Asus ProArt P16 Review: The Ultimate MacBook Pro Rival
If you’re in the market for a high-performance 16-inch laptop that won’t break the bank, the Asus ProArt P16 is definitely worth considering. Priced at $2,300, this laptop offers outstanding productivity performance with a very fast Ryzen AI 9 chipset and a spectacular OLED display. In this review, we’ll take a closer look at the design, performance, gaming capabilities, AI performance, battery life, display quality, and more to help you decide if the ProArt P16 is the right choice for your creative needs.
Design and Build Quality
The Asus ProArt P16 features an all-black chassis and lid that bear a striking resemblance to the MacBook Pro 16. While it may not be a perfect match, the ProArt P16’s design elements definitely draw inspiration from Apple’s flagship laptop. The ProArt P16 is slightly lighter than the MacBook Pro 16, making it a bit more portable. However, the laptop’s bottom lid and keyboard deck are not as rigid as some of its competitors, which may be a drawback for users looking for a more solid build.
Keyboard, Touchpad, and DialPad
The ProArt P16’s keyboard is similar to that of the MacBook Pro 16 and Dell XPS 16, featuring large keycaps and snappy switches. While the keyboard is comfortable to use, the touchpad falls a bit short compared to the MacBook’s Force Touch trackpad. One unique feature of the ProArt P16 is the DialPad, which is a circular indentation in the touchpad with an embedded button. This feature allows for additional interaction with various applications and comes with the ProArt Creator Hub utility, offering a range of useful functionalities for creative work.
Connectivity and Webcam
In terms of connectivity, the ProArt P16 offers a mix of ports, including USB4 and legacy ports, along with a full-size SD card reader. The laptop’s webcam is a 1080p version with an infrared camera for Windows 11 Hello facial recognition. While the ProArt P16 may not have as many Thunderbolt 4 ports as some of its competitors, it still provides adequate connectivity for most users’ needs.
Performance and Gaming Capabilities
Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 chipset and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU, the ProArt P16 delivers excellent performance for both productivity tasks and creative applications. The laptop performs well in CPU-intensive benchmarks and excels in GPU-intensive tasks, making it a great choice for content creators and professionals. When it comes to gaming, the ProArt P16 can handle modern titles at high graphics settings, although more demanding games may require adjustments to maintain smooth frame rates.
AI Performance and Battery Life
The ProArt P16’s AI performance is impressive, thanks to the Ryzen AI 9 chipset’s Neural Processing Unit (NPU) that offers fast on-device AI capabilities. While it’s challenging to directly compare AI performance across different chipsets, the ProArt P16 stands out for its efficiency and speed in AI tasks. In terms of battery life, the laptop manages to deliver around 8.5 hours in web browsing tests and 11 hours in video looping tests, making it a decent option for users on the go.
Display Quality and Audio
The ProArt P16’s 4K+ OLED display is one of its standout features, offering vibrant colors, excellent color accuracy, and high contrast. While the refresh rate may not be as high as some other displays, the OLED panel provides an immersive viewing experience for creators. The laptop’s audio quality is also noteworthy, with a six-speaker sound system, Dolby Atmos support, and Harmon Kardon certification. While the audio output is loud and bass-heavy, there may be some distortion at higher volumes.
A MacBook Pro Rival Done Right
Overall, the Asus ProArt P16 is a compelling option for users looking for a high-performance 16-inch laptop that rivals the MacBook Pro. With its powerful Ryzen AI 9 chipset, stunning OLED display, and solid performance across various tasks, the ProArt P16 offers excellent value for its price. While it may not be the absolute best in every aspect, the ProArt P16 excels in providing a fast and reliable computing experience for creators and professionals.