Unleash Your Creativity with the Powerful Asus ProArt P16 Motherboard Review
Asus ProArt P16 Laptop Review: A Powerful Workhorse
The Asus ProArt P16 is a beast of a laptop, but not just because of its hefty 1.9kg weight. This 16-inch laptop is designed to be a graphics workstation, and it delivers on that promise with its powerful specs and impressive performance. But is it worth the hefty price tag, and what sacrifices do you have to make to get such a capable machine?
Design and Performance
The ProArt P16 shares many design cues with its smaller sibling, the PX13, but with more room for fans and cooling systems, as well as a more powerful CPU with a maximum thermal design power (TDP) of 70W. You won’t find a GeForce RTX 4080 here, but the RTX 4070 is no slouch either. Our review unit was the 2TB model with 64GB of RAM, which cost a whopping £2,600 including VAT.
In our tests, the ProArt P16 outperformed the PX13, with average frame rates of 102fps and 122fps in Cyberpunk 2077 and Dirt 5 at 1080p High, respectively. It also scored high in demanding SPECperfview 2020 viewsets, with scores of 67, 99, and 110 in Catia, 3ds Max, and Creo. Of course, these results are still modest compared to the behemoths that are the best workstations.
Battery Life and Connectivity
The bigger battery provides a battery life of around nine hours under light use, which is reasonable for a laptop with such graphics power. However, the laptop’s 1.9kg weight is not conducive to lugging it around, and the proprietary power supply is another inconvenience. On the bright side, you’ll find two USB-C ports, one with USB 4, and a second with USB 3.2 Gen 2, as well as HDMI, a 3.5mm audio jack, and an SD Express 7 card reader.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard, while identical to the PX13’s, lacks separate Home, End, PgUp, and PgDn keys and half-height cursors. The glass-coated touchpad, on the other hand, is larger and handles the DialPad well.
Audio and Display
The speakers are surprisingly good, with decent bass and depth, while the 3,840 x 2,400 display is Pantone calibrated with an average Delta E of 0.43, indicating excellent color accuracy. The display peaks at 60Hz, which might be a concern for some, and HDR video editors might find the 500cd/m2 maximum for SDR content paltry. However, you can adjust the display settings through the MyAsus app, which also includes a 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and 377cd/m2 peak brightness.
Warranty and Upgradeability
You’ll find Windows 11 Home, rather than Pro, on the ProArt P16, along with a one-year warranty and the option to upgrade the SSD or add a second one to the spare slot. However, the RAM is embedded on the motherboard, so be prepared to buy in when you decide on 64GB.
The Verdict
The Asus ProArt P16 is a powerful laptop that’s well-suited for graphics work and video editing. While it may not be perfect, with some compromises on battery life and portability, it’s a solid choice for those who need a powerful laptop for work. Just be prepared to part with a significant amount of cash.
