Skip to content
Clinchmark

Head to head

MacBook Pro 16" (2024) vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)

MacBook Pro 16" (2024) leads 5 to 3 on the 8 rankable specs, but ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) costs $900 less.

Catalog as of September 1, 2026

Why, in numbers

Manufacturer list price, not a live offer. Confirm current pricing before you buy.

MacBook Pro 16" (2024)
$2,4995 spec wins
Swap

Compare a different laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition$999MacBook Air 13" (M3)$1,099MacBook Air 15" (M3)$1,299Dell XPS 13 (2024)$1,299Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (15")$1,499MacBook Pro 14" (M4)$1,599HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)$1,699Dell XPS 14 (2024)$1,699Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16$1,799Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12$1,849Framework Laptop 16$1,999MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro)$1,999Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition$1,999Dell XPS 16 (2024)$2,199ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)$2,299Razer Blade 16 (2024)$2,999MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)$3,499
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)
$1,5993 spec wins
Swap

Compare a different laptop

Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition$999MacBook Air 13" (M3)$1,099MacBook Air 15" (M3)$1,299Dell XPS 13 (2024)$1,299Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 (15")$1,499MacBook Pro 14" (M4)$1,599HP Spectre x360 16 (2024)$1,699Dell XPS 14 (2024)$1,699Lenovo Yoga Pro 9i 16$1,799Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 12$1,849Framework Laptop 16$1,999MacBook Pro 14" (M4 Pro)$1,999Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition$1,999Dell XPS 16 (2024)$2,199ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2024)$2,299Razer Blade 16 (2024)$2,999MacBook Pro 16" (M4 Max)$3,499

Buying for

Every rankable spec counts once. Pick a lens to score only what matters for your laptop.

Your devices

Select your ecosystem to flag non-functional features or platform lock-in.

Straight answer

Overall: 5 to 3

Buy the MacBook Pro 16".

  • Leads 5 of 8 rankable overall specs; ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 takes 3.
  • Memory: 36GB unified vs 16 GB LPDDR5X
  • Claimed battery life: Up to 22 hours video vs Up to 10 hours productivity / ~1.5 hours…
  • ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is $900 cheaper. Pay the difference only if memory matters to you.

Check first: the MacBook Pro 16" has macOS, not Windows. the MacBook Pro 16" weighs over 4 lb (1.8 kg). Tick them under deal-breakers if that rules it out.

5 MacBook Pro 16"8 rankable of 29 specsASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 3

Deal-breakers

tick what would make you walk away

  • row

    No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.

    Trips:MacBook Pro 16" · NoTrips:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 · No
  • row

    The memory you buy today is the memory you keep.

    Trips:MacBook Pro 16" · No (soldered)Trips:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 · No (soldered LPDDR5X)
  • row

    Windows-only software such as some CAD, games and corporate VPN clients needs a workaround.

    Trips:MacBook Pro 16" · macOSClear:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 · Windows 11 Home
  • row

    Heavy in a backpack on a daily commute.

    Trips:MacBook Pro 16" · 4.7 lbClear:ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 · 3.31 lb

At a glance

The handful of numbers that decide most purchases in this category.

4 of 4 differ

Panel≠

Apple

Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED

ASUS

ROG Nebula OLED

Processor≠

Apple

Apple M3 Max

ASUS

AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores / 16 threads, Ryzen AI NPU)

Memory

Apple

36GB unified

ASUS

16 GB LPDDR5X (6400MHz)

Claimed battery life

Apple

Up to 22 hours video

ASUS

Up to 10 hours productivity / ~1.5 hours gaming

The 90-Day Owner Regret Check

Documented ergonomic quirks, hardware annoyances, and maintenance realities reported by real owners.

Post-Purchase Truths

Apple: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

ASUS: What to watch for

  • Maintenance

    Requires ongoing care to maintain peak out-of-box performance.

    Regular cleaning, firmware updates, and standard care are recommended to preserve longevity.

MacBook Pro 16"$2,4995 wins
ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14$1,5993 wins

Display

leads 3-0
Display specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
Size16.2 inches (wins this row: higher)14.0 inches
PanelLiquid Retina XDR mini-LEDROG Nebula OLED
Resolution3456 × 2234 (wins this row: higher)2880 × 1800 (16:10, 3K)
Refresh rate120 Hz ProMotion120 Hz (0.2 ms response time, G-Sync)
BrightnessNot on the official sheet1,000 nits SDR / 1,600 nits HDR peak (wins this row: higher)500 nits peak HDR
ColorP3, True Tone100% DCI-P3
TouchscreenNoNo

Performance

6 differences
Performance specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
ProcessorApple M3 MaxAMD Ryzen 9 8945HS (8 cores / 16 threads, Ryzen AI NPU)
GraphicsUp to 40-core Apple GPU (unified)NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU (90W TGP)
Memory36GB unified (wins this row: higher)16 GB LPDDR5X (6400MHz)
RAM upgradableNo (soldered)No (soldered LPDDR5X)
Storage1TB SSD1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD
Storage upgradableNo (soldered)Yes (1× M.2 2280 PCIe slot) (wins this row: has it)

Build & input

leads 2-0
Build & input specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
Weight4.7 lb (2.14 kg)3.31 lb (1.50 kg) (wins this row: lower)
Thickness16.8 mm15.9 mm (0.63 inches) (wins this row: lower)
MaterialsAluminum unibodyCNC-machined aluminum with Slash Lighting array
KeyboardMagic Keyboard with Touch IDSingle-zone RGB backlit chiclet keyboard
TrackpadForce Touch, largeExtra-large glass touchpad
Webcam1080p Center Stage1080p FHD IR camera with Windows Hello
SpeakersSix-speaker Spatial Audio6-speaker system (4 woofers, 2 tweeters) with Dolby Atmos

Ports

6 differences
Ports specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
Thunderbolt / USB-C3× Thunderbolt 41× Type-C USB4, 1× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (DisplayPort/PD), 2× USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A
HDMIHDMI 2.11× HDMI 2.1 FRL
SD cardSDXC1× UHS-II MicroSD card reader
MagSafeMagSafe 3ASUS Slim Power Jack
Headphone jackYes (3.5 mm)Yes (3.5 mm combo audio jack)
Charger140W USB-C + MagSafe 3180W Slim AC Adapter / 100W USB-C PD

Battery

leads 1-0
Battery specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
Claimed battery lifeNot on the official sheetUp to 22 hours video (wins this row: higher)Up to 10 hours productivity / ~1.5 hours gaming

Software

2 differences
Software specifications. Middle column is MacBook Pro 16" (2024), right column is ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024).
Operating systemmacOSWindows 11 Home
RepairabilityLow (soldered memory/storage)Moderate (M.2 SSD and Wi-Fi replaceable)
Most rows are from the official spec sheet. Marked rows are other published figures or our summary, not lab tests we ran.
MacBook Pro 16" (2024) source (opens in a new tab)ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) source (opens in a new tab)

Which one should you buy

Pick this one if

MacBook Pro 16" (2024)

16-inch creative workstation with M3 Max, mini-LED XDR display, and all-day battery.

  • M3 Max sustained performance
  • Mini-LED XDR display with 120Hz ProMotion
  • 18+ hour video playback battery

What you give up

  • No touchscreen
  • Soldered RAM and SSD
  • macOS-only software
Full MacBook Pro 16" (2024) specs →

Pick this one if

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)

14-inch compact gaming laptop with AMD Ryzen 9, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, and 3K 120Hz OLED ROG Nebula display.

  • Class-leading 3K 120Hz OLED gaming display
  • Compact CNC aluminum chassis under 3.3 lb
  • Strong gaming performance with RTX 40-series GPU

What you give up

  • Soldered RAM (no SO-DIMM expansion slots)
  • Fan noise gets loud under intense gaming loads
Full ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) specs →

Best for each use

Travel

In a bag every day: weight, battery, a screen you can read on a train

Tied on travel. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is cheaper.

  • The 4 rankable travel specs split 2 to 2.
  • Saves $900 at list price.

Heavy work

Video, 3D, compiles or games: CPU, GPU, memory and panel quality

Too close to call on heavy work from the spec sheets. Only memory is rankable here.

  • Processor: Apple M3 Max vs AMD Ryzen 9 8945HS
  • Graphics: Up to 40-core Apple GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU

Longevity

Keep it five years: upgradable parts, repairability, ports without dongles

Too close to call on longevity from the spec sheets. Only storage upgradable is rankable here.

  • RAM upgradable: No vs No
  • Repairability: Low vs Moderate

Every answer above is scored from published figures. A lens uses only the rows that matter for that use, including marked rows that are not on the official sheet. Switch lenses interactively in the panel above.

Done deciding?

Open the full standalone spec sheet for either device.

MacBook Pro 16" (2024) spec sheetASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) spec sheet

Manufacturer pages: MacBook Pro 16" (2024) ↗ · ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024) ↗

Common questions

Which is cheaper, the MacBook Pro 16" or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14?

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 costs $900 less at list price.

What is the biggest catch with the MacBook Pro 16" or ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14?

Both has this deal-breaker: no touchscreen. No pen or touch input for marking up PDFs or sketching.

Which is better for travel, the MacBook Pro 16" or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14?

Tied on travel. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 is cheaper. The 4 rankable travel specs split 2 to 2. Saves $900 at list price.

What cannot be compared from spec sheets?

Of the 29 specs tracked here, 21 are descriptive and cannot be ranked on numbers alone. Spec sheets also cannot measure subjective factors like build quality, real-world performance, or comfort.

Other matchups

MacBook Air 13" (M3) vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 (2024)

MacBook Air 13" (M3) vs Dell XPS 13 (2024)

MacBook Air 13" (M3) vs Dell XPS 14 (2024)