latest Intel i9 processor. If raw power for gaming or intensive tasks such as 3D rendering or machine learning is key for you, the M16 would be the superior option. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, while still powerful with an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 graphics, is more suited for creative work and general productivity. It prioritizes screen size and battery efficiency over the highest possible performance. You may prefer the Zenbook Pro 17 for content creation and longer battery life if your work doesn't demand the most robust graphics capabilities. However, the M16 would be better for tasks that require top-tier graphics performance, at the cost of being less portable due to its weight and potentially shorter battery life. 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 ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
Very good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Very good overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
Very good for general use
Good battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.5/10
6.9/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.2/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is superior for gaming and 3D applications primarily because it comes equipped with a higher-performing Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and a screen capable of a 240 Hz refresh rate, which offers smoother visuals and better responsiveness.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
8.1/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with a more powerful CPU and GPU, higher screen resolution, and greater color accuracy, is better suited for demanding engineering and design tasks than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, which though offering more RAM and a larger screen is less capable in graphics processing and has a lower-quality display. While the Zenbook Pro 17 is slightly lighter and may have some edge in portability, the ROG Zephyrus M16 boasts superior performance specs that are critical for intensive applications encountered in engineering and design scenarios.
Screen Quality
9.0/10
7.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
627.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a high-resolution display with vibrant color accuracy and brightness, making it well-suited for tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption that are typical in general use. It also covers a wide range of color gamuts, which is essential for engineering and design professionals who require precise color representation for their work, but its lower refresh rate isn't ideal for gaming or 3D rendering where smoother visuals are critical. In contrast, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 17 also provides a high-quality display with good color accuracy and suitable brightness for daily tasks and professional design work but falls short in providing the high refresh rates needed for optimal gaming and 3D modeling experiences.
Battery
4.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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.
Build Quality
8.5/10
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,059
$1,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a price of $2,059 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 costs $1,500.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, with its larger amount of RAM and longer battery life, provides a smoother experience for multitasking and extended use without charging, making it very good for general purposes. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers a more powerful CPU and higher screen quality, which may enhance performance and visual experience for certain tasks but comes at the expense of weight and reduced battery life, still making it a good option for general use.
Content Creation
8.2/10
8.2/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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
7.7/10
7.9/10
9.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
6.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
17.3in
4.6 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.8in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 compare to other laptops
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
Get a great deal on the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
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
100,995
Recommendations made
21,883
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.