Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) vs ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025)
91.1Performance68.2
74.3Display78.4
63.2Battery42.9
71Portability20
6 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max)4 spec wins — ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025)
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 77.1 to 56.5, pulling ahead mainly in portability (+51) and performance (+23). ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) still makes sense if its price or standout specs fit your needs better.
Which would you pick?
Key differences
Reasons to pick the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max)
- Stronger performance score: 91 vs 68
- Stronger battery score: 63 vs 43
- Stronger portability score: 71 vs 20
- 52% lower thickness: 15.5 mm vs 32 mm
- 51% lower weight: 1.62 kg vs 3.3 kg
- Lower launch price: $3,599 vs $4,299
Reasons to pick the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025)
- Stronger display score: 78 vs 74
- 296% higher charging: 380 W vs 96 W
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 120 Hz
- 27% higher Screen size: 18 ″ vs 14.2 ″
- 24% higher capacity: 90 Wh vs 72 Wh
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 14.2 ″ | 18 ″+27% |
| Panel type | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | Mini-LED (ROG Nebula HDR) |
| Resolution | 3024x1964 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 240 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 1,600 nits+33% | 1,200 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| Graphics | Apple M5 Max 32-core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop |
| RAM | 36 GB+13% | 32 GB |
| RAM type | LPDDR5X (unified) | DDR5-5600 (2x SO-DIMM) |
| Storage | 2,048 GB | 2,048 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | PCIe 4.0 NVMe SSD (2 slots) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,322+39%Top 4% | 3,100Top 29% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 29,415+40%Top 4% | 21,000Top 16% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 72 Wh | 90 Wh+24% |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 5 h |
| Charging | 96 W | 380 W+296% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 1.62 kg+51% | 3.3 kg |
| Thickness | 15.5 mm+52% | 32 mm |
| Material | Recycled Aluminum | Aluminum lid + polycarbonate |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | Thunderbolt 5, USB-C 3.2 (DP, 100W PD), 3x USB-A 3.2, HDMI 2.1, 2.5G Ethernet, 3.5mm |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 5.4 |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | 1080p + IR |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | IR face (Windows Hello) |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 18 (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 |
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