Head to head

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) vs MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)

MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) leads 6 to 4 on the 10 rankable specs, but ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) costs $1,200 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Panel: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 lists ROG Nebula OLED (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lists Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED (nano-texture optional) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Processor: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 lists Intel Core Ultra 9 185H (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lists Apple M4 Max (16-core CPU: 12 performance + 4 efficiency, 16-core Neural Engine) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Memory: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 lists 32GB LPDDR5x (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lists 36 GB unified memory (configurable up to 128 GB) (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).
Claimed battery life: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 lists ~8–10 hours productivity (other published figure, not on maker sheet); MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lists Up to 24 hours video streaming / 17 hours wireless web (other published figure, not on maker sheet).
Size: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 lists 16.0 inches (ASUS sheet, 2026-09-02); MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) lists 16.2 inches (Apple sheet, 2026-09-02).

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)

$2,2994 spec wins

Swap

Compare a different laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition$999 MacBook Air 13" (M3)$1,099 MacBook Air 15" (M3)$1,299 Dell XPS 13 (2024)$1,299 Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (15")$1,499 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)$1,599 MacBook Pro 14" (M4)$1,599 HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)$1,699 Dell XPS 14 (2024)$1,699 Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16$1,799 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12$1,849 Framework Laptop 16$1,999 MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro)$1,999 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition$1,999 Dell XPS 16 (2024)$2,199 MacBook Pro 16" (2024)$2,499 Razer Blade 16 (2024)$2,999

MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)

$3,4996 spec wins

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Compare a different laptop

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your laptop.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 4 to 6

Buy the MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).

Leads 6 of 10 rankable overall specs; ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 takes 4.
Memory: 36 GB unified memory vs 32GB LPDDR5x
Claimed battery life: Up to 24 hours video streaming / 17 hours… vs ~8–10 hours productivity
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is $1,200 cheaper. Pay the difference only if memory matters to you.

Check first: the MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) has macOS, not Windows. Tick them under deal-breakers if that rules it out.

4 ASUS ROG Zephyrus G1610 rankable of 29 specsMacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) 6

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

No touchscreenrow
No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.
Trips:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 · NoTrips:MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) · No
RAM cannot be upgradedrow
The memory you buy today is the memory you keep.
Trips:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 · No (soldered)Trips:MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) · No (soldered unified memory)
macOS, not Windowsrow
Windows-only software such as some CAD, games and corporate VPN clients needs a workaround.
Clear:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 · Windows 11 HomeTrips:MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) · macOS Sequoia
Over 4 lb (1.8 kg)row
Heavy in a backpack on a daily commute.
Trips:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 · 4.30 lbTrips:MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) · 4.7 lb

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

4 of 4 differ

Panel≠

ASUS

ROG Nebula OLED

Apple

Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED (nano-texture optional)

Processor≠

ASUS

Intel Core Ultra 9 185H

Apple

Apple M4 Max (16-core CPU: 12 performance + 4 efficiency, 16-core Neural Engine)

Memory

ASUS

32GB LPDDR5x

Apple

36 GB unified memory (configurable up to 128 GB)

Claimed battery life

ASUS

~8–10 hours productivity

Apple

Up to 24 hours video streaming / 17 hours wireless web

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

ASUS: What to watch for

Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

Apple: What to watch for

Maintenance
Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.
Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16$2,2994 wins

MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)$3,4996 wins

Display Performance Build & input Ports Battery Software

28 of 29 attributes differ. Identical rows are dimmed.

Display

leads 3-1

Display specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Size	16.0 inches	16.2 inches (wins this row: higher)
Panel	ROG Nebula OLED	Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED (nano-texture optional)
Resolution	2560 × 1600 (2.5K)	3456 × 2234 (254 ppi) (wins this row: higher)
Refresh rate	240 Hz (wins this row: higher)	120 Hz (ProMotion)
BrightnessNot on the official sheet	500 nits peak HDR	1000 nits SDR, 1600 nits peak HDR (wins this row: higher)
Color	100% DCI-P3, Pantone Validated	P3 wide color
Touchscreen	No	No

Performance

6 differences

Performance specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Processor	Intel Core Ultra 9 185H	Apple M4 Max (16-core CPU: 12 performance + 4 efficiency, 16-core Neural Engine)
Graphics	NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 (12GB GDDR6)	Integrated 40-core Apple GPU with hardware ray tracing
Memory	32GB LPDDR5x	36 GB unified memory (configurable up to 128 GB) (wins this row: higher)
RAM upgradable	No (soldered)	No (soldered unified memory)
Storage	1TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD	1 TB PCIe SSD
Storage upgradable	Yes (2× M.2 slots) (wins this row: has it)	No (soldered SSD)

Build & input

leads 2-0

Build & input specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Weight	4.30 lb (1.95 kg) (wins this row: lower)	4.7 lb (2.14 kg)
Thickness	16.4 mm (wins this row: lower)	16.8 mm (0.66 inches)
Materials	CNC Aluminum unibody	100% recycled aluminum unibody
Keyboard	RGB backlit stealth keyboard with 1.7mm travel	Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and full-height function row
Trackpad	Extra-large glass touchpad	Force Touch trackpad
Webcam	1080p FHD IR with Windows Hello	12MP Center Stage camera with Desk View
Speakers	6-speaker system with dual force-canceling woofers	High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers and Spatial Audio

Ports

leads 1-0

Ports specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Thunderbolt / USB-C	1× Thunderbolt 4 + 1× USB-C 3.2 Gen 2	3× Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120 Gb/s)
HDMI	HDMI 2.1 FRL	1× HDMI 2.1 (up to 8K 60Hz or 4K 240Hz)
SD card	SD Express 7.0	1× SDXC card slot
MagSafe	No (Slim Power Jack)	Yes (MagSafe 3) (wins this row: has it)
Headphone jack	Yes (3.5 mm combo)	Yes (3.5 mm with high-impedance support)
Charger	240W AC + 100W USB-C PD support	140W USB-C Power Adapter (fast-charge capable)

Battery

leads 1-0

Battery specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Claimed battery lifeNot on the official sheet	~8–10 hours productivity	Up to 24 hours video streaming / 17 hours wireless web (wins this row: higher)

Software

2 differences

Software specifications. Middle column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024), right column is MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max).
Operating system	Windows 11 Home	macOS Sequoia
Repairability	Medium (swappable SSDs and Wi-Fi card)	Low (integrated SoC design)

Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) source MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) source

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)

Sleek aluminum gaming laptop with 2.5K 240Hz OLED ROG Nebula display and RTX 4080 GPU.

Gorgeous 2.5K 240Hz OLED G-Sync screen
Thin and rigid CNC aluminum chassis
Exceptional gaming and creator GPU horsepower

What you give up

Soldered memory cannot be upgraded
High fan noise under maximum synthetic loads

Full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) specs →

Pick this one if

MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)

16.2-inch professional powerhouse with Apple M4 Max chip, Liquid Retina XDR with nano-texture option, Thunderbolt 5, and up to 24 hours battery life.

Unrivaled M4 Max CPU/GPU sustained performance
Liquid Retina XDR with up to 1,600 nits HDR and optional nano-texture glass
Three high-speed Thunderbolt 5 ports (up to 120 Gb/s)

What you give up

Heavy at 4.7 lb (2.14 kg)
Expensive high-end configuration

Full MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) specs →

Best for each use

Travel

In a bag every day: weight, battery, a screen you can read on a train

Tied on travel. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is cheaper.

The 4 rankable travel specs split 2 to 2.
Saves $1,200 at list price.

Heavy work

Video, 3D, compiles or games: CPU, GPU, memory and panel quality

Tied on heavy work. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is cheaper.

The 2 rankable heavy work specs split 1 to 1.
Saves $1,200 at list price.

Longevity

Keep it five years: upgradable parts, repairability, ports without dongles

Too close to call on longevity from the spec sheets. Only storage upgradable is rankable here.

RAM upgradable: No vs No
Repairability: Medium vs Low

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) spec sheet MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024) ↗ · MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max) ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 or the MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)?

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 costs $1,200 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 or MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)?

Both has this deal-breaker: no touchscreen. No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.

Which is better for travel, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 or the MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)?

Tied on travel. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 is cheaper. The 4 rankable travel specs split 2 to 2. Saves $1,200 at list price.

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 29 specs tracked here, 19 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

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