Asus consistently stands out in the laptop market for its willingness to innovate, unlike competitors who prioritize corporate uniformity. The ProArt P16 is the latest example: a high-performance laptop designed specifically for creative professionals, but with a price tag to match its capabilities. After two weeks of testing, it’s clear this machine excels for users who demand both power and a premium visual experience.
Hardware: Performance Meets Practicality
The ProArt P16’s design is understated, offering only one color option (black). While a creator-focused laptop might benefit from more customization, the build quality is solid, though susceptible to minor cosmetic blemishes like scratches.
This laptop is equipped with a 16-inch 4K AMOLED touchscreen boasting a 120Hz refresh rate. The tested configuration featured a 2TB SSD, 64GB of RAM, an AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 processor, and an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 GPU. This hardware combination delivers exceptional performance for demanding tasks.
Connectivity is comprehensive, including USB 4 Type-C, USB 3.2 Type-C, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a headphone jack, a full-size SD card reader, and an HDMI 2.1 FRL port. All of this is packed into a 0.59-inch chassis weighing just over four pounds. The ProArt P16 starts at $2,799 (with the RTX 5090 GPU), and the fully configured model tested costs $3,999.
The keyboard offers comfortable typing with good key travel, though it lacks a dedicated number pad, sacrificing space for speaker grilles. The speakers are powerful but lack deep bass, a limitation of laptop acoustics.
The Dial Pad: A Unique Input Method
The standout feature is the Dial Pad integrated into the upper left corner of the trackpad. This circular indentation functions as both a fidget toy and a customizable control. Activating it requires a swipe, which isn’t immediately intuitive.
The Dial Pad adapts to different applications, offering scrubbing functionality for video editing, tab switching, or page scrolling. Setting up custom controls for each app can be tedious, but the default options are sensible (e.g., timeline scrubbing in DaVinci Resolve). Despite the setup process, the Dial Pad enhances workflow efficiency and provides a unique interaction experience.
Battery Life and Performance
The ProArt P16’s battery life is average for a high-performance laptop, lasting approximately four to five hours with typical use (dozens of browser tabs, Slack, and streaming audio). This is acceptable considering the power demands of the GPU and processor.
The laptop handles demanding tasks like video editing with ease. A 1080p video with transitions exported quickly, demonstrating the machine’s capabilities. Benchmark tests (Geekbench 6) yielded average single-core scores of 2,802 and multi-core scores of 12,897 when running on battery.
Conclusion: A Powerful Tool for Professionals
The Asus ProArt P16 is a versatile and powerful laptop ideal for creators who need a machine that can handle any task. Its robust build quality (Mil-Std 810 G certified) ensures durability, while its high-end hardware delivers top-tier performance. The price is substantial, but justified by the laptop’s capabilities.
A 360-degree hinge would enhance versatility, but the ProArt P16 already stands out as a top contender for professionals who require a reliable, high-performance workstation.
The Asus ProArt P16 is available at Best Buy and Asus, with the tested configuration starting at $2,799.99. As of this writing, the laptop is currently out of stock on Asus’s website.
