Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024, GU605)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Pro 16 M2 Pro delivers exceptional display quality with its 1600-nit Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED screen and 120Hz ProMotion, making it ideal for creative professionals handling video and photo work. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 counters with a faster 240Hz OLED panel, superior raw processing power from the Intel Core Ultra 9 185H with 16 cores and 32GB RAM, plus double the base storage at 1TB. Battery longevity heavily favors MacBook Pro at 22 hours versus 10 hours for the ASUS. For creative workflows, video editing, and sustained productivity, MacBook Pro excels; for gaming, content creation requiring raw compute, and Windows users, the ASUS offers better value and performance. MacBook Pro remains the stronger choice for professionals prioritizing display calibration and battery endurance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro if…
- →Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- →Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- →M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
Buy the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024, GU605) if…
- →Gorgeous 240Hz OLED display with deep blacks
- →Sleek, thin chassis for a 16-inch gaming laptop
- →Powerful RTX 40-series GPU options
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro
Pros
- Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
- Excellent port selection including HDMI, SD card, and MagSafe
- Fantastic six-speaker sound system with spatial audio
Cons
- Heavy at 2.14 kg — not ideal for frequent travel
- 16 GB base RAM should be 32 GB at $2499
- M3 Pro lineup arrived months later making this a short-lived generation
- macOS limits gaming compared to Windows alternatives
- No Face ID — relies on Touch ID in the keyboard
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024, GU605)
Pros
- Gorgeous 240Hz OLED display with deep blacks
- Sleek, thin chassis for a 16-inch gaming laptop
- Powerful RTX 40-series GPU options
- Premium CNC aluminum build quality
- MUX Switch and Advanced Optimus support
Cons
- Expensive base configuration
- Battery life modest under load
- Soldered RAM limits future upgrades
- Runs warm under sustained gaming loads
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024, GU605) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Ventura | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 1.85 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | CNC aluminum |
| Dimensions | 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm | 354 x 246 x 16.4 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 22 hours wireless web | Up to 10 hours |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 90 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 16 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED ROG Nebula, 16:10 |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 240Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 8 TB) | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB unified | 32 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU | 16 cores (6P+8E+2LPE) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 Pro | Intel Core Ultra 9 185H |
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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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