Asus ProArt P16: A Compelling MacBook Pro Rival That Rewards Creative Tinkerers

In the competitive landscape of high-performance laptops, Apple's MacBook Pro has long set the gold standard for creatives and professionals alike. But the newly released Asus ProArt P16 is challenging that dominance with a blend of raw power, innovative input methods, and deep customization options. Drawing from hands-on testing and benchmarking, this AMD-powered machine proves that Windows laptops can deliver on the promise of creative excellence—provided you're willing to roll up your sleeves.

Hardware That Powers Creative Ambitions

At the heart of the ProArt P16 lies the AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, a 12-core, 24-thread beast equipped with a 50 TOPS NPU for AI-accelerated tasks. Paired with 32GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 GPU supporting DLSS 3 and ray tracing, it's well-suited for demanding applications like video editing in Premiere Pro, 3D rendering in Blender, or even machine learning workflows in TensorFlow. For developers building AI models or engineers optimizing graphics pipelines, this hardware stack offers a robust foundation without the ecosystem lock-in of macOS.

The standout feature, however, is the 16-inch AMOLED touchscreen: a 3840 x 2400 resolution panel with 500 nits brightness and a glossy finish that makes colors pop. It's not just visually stunning—it's Pantone-validated for color accuracy, crucial for graphic designers and photographers. The included stylus is responsive and pressure-sensitive, enabling precise sketching without the need for a convertible form factor. The display hinges at a generous angle and stays firm, avoiding the wobble common in tablet-mode laptops.

Innovative Controls for Modern Workflows

What sets the ProArt P16 apart from cookie-cutter ultrabooks is Asus' DialPad—a customizable physical dial embedded in the trackpad. This isn't mere gimmickry; it allows quick adjustments like resizing brushes in Photoshop or scrubbing timelines in DaVinci Resolve with a flick of the finger. Out of the box, it's disabled, requiring a specific trackpad gesture to activate, which feels like an oversight for such a flagship feature. Once set up, though, it integrates seamlessly into creative and even productivity apps, from Excel macros to browser extensions for web developers.

The keyboard is equally impressive: silent, tactile keys that facilitate long coding sessions or scriptwriting marathons. The massive trackpad, with its matte texture, provides ample real estate for gestures, though cold hands might cause occasional lag— a minor quibble fixable via driver tweaks.

Optimization: The Key to Unlocking Performance

Don't expect the ProArt P16 to shine right away. Initial benchmarks showed it lagging behind expectations until a full suite of Windows updates, driver installations, and Asus' MyAsus app optimizations were applied. Post-update, it delivered competitive scores: Geekbench 6 single-core at 2,904 and multi-core at 12,787, slotting it between the M3 and M4 MacBook Pros. Cinebench 24 multi-core hit 1,096, underscoring its prowess for multi-threaded tasks like compiling large codebases or rendering complex scenes.

For tech leads managing teams, this emphasis on optimization mirrors real-world DevOps practices—tuning systems for peak efficiency. Battery life also surprised, offering over 10 hours for mixed use and around seven for intensive creative work, thanks to intelligent power profiles.

Implications for Developers and Creatives

In an era where AI tools are reshaping creative pipelines—from generative art in Stable Diffusion to automated code reviews—the ProArt P16's NPU positions it as a forward-thinking choice. It's not for those wanting Apple's seamless integration; instead, it appeals to tinkerers who value modularity. Pricing starts at $1,900, making it accessible compared to high-end MacBooks, with configurations that let you scale RAM and storage to fit budgets.

Asus has crafted a laptop that doesn't just compete with the MacBook Pro—it invites users to redefine their workflows. Whether you're a developer prototyping AR experiences or an engineer simulating neural networks, the ProArt P16 rewards investment with unparalleled flexibility, proving that true innovation often comes from getting your hands dirty.

Source: This article is based on the ZDNET review by Kyle Kucharski, published November 14, 2025.