5 ASUS Laptops More Powerful Than the MacBook Pro

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For creative workflows like music and video production, the MacBook Pro M5 Pro is the benchmark most buyers turn to. But what about raw graphics power, gaming, and other GPU-intensive tasks like local AI models, 3D model design, and more? ASUS is meeting this demand with RTX 50 series discrete graphics on Windows. We’re talking about the Nvidia RTX 5070, 5080, and 5090 laptop GPUs versus the M5 Pro integrated graphics.

It’s not completely one-sided: Apple’s M5 Pro chip is best in terms of efficiency, battery life, and quiet operation, while ASUS offers far more raw power and the flexibility of Windows. An ASUS laptop could even serve as a dedicated games console with Xbox mode. The Apple M5 Pro chip features an 18-core CPU with six super cores and 12 performance cores, as well as a 20-core GPU capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing. It also features a 16-core neural engine, featuring neural accelerators and a total memory bandwidth of 153 GB/s.

Performance varies depending on which ASUS laptop is the most powerful, but focusing on the RTX 5070 laptop’s GPU reveals a 5th gen Tensor chip and 4th gen ray tracing cores offering 798 AI TOPS. It can also use DLSS 4.5 multi-frame generation to achieve at least twice the frame rate performance that silicon alone can produce, as well as image scaling. There are plenty of laptops more powerful than the M5 MacBook Pro, and these are just a few of the machines ASUS offers in different price ranges.

For many, the ASUS ROG Strix SCAR 18 is a dream gaming setup. In terms of configuration, it can pack up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, up to an RTX 5090 laptop GPU at 175W max TGP, an 18-inch Nebula HDR Mini 4K LED display (240Hz and 2,000+ local dimming zones, advanced vapor chamber and triple-fan cooling, and tool-less upgrade for SSDs, RAM, and fans cooling.

Compared to the M5 Pro, the 290HX Plus has 14/14 additional CPU cores/threads, with 4 additional cores running 0.89-1.79 GHz more in Core Cluster 1 and 10 additional Core 2 clusters running 0.90-1.65 GHz more. Intel’s top-end chip also has an additional 12MB of L2 cache and 36MB of L3 cache that the M5 Pro doesn’t have at all. It’s also overclockable, something Apple’s closed ecosystem would never allow.

It goes without saying that the RTX 5090 laptop GPU is much better than the M5 Pro’s integrated GPU. Up to 47% better in 3DMark Steel Nomad Lite, 2.7x higher peak theoretical performance at 45.3 vs. 16.6 TFLOPS, 46% higher memory bandwidth at 896 vs. 614 GB/s, and over 2x more shading units at 10,496 vs. 5,120. The M5 Pro is much more power efficient, but it can’t compete with the ROG Strix SCAR. 18, ASUS’ most powerful laptop, at $4,999.99.

The $3,449.99 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is the choice for buyers who want the MacBook aesthetic without committing to Apple’s closed ecosystem. This particular model features an Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor, which again ranks above the performance of the Apple M5 Pro silicon.

Despite having 2/2 fewer CPU cores/threads, Core Cluster 1 has two fewer cores but runs better from 0.29 to 1.19 GHz, while Cluster 2 has two fewer cores, running from 0.65 to 0.7 GHz faster, and Cluster 3 is a premium over the M5 Pro chip, with 4 Darkmont LP cores running from 1.6 to 3.5 GHz. The L2 cache is 6MB lower, but it has an additional 18MB L3 cache. Like the M5 Pro, the 386H doesn’t support overclocking, which is a wise decision in such a slim chassis.

The 10-core M5 Pro GPU is also well below the RTX 5080 laptop GPU. It packs 16GB of GDDR7 memory while hitting an additional GPU frequency of 790MHz. The benchmark scores speak volumes, scoring an additional 12,315 points in 3DMark Steel Nomad Lite, an additional 102,365 on GeekBench v6 GB6 Compute, and an additional 5,258 in GB6 ML Single Precision as well as an additional 7,068 in GB6 ML Half Precision. The only problem with the G16 is that it doesn’t have two Thunderbolt ports like the MacBook Pro.

For creators who need dedicated graphics power, the ASUS ProArt P16 is a killer of the $3,999.99 M5 MacBook Pro. Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 CPU and RTX 5070 laptop GPU combo destroys the apple-shaped elephant in the room, with a 16-inch 4K touchscreen and small local AI capabilities.

When it comes to CPU performance, the HX 370 has 6 fewer CPU cores with 6 more threads, which balances the performance of the Core Cluster. Core Cluster 1 has 2 fewer cores but performs better from 0.49 to 1.09 GHz, just like Core Cluster 2, with 4 fewer cores and 0.15 to 1.10 GHz faster. Its L2 cache has 10 MB less space, but benefits from a 24 MB L3 cache without overclocking.

Nvidia’s RTX 5070 laptop GPU would be my personal entry point into 50 series portable performance, and it still destroys the M5 Pro GPU. It runs 900 MHz above the M5’s GPU boost frequency and packs 2,048 shader units, so ProArt 16 should easily handle image and video rendering as well as 3D modeling. It also makes a solid gaming PC in a slim Razer Blade-style chassis with 2TB of storage to keep the lag installed. The icing on the cake here is the 64GB of LPDDR5X RAM, which is more than enough for creatives and gamers.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is a brilliant alternative to the $3,469.99 MacBook 14 M5 Pro. The MacBook 14 runs the M5 silicon with a 15-core CPU/16-core GPU, and the G14 practically hits the finish line in comparison, with a stunning 2.8K 120Hz OLED display.

Its AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 trades punch with this M5 Pro model, which still offers excellent overall performance. It has three fewer CPU cores but nine more threads. Its first Core Cluster has one fewer core but performs better from 0.49 to 1.09 GHz, while Core Cluster 2 has two fewer cores but performs better from 0.15 to 1.10 GHz. It also has 10 MB less L2 cache but benefits from 24 MB L3 cache. In short, it’s a fantastic processor.

The MacBook 14’s M5 Pro also has four fewer GPU cores, or 16, compared to the other higher-spec M5 Pro, which has 20 GPU cores. As expected, the RTX 5080 laptop GPU dominates in the benchmark comparisons. It scores 13,780 in 3DMark Steel Nomad Lite, 15,119 in GB6 Compute Score, 7,177 in GB6 ML Single Precision, and 9,775 in GB6 ML Half Precision. Its GPU Boost frequency is 790 MHz higher and it also has 5,632 shader units. Since this GPU is DLSS 4.5 compatible, the G14 is a great laptop and powerful enough for all types of users.

The big surprise in the ASUS lineup is the TUF Gaming A16, which outperforms a MacBook Pro M5 Pro 15 CPU/16 GPU model while saving $75 at $2,224.99. The screen isn’t as good, but it still does a great job for a 16-inch FHD+ display at 165Hz. The lesson with the A16 is don’t spend money on more computer than you need. 16GB of DDR5 RAM, for example, is more than enough, and the MacBook Pro’s 24GB doesn’t make much of a difference in real-world gaming.

The A16’s AMD Ryzen 9 8940HX has one more core and more than double the number of threads at 17. It has a core cluster with 16x Zen 4 at 2.40-5.30 GHz, delivering 0.69-1.49 GHz higher performance than the M5 Pro. It lags by 6MB in its L2 cache, but its L3 cache is 64MB and supports overclocking. Overall, it’s a great processor choice for the price.

The RTX 5070 is also a good match for a powerful ASUS laptop, costing half the price of the current flagship. The 5070 scores 59,002 more than the M5 Pro GPU in Geekbench 6 and is a fantastic alternative to a MacBook Pro.

We wanted to show how much more raw computing and graphics power ASUS laptops have than MacBooks, and why a dedicated graphics processing unit in a Windows ecosystem is better for gamers and creatives. Specifically, we compare the Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series laptop GPUs to the capabilities of the Apple M5 Pro GPU using specifications from Amazon and Best Buy listings and component spec comparison services such as CPU-Monkey and Nano Review.

We didn’t compare battery life and noise levels because the MacBook Pros will still come out on top here thanks to their fanless design and optimized performance. As with all laptops, prices and specifications may change after this article, so check current listings before committing to purchase. All included store links refer to the listing for the ASUS or Apple laptop in question at the time of writing.

While Apple’s MacBook Pros and their silicon M5 series are highly optimized within a closed ecosystem, ASUS laptops offer additional raw power and the flexibility to upgrade and run a wider range of software. When you look at the MacBook Pro with gaming glasses, it’s obvious that a Windows laptop with a high-performance CPU and a dedicated current-generation GPU is the best option for gaming compatibility alone.