MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max vs ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16
MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max (#1, best overall) vs ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 (#2, best premium): in our Graphic Design Laptops scoring the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max totals 9.4/10 and the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 9/10. At $3,499 versus $2,299, the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 costs $1,200 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max | ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3499 | $2299 |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Processor | Apple M3 Max | Intel Core i9-13980HX |
| RAM | 36GB - 128GB | 32GB - 64GB |
| Storage | 512GB - 8TB SSD | 1TB - 2TB SSD |
| GPU | Apple M3 Max (up to 40-core) | NVIDIA RTX 4070 |
| Display | 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3456x2234 | 16" 4K OLED 3840x2400 |
| Weight | 4.8 lbs | 5.3 lbs |
| Battery | Up to 22 hours | Up to 9 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 MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max and the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 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 ProArt Studiobook is the best Windows pick for heavier creative work because it combines an OLED display, RTX graphics, and creator-focused controls.
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 Studiobook 16 9. The widest gap is Performance, where the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max scores 10 against 9.5 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 — cPU, GPU, RAM. Build Quality also separates them: 10 for the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 9 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16. The ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 claws back ground on Value.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Operating System — macOS on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus Windows 11 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16; CPU — Apple M3 Max on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus Intel Core i9-13980HX on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16; RAM — 36GB - 128GB on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 32GB - 64GB on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16; Storage — 512GB - 8TB SSD on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 1TB - 2TB SSD on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16; GPU — Apple M3 Max (up to 40-core) on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus NVIDIA RTX 4070 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16; Display — 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR 3456x2234 on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus 16" 4K OLED 3840x2400 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16.
Pricing as of July 5, 2026: $3,499 for the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max and $2,299 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16, a $1,200 difference in the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16's favor. 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 Studiobook 16 for studio-grade OLED and ASUS Dial controller; the most common complaint is expensive.
MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max
- Best laptop display
- Incredible M3 Max performance
- All-day battery
- Best speakers
- Very expensive
- Heavy
- macOS only
ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16
- Studio-grade OLED
- ASUS Dial controller
- Powerful specs
- Color-accurate
- Expensive
- Heavier than competition
- Bulky charger
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 Studiobook 16 is the better fit for professional video editors and 3D artists, and the stronger choice if Value matters more to you than the overall score. If the $1,200 saving matters more than Performance, the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 is the better value. The MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max is a poor fit for budget shoppers; the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 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 Studiobook 16 if
- Professional video editors
- 3D artists
- Color-critical work
Skip it if
- Budget creatives
- Portability seekers
Common questions
Is the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max better than the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16?
In our Graphic Design Laptops ranking the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max scores higher overall, 9.4 to 9, with the biggest advantage in Performance. The ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16 is stronger on Value, so it is the better pick if that matters most to you.
How much more does the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max cost than the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16?
$1,200 more as of July 5, 2026: $3,499 for the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max against $2,299 for the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16. Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Performance — 10 versus 9.5 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max and the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16?
The headline spec difference is Operating System: macOS on the MacBook Pro 16 M3 Max versus Windows 11 on the ASUS ProArt Studiobook 16. In use, the gap that matters most is Performance (10 vs 9.5 in our scoring): cPU, GPU, RAM.