Asus ProArt P16 Review: A Thin and Light Laptop with Powerful Performance

The Asus ProArt P16 is an impressive laptop that packs a powerful multi-tasking processor, the GPU of a gaming laptop, and local AI processing power into a 3.9-pound device. This beastly laptop features Nvidia’s RTX Spark technology, which provides exceptional performance for work, gaming, and AI tasks.

The Asus ProArt P16 is available with a starting price of $4,399, but its value lies in the comprehensive set of creator-friendly ports and the bundled mouse that comes with it. In comparison to other laptops on the market, such as the MacBook Pro 16-inch, which costs $3,599, the ProArt P16 offers more memory options, including a starting point of 64GB.

The laptop’s 2,880 x 1,800 OLED display is designed specifically for editing photos and videos. It boasts pure blacks exclusive to an OLED screen, brightness up to 1,100 nits, HDR color rendering reaching 100% of the DCI-P3 rating, and easy switching between sRGB and Display P3 color gamut modes in the MyAsus app.

The Asus ProArt P16’s G-Sync display gives it a unique edge for tear-free PC gaming over other models powered by Nvidia’s new processor. I’ve had an excellent time playing Gears of War E-Day at 75% scaled resolution and medium settings, using DLSS 4.5 on Balanced, with the extra latency cost feeling minimal thanks to Nvidia Reflex.

The fact that RTX Spark handles gaming so well is a testament to its capabilities, especially considering every title runs through Prism emulation. I had no issues even pushing Nvidia’s latest Path Tracing tech in 007: First Light while playing the game in fullscreen with medium settings and DLSS 4.5 set to Balanced.

However, not all games are compatible with RTX Spark laptops. Forza Horizon 6 failed to start on my sample device, but I expect Microsoft will patch it for compatibility soon. This is a minor setback considering the exceptional performance of other titles running through Prism emulation.

The Asus ProArt P16 and its smaller counterpart, the P14, are uniquely equipped with G-Sync displays, giving them an edge in tear-free PC gaming over other models powered by Nvidia’s new processor. I’ve had fantastic experiences playing games on this laptop, even at high settings and resolutions.

Nvidia RTX Spark has brought real +100fps gaming to thin-and-light laptops like the Asus ProArt P16. This is a significant achievement considering Intel Panther Lake brought similar performance to Ultrabooks last year. However, there’s still room for improvement as more apps and games add native Windows on Arm support.

The N1X chip in my sample device offers 6144 CUDA cores, matching those of a mobile RTX 5070. While it doesn’t have access to high-speed GDDR7 video memory, it taps into the SOC’s shared LPDDR5X memory pool that tops out at 9,400 Mbps. This is still impressive considering the laptop can handle up to 64GB of video memory.

The Asus ProArt P16 also features local AI processing power, making it an ideal device for hosting agentic AI agents locally. Windows 11 has integrated AI so deeply into its OS that it prompts you to choose an AI agent during initial setup. I’ve used my onboard agent for various tasks, from finding obscure PC settings to troubleshooting benchmarking and upscaling video.

The Asus ProArt P16 is a versatile device suitable for work, gaming, and AI tasks on the go. Its thin design measures just 0.63 inches at its thickest point and weighs only 3.9 pounds, making it even lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Considering the exceptional performance of the Asus ProArt P16, I highly recommend this laptop to those who want a device that can handle work, gaming, and AI tasks with ease. It’s an excellent choice for photographers, video shooters, or creators in general, as well as anyone interested in using AI agents while disconnected from the Internet.

However, there are some limitations to consider. If you abhor Windows 11, this laptop may not be the best fit for you. Additionally, playing all games through an emulator might be a drawback for some users.