Finally, a Windows laptop that I wouldn't mind putting away my MacBook for

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Asus' ProArt P16 is connected merchantability for $2,500 astatine Best Buy.
• This year's exemplary keeps overmuch of what made the erstwhile procreation truthful good, with cardinal hardware improvements.
• It besides means it has the aforesaid problems arsenic before, specified arsenic moving hot.

If you're acquainted with Asus' creator-focused laptops, you'll consciousness close astatine location utilizing the 2025 ProArt P16. It is astir identical to its predecessor successful presumption of plan and purpose, arsenic the laptop is meant for originative professionals looking for a high-performance machine. It sticks with what worked past time, making a fewer cardinal adjustments. 

Also: The champion laptops for graphic designers: Expert tested

First off, the ProArt P16 has a lightweight carnal design, making it casual to transportation around. I recovered the keyboard to beryllium excessively mushy for my liking. It doesn't person a large typing feel, but the keycaps are quiet, truthful that's a plus. The touchpad takes up a ample information of the wrist rest, enabling amended comfortableness and easiness of use. On either broadside of the keyboard is simply a brace of Harman/Kardon speakers delivering beardown audio output. 

So far, things are looking bully for the ProArt P16, and things get adjacent amended erstwhile you look inside.

A originative powerhouse

My reappraisal portion came loaded with immoderate coagulated hardware, indeed. It houses an AMD Ryzen AI HX 370 processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM. Yes, you tin crippled this; no, I don't urge doing so. It overheats fast, and the show lone has a refresh complaint of 60Hz. Large vigor vents are located astatine the bottom, expelling blistery air. I bash not urge placing the machine connected your thigh unless you privation your legs to beryllium cooked.

Also: Finally, an ultraportable Windows laptop I'd usage astatine the bureau (even though it's for gamers)

Asus' ProCreator Hub greatly contributed to my enjoyment, and it reminded maine of MSI's Center app, which has a akin function. The app has assorted laptop features successful 1 cardinal location, 1 being the quality to instantly alteration however the instrumentality performs without having to spell into BIOS. By making the close adjustments to the hardware, the ProArt P16 tin transcend expectations for show and artillery life.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Below is simply a benchmark trial results array comparing the 2025 ProArt P16 to its predecessor, arsenic good arsenic the M4 MacBook Pro and the MSI Stealth 16 AI, different laptop with a akin purpose. You'll announcement that Asus' caller instrumentality outperforms astir of its rivals crossed the assorted benchmark rendering tests. There are instances wherever it falls behind, but it isn't a ample gap.

If you're looking for a almighty alternate to your aged MacBook, this ProArt laptop is your champion stake successful 2025.

The Creator Hub offers inferior beyond tweaking performance. The WorkSmart instrumentality lets you radical aggregate apps together. So erstwhile you click 1 of these groups, each those apps unfastened simultaneously, redeeming you time. Color Control allows users to actively set the surface output connected the fly. For example, you could tweak the bluish airy output truthful it's easier connected your eyes oregon alteration which colour gamut is being shown.  

You mightiness alteration the gamut to DCI-P3 to amusement disconnected "movie-grade colors". Display P3 is champion "suited for displaying vivid colors connected mobile devices and laptops." You don't person to messiness with the output, since the surface is awesome connected its own. Asus' ProArt P16 has a high-quality 16-inch 4K OLED display. Images are stunning arsenic colors practically leap out. The surface had 2 downsides: the 60Hz refresh rate, arsenic mentioned earlier, and the display's glossiness. So overmuch airy is reflected that it tin beryllium hard to spot the surface nether agleam conditions.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Editing connected the ProArt P16

Up successful the precocious left-hand country of the touchpad is the DialPad, which allows you to customize your ain controls successful each app. The carnal plan offers much precise power than the touchpad, which makes cycling done antithetic tools easier than you'd assume. 

I tried incorporating the DialPad into my workflow to edit a video connected CapCut, a photograph connected Pixlr, and render 3D models successful Blender utilizing the DialPad, and recovered retired that it's champion utilized successful conjunction with the touchpad. It works champion arsenic an supplemental instrumentality for speedy entree to alteration brushwood sizes oregon cycling done video clips, but it isn't designed to regenerate the touchpad oregon rodent altogether.

Cesar Cadenas/ZDNET

Alone, it's large astatine executing delicate procedures, similar cleaning up circumstantial areas successful a photo. The occupation is that it lacks haptic feedback: pressing down doesn't effect successful the "click" you'd expect. So to click and resistance an effect connected a video's timeline oregon drawback the country of a exemplary successful Blender, you'll person to usage the touchpad.

Fortunately, utilizing some simultaneously isn't difficult. Your near manus tin beryllium the DialPad portion your close is connected the touchpad, and it each feels natural. Using conscionable the touchpad is an option, but it's hard to support the aforesaid level of accuracy.

Also: This ultraportable Asus laptop is my favourite MacBook Air alternate (and it's amended successful immoderate ways)

I besides person to springiness recognition to the hardware. Rendering 3D environments successful Blender took precise small clip to complete. I was capable to hop betwixt my 4K editing and 20 antithetic Chrome tabs without immoderate hiccups. The lone clip I experienced immoderate slowdown was erstwhile I was playing 10 antithetic livestreams successful 4K connected YouTube -- but isolated from niche cases, it's solid.

ZDNET's buying advice

Over astatine Best Buy, the Asus ProArt P16 is connected merchantability for $2,500, which is much than what I was expecting. Last year's ProArt is retailing for conscionable $2,000. I urge grabbing the 2025 laptop if you privation the champion of the champion and don't caput paying a spot more. As shown successful the show tests, determination is simply a sizable spread betwixt the 2 devices. 

That said, the 2024 mentation is decidedly inactive competitive, truthful if you're looking for a almighty graphics-minded laptop and privation to prevention immoderate money, I'd highly urge it, particularly if it sees immoderate further terms drops.