ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 vs MacBook Air M4
ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 (#2, best premium) vs MacBook Air M4 (#5, best value): in our Graphic Design Laptops scoring the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 totals 9/10 and the MacBook Air M4 8.3/10. At $2,299 versus $1,099, the MacBook Air M4 costs $1,200 less.
We may earn a commission when you buy through our links. Prices and availability shown are accurate as of Jul 5, 2026 and are subject to change; the merchant's price at purchase applies.
Side by side
| ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 | MacBook Air M4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2299 | $1099 |
| OS | Windows 11 | macOS |
| Processor | Intel Core i9-13980HX | Apple M4 (10-core CPU) |
| RAM | 32GB - 64GB | 16GB - 32GB |
| Storage | 1TB - 2TB SSD | 256GB - 2TB SSD |
| GPU | NVIDIA RTX 4070 | Apple M4 (8 or 10-core) |
| Display | 16" 4K OLED 3840x2400 | 13.6" Liquid Retina 2560x1664 |
| Weight | 5.3 lbs | 2.7 lbs |
| Battery | Up to 9 hours | Up to 18 hours |
How they differ in real use
Built from our graphic design laptops scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 and the MacBook Air M4 made our Top 5 Graphic Design Laptops, at #2 (best premium) and #5 (best value). The ProArt Studiobook is the best Windows pick for heavier creative work because it combines an OLED display, RTX graphics, and creator-focused controls. The MacBook Air M4 replaces the dead HP Envy listing as the lightweight value pick for Figma, Illustrator, Photoshop, and light creative work; it is not the right choice for heavy video or 3D.
We score graphic design laptops on Display Quality (35%), Performance (30%), Build Quality (15%), Portability (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 totals 9 out of 10 and the MacBook Air M4 8.3. The widest gap is Display Quality, where the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 scores 10 against 8 for the MacBook Air M4 — color accuracy, brightness. Performance also separates them: 9.5 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus 8.1 for the MacBook Air M4. The MacBook Air M4 claws back ground on Portability and Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Operating System — Windows 11 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus macOS on the MacBook Air M4; CPU — Intel Core i9-13980HX on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus Apple M4 (10-core CPU) on the MacBook Air M4; RAM — 32GB - 64GB on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus 16GB - 32GB on the MacBook Air M4; Storage — 1TB - 2TB SSD on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus 256GB - 2TB SSD on the MacBook Air M4; GPU — NVIDIA RTX 4070 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus Apple M4 (8 or 10-core) on the MacBook Air M4; Display — 16" 4K OLED 3840x2400 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus 13.6" Liquid Retina 2560x1664 on the MacBook Air M4.
Pricing as of July 5, 2026: $2,299 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 and $1,099 for the MacBook Air M4, a $1,200 difference in the MacBook Air M4's favor. Owners praise the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 for studio-grade OLED and ASUS Dial controller; the most common complaint is expensive. Owners praise the MacBook Air M4 for exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours) and silent fanless design; the most common complaint is only 2 Thunderbolt ports.
ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16
- Studio-grade OLED
- ASUS Dial controller
- Powerful specs
- Color-accurate
- Expensive
- Heavier than competition
- Bulky charger
MacBook Air M4
- Exceptional battery life (up to 18 hours)
- Silent fanless design
- 16GB RAM now standard
- M4 chip with 10-core CPU
- Only 2 Thunderbolt ports
- No ProMotion display (60Hz)
- Expensive for students
Which should you buy?
The ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 is the better fit for professional video editors and 3D artists — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Display Quality and Performance. The MacBook Air M4 is the better fit for students wanting premium and macOS users, and the stronger choice if Portability and Value matter more to you than the overall score. If the $1,200 saving matters more than Display Quality, the MacBook Air M4 is the better value. The ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 is a poor fit for budget creatives; the MacBook Air M4 is a poor fit for budget students.
Choose the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 if
- Professional video editors
- 3D artists
- Color-critical work
Skip it if
- Budget creatives
- Portability seekers
Choose the MacBook Air M4 if
- Students wanting premium
- macOS users
- Long lecture days
Skip it if
- Budget students
- Windows users
Common questions
Is the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 better than the MacBook Air M4?
In our Graphic Design Laptops ranking the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 scores higher overall, 9 to 8.3, with the biggest advantage in Display Quality. The MacBook Air M4 is stronger on Portability and Value, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 cost than the MacBook Air M4?
$1,200 more as of July 5, 2026: $2,299 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 against $1,099 for the MacBook Air M4. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Display Quality — 10 versus 8 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 and the MacBook Air M4?
The headline spec difference is Operating System: Windows 11 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 versus macOS on the MacBook Air M4. In use, the gap that matters most is Display Quality (10 vs 8 in our scoring): color accuracy, brightness.