ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
Core Ultra 9 · RTX 5080 · 16″ OLED
MacBook Air 13" (M5)
M5 · 13.6″ Liquid Retina · 1.23 kg
MacBook Air 13" (M5) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) lands at 93 and MacBook Air 13" (M5) at 94. That puts MacBook Air 13" (M5) ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) if…
- ✓Slim chassis for a 5080
- ✓OLED 240Hz panel
- ✓Strong thermals at 1.85 kg
Pick MacBook Air 13" (M5) if…
- ✓10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU
- ✓16 GB unified memory baseline
- ✓Up to 18 hours video playback
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testPerformance
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) leads on gpu (95 vs 86).
Battery life
MacBook Air 13" (M5)Unplugged endurance for travel and campus
MacBook Air 13" (M5) leads on battery (95 vs 78).
Portability
MacBook Air 13" (M5)Weight, size, and carry-everywhere comfort
MacBook Air 13" (M5) leads on portability (96 vs 90).
Display
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)Panel quality for creative and media work
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) leads on display (95 vs 88).
Value for money
MacBook Air 13" (M5)Specdex score per dollar at MSRP
MacBook Air 13" (M5) more score per dollar ($1,099 vs $2,699).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) | MacBook Air 13" (M5) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | — |
| GPU | RTX 5080 Laptop (150W) | — |
| RAM | ▲ 32 GB LPDDR5X-7500 | 16 GB unified (base) |
| Storage | 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | ▲ 512 GB / 1 / 2 / 4 TB SSD |
| Display | ▲ 16″ OLED, 2560×1600, 240Hz | 13.6″ IPS LED, 2560×1664 at 224 ppi |
| Weight | 1.85 kg | ▲ 1.23 kg |
| Battery | 90 Wh | — |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS 16 |
| Chip | — | Apple M5 chip (10-core CPU; 8 or 10-core GPU) |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 18 hours |
| Battery (web) | — | Up to 15 hours |
| Ports | — | MagSafe 3, 2× Thunderbolt 4, 3.5 mm |
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
- +Slim chassis for a 5080
- +OLED 240Hz panel
- +Strong thermals at 1.85 kg
- −Battery limited in gaming
- −Speakers average
- −Fans ramp at max perf
MacBook Air 13" (M5)
- +10-core CPU and up to 10-core GPU
- +16 GB unified memory baseline
- +Up to 18 hours video playback
- −No ProMotion 120 Hz display
- −2× Thunderbolt 4 (not TB5)
- −Two ports total
FAQ: ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) vs MacBook Air 13" (M5)
Which is better, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Air 13" (M5)? +
MacBook Air 13" (M5) scores 94 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) worth the price? +
At $2,699, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) delivers a Specdex score of 93 — strongest in gpu.
Is MacBook Air 13" (M5) worth the price? +
At $1,099, MacBook Air 13" (M5) delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in portability.
Does ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Air 13" (M5) last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.
Which is better for performance, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Air 13" (M5)? +
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) — leads on gpu (95 vs 86). CPU + GPU muscle for demanding work.
Which is better for battery life, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Air 13" (M5)? +
MacBook Air 13" (M5) — leads on battery (95 vs 78). Unplugged endurance for travel and campus.