Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) vs ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606
91.1Performancespec-based61.9
—Graphics97.5
74.3Displayspec-based75.1
99.5Batteryspec-based76.4
53.3Portabilityspec-based57.8
7 spec wins — Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max)4 spec wins — ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606
InnoReviews verdict
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) wins this laptop face-off, 81.9 to 71.5. ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 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 16 (M5 Max)
- 100% higher storage: 2,048 GB vs 1,024 GB
- 77% higher Geekbench 6 (multi): 30,057 vs 16,960
- 51% higher Geekbench 6 (single): 4,336 vs 2,877
- 45% higher Peak brightness: 1,600 nits vs 1,100 nits
- 11% higher capacity: 100 Wh vs 90 Wh
Reasons to pick the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606
- 100% higher Refresh rate: 240 Hz vs 120 Hz
- 79% higher charging: 250 W vs 140 W
- 78% higher RAM: 64 GB vs 36 GB
Display
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 16.2 ″+1% | 16 ″ |
| Panel type | Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR) | OLED (ROG Nebula HDR, G-Sync, Pantone Validated, anti-reflection) |
| Resolution | 3456x2234 | 2560x1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 240 Hz+100% |
| Peak brightness | 1,600 nits+45% | 1,100 nits |
Performance
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | Apple M5 Max (18-core) | Intel Core Ultra 9 386H |
| Graphics | Apple M5 Max 32-core GPU | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7, 135W, up to 160W in Manual mode) |
| RAM | 36 GB | 64 GB+78% |
| RAM type | LPDDR5X (unified) | LPDDR5X-8533 (soldered) |
| Storage | 2,048 GB+100% | 1,024 GB |
| Storage type | SSD | PCIe 4.0 NVMe M.2 SSD (2 slots) |
Benchmarks
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Geekbench 6 (single) | 4,336+51%Top 1% | 2,877Top 38% |
| Geekbench 6 (multi) | 30,057+77%Top 1% | 16,960Top 25% |
| 3DMark Time Spy Graphics (GPU) | — | 22,099Top 9% |
Battery
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 100 Wh+11% | 90 Wh |
| Web browsing endurance | — | 13.8 h |
| Charging | 140 W | 250 W+79% |
Design
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 2.15 kg | 1.95 kg+9% |
| Thickness | 16.8 mm+6% | 17.9 mm |
| Material | Recycled Aluminum | Aluminum (CNC-machined) |
Connectivity
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 5, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5mm | 1x Thunderbolt 4 (40Gbps, DisplayPort and power delivery), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C (10Gbps, DisplayPort, power delivery, G-SYNC), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-A, 1x HDMI 2.1 FRL, UHS-II SD card reader, 3.5mm combo audio jack |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) |
| Bluetooth | 6 | 6.0 |
| Webcam | 12MP Center Stage | FHD (1080p) with IR |
| Biometrics | Touch ID | IR camera for Windows Hello face login |
Software
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5 Max) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus G16 (2026) GU606 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS Tahoe | Windows 11 Pro |
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