ASUS
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
Core Ultra 9 · RTX 5080 · 16″ OLED
93
/ 100
From $2,699
VS
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) wins by 3
Apple
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
M5 Max · 16.2″ XDR · Up to 128 GB unified
96
/ 100
From $3,499
Specdex verdict
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) lands at 93 and MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) at 96. That puts MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) ahead by 3 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 Pro 16" (M5 Max) if…
- ✓18-core CPU + 40-core GPU (M5 Max top config)
- ✓Up to 22 hours video playback
- ✓Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) 93
vs 96 MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Score breakdown
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
93 cpu 93
gpu 95
display 95
battery 78
portability 90
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
96 cpu 98
gpu 92
display 98
battery 96
portability 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) | MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) |
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core Ultra 9 285H | — |
| GPU | RTX 5080 Laptop (150W) | — |
| RAM | 32 GB LPDDR5X-7500 | ▲ Up to 128 GB unified |
| Storage | ▲ 2 TB PCIe 4.0 SSD | 1 / 2 / 4 / 8 TB SSD |
| Display | 16″ OLED, 2560×1600, 240Hz | ▲ 16.2″ Liquid Retina XDR, 3456×2234 at 254 ppi |
| Weight | ▲ 1.85 kg | 2.15 kg |
| Battery | 90 Wh | — |
| OS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS 16 |
| Chip | — | Apple M5 Max chip (18-core CPU, 32-core GPU base, configurable to 40-core GPU) |
| Battery (video) | — | Up to 22 hours |
| Battery (web) | — | Up to 16 hours |
| Ports | — | 3× Thunderbolt 5, MagSafe 3, SDXC, HDMI, 3.5 mm |
ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025)
Pros
- +Slim chassis for a 5080
- +OLED 240Hz panel
- +Strong thermals at 1.85 kg
Cons
- −Battery limited in gaming
- −Speakers average
- −Fans ramp at max perf
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Pros
- +18-core CPU + 40-core GPU (M5 Max top config)
- +Up to 22 hours video playback
- +Three Thunderbolt 5 ports
Cons
- −Heavy at 2.15 kg
- −Premium pricing unchanged
- −Limited gaming library on macOS
FAQ: ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) vs MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)
Which is better, ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max)? +
MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. 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 Pro 16" (M5 Max) worth the price? +
At $3,499, MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in cpu.
Does ROG Zephyrus G16 (2025) or MacBook Pro 16" (M5 Max) 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.