Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro vs ASUS ROG Ally
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro and ASUS ROG Ally sit in the same category and end up appealing to slightly different buyers. The ASUS ROG Ally is the cheaper of the two at $699 versus $1,999, a difference of about $1,300. The Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro stands out for m5 pro: 18-core cpu with super cores, 4x ai performance vs m4, while ASUS ROG Ally is praised for ryzen z1 extreme with rdna 3 gpu outperforms steam deck in raw power. Use the side-by-side spec table below to compare cameras, displays, battery life and connectivity in detail and decide which one fits your priorities.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro if…
- →M5 Pro: 18-core CPU with super cores, 4x AI performance vs M4
- →Thunderbolt 5 connectivity
- →Up to 24 hours battery life
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally if…
- →Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- →Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- →Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro
Pros
- M5 Pro: 18-core CPU with super cores, 4x AI performance vs M4
- Thunderbolt 5 connectivity
- Up to 24 hours battery life
- Wi-Fi 7 via N1 chip
- Starts at 1TB storage
Cons
- $1999 starting price
- No touchscreen
- Non-upgradable RAM and storage
ASUS ROG Ally
Pros
- Ryzen Z1 Extreme with RDNA 3 GPU outperforms Steam Deck in raw power
- Full 1080p IPS display at 120Hz for sharper and smoother gaming
- Windows 11 gives access to all PC game stores and launchers
- Lighter at 608 g compared to the Steam Deck
- MicroSD expansion for extra game storage
Cons
- 40 Wh battery provides very poor endurance — as low as 1.5 hours
- Windows 11 is not optimized for handheld — requires workarounds
- Only one USB-C port limits simultaneous charging and peripherals
- No OLED — IPS LCD has weaker contrast and no true blacks
- Fan noise is loud under heavy gaming loads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M5 Pro | ASUS ROG Ally |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 608 g |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic chassis |
| Dimensions | 15.5 x 22.1 x 1.55 cm | 280.0 x 111.4 x 32.4 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | — |
| SD card | — | |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 24 hours | 1.5-7 hours (game dependent) |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 40 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 7 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB | — |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB | 16 GB LPDDR5 (6400 MT/s) |
| Cores | 18 cores (6 super + 12 performance) | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU |
| Chipset | Apple M5 Pro (18-core CPU, 20-core GPU) | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | — | 512 GB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2 |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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