Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs ASUS ROG Ally
The Verdict
The Apple MacBook Pro 16" 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 $2,499, a difference of about $1,800. The Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro is the newer release, which usually means a faster chipset and longer software support. Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro stands out for largest macbook display at 16.2 inches, 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 16" M5 Pro if…
- →Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- →M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- →100 Wh battery with 24-hour 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 16" M5 Pro
Pros
- Largest MacBook display at 16.2 inches
- M5 Pro or M5 Max configurations
- 100 Wh battery with 24-hour life
- Thunderbolt 5
- Up to 96GB RAM with M5 Max
Cons
- 2.14 kg is heavy
- $2499 starting price
- Non-upgradable components
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 16" M5 Pro | ASUS ROG Ally |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS 17 | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 608 g |
| Material | Recycled aluminum | Plastic chassis |
| Dimensions | 17.7 x 24.8 x 1.68 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 | 100 Wh | 40 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 7 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR, nano-texture option | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 1 TB / 2 TB / 4 TB / 8 TB | — |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB / 48 GB / 96 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 |
Want to compare a third product?
Add another product for a 3-way comparison.
Related Comparisons
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs MSI GE76 Raider
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs HP OMEN 17
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Dell XPS 13 (2023)
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Apple MacBook Pro 14" M2 Pro
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro
- Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro vs MSI Stealth 16 Studio
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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all ASUS products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M5 Pro or the ASUS ROG Ally.