MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max vs ASUS ProArt P16 (2025)
MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max (#1, best overall) vs ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) (#2, best premium): in our Graphic Design Laptops scoring the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max totals 9.4/10 and the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) 9.1/10.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max | ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) | |
|---|---|---|
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro |
| Processor | Apple M3 Max | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 |
| RAM | 36GB - 128GB | 64GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 512GB - 8TB SSD | 2TB SSD |
| GPU | Apple M3 Max (up to 40-core) | NVIDIA RTX 5070 (8GB GDDR7) |
| Display | 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3456x2234 | 16" 4K OLED Touch 3840x2400 |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs | 4.08 lbs |
| Battery | Up to 22 hours | 90Wh |
| Color Gamut | — | 100% DCI-P3, PANTONE Validated |
| Dimensions | — | 13.97 x 9.72 x 0.59-0.68 in |
| Price | Check price → | Check price → |
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 MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max and the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) made our Top 5 Graphic Design Laptops, at #1 (best overall) and #2 (best premium). The 16-inch MacBook Pro is still the strongest all-around creative workstation in this data set thanks to its XDR display, quiet sustained performance, battery life, and broad creative-app support. The 2025 ProArt P16 is the best Windows pick for heavier creative work: its 4K OLED touchscreen (100% DCI-P3, PANTONE-validated, stylus support) rivals the MacBook Pro's display, and its RTX 5070 with 64GB of memory outpaces the XPS 15's older RTX 4070 platform for GPU-accelerated video and 3D, in a 4.08 lb chassis with ASUS's DialPad controller. It trails the MacBook Pro on battery life and sustained quiet operation.
We score graphic design laptops on Display Quality (35%), Performance (30%), Build Quality (15%), Portability (10%) and Value (10%). On that basis the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max totals 9.4 out of 10 and the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) 9.1. The widest gap is Performance, where the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max scores 10 against 9.5 for the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025): cPU, GPU, RAM. Build Quality also separates them: 10 for the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 9 for the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025). The ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) claws back ground on Portability.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus Windows 11 Pro on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025); CPU: Apple M3 Max on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025); RAM: 36GB - 128GB on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 64GB LPDDR5X on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025); Storage: 512GB - 8TB SSD on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 2TB SSD on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025); GPU: Apple M3 Max (up to 40-core) on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus NVIDIA RTX 5070 (8GB GDDR7) on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025); Display: 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3456x2234 on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 16" 4K OLED Touch 3840x2400 on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025).
Check current pricing at the merchant links below. Owners praise the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max for best laptop display and incredible M3 Max performance; the most common complaint is very expensive. Owners praise the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) for 16" 4K (3840x2400) OLED touchscreen with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, PANTONE validation and stylus support and ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 for GPU-accelerated photo, video and 3D work; the most common complaint is memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded after purchase.
MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max
- Best laptop display
- Incredible M3 Max performance
- All-day battery
- Best speakers
- Very expensive
- Heavy
- macOS only
ASUS ProArt P16 (2025)
- 16" 4K (3840x2400) OLED touchscreen with 100% DCI-P3 coverage, PANTONE validation and stylus support
- Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 and RTX 5070 for GPU-accelerated photo, video and 3D work
- 64GB of memory and a 2TB SSD in this configuration
- 4.08 lbs, light for a 16-inch laptop with a dedicated GPU
- Memory is soldered and cannot be upgraded after purchase
- The 4K OLED panel runs at 60Hz
- Expensive; sold on Amazon as an HIDevolution build (reseller-applied thermal paste) rather than a stock ASUS listing
Which should you buy?
The MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max is the better fit for professional creatives and video editors; it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Performance and Build Quality. The ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) is the better fit for windows photo and video editors and color-critical design work, and the stronger choice if Portability matters more to you than the overall score. The MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) is a poor fit for budget creatives.
Choose the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max if
- Professional creatives
- Video editors
- 3D artists
Skip it if
- Budget shoppers
- Windows users
Choose the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) if
- Windows photo and video editors
- Color-critical design work
- Illustrators who want a stylus-capable OLED
Skip it if
- Budget creatives
- Buyers who need upgradeable memory
Common questions
Is the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max better than the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025)?
In our Graphic Design Laptops ranking the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max scores higher overall, 9.4 to 9.1, with the biggest advantage in Performance. The ASUS ProArt P16 (2025) is stronger on Portability, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
What is the main difference between the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max and the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025)?
The headline spec difference is Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus Windows 11 Pro on the ASUS ProArt P16 (2025). In use, the gap that matters most is Performance (10 vs 9.5 in our scoring): cPU, GPU, RAM.