ASUS Laptop Costs $7,000 for AI Work
The new ProArt P16 packs 128GB of memory for local models, but its price and Arm-based architecture limit its appeal to niche professionals.
By Noor Haddad ·
ASUS has unveiled the ProArt P16, a 16-inch laptop that costs $7,000 in its highest configuration. The price tag reflects the machine’s primary feature: 128GB of unified memory. This capacity allows the device to run large artificial intelligence models locally, a capability that sets it apart from standard consumer laptops.
The device is the first laptop to utilize NVIDIA’s RTX Spark chip. This system-on-a-chip integrates a 20-core Arm CPU, a Blackwell GPU, and up to 128GB of memory. The design mirrors the architecture of Apple’s M-series chips rather than the x86 processors from Intel or AMD found in most Windows computers. According to Engadget, the platform targets AI researchers and enthusiasts rather than replacing existing hardware.
The build quality of the P16 received praise from reviewers. The aluminum chassis is sturdy, and the 16-inch OLED display reaches 1,600 nits, making it one of the brightest laptop screens available. The unit weighs 3.9 pounds, which is 0.8 pounds lighter than the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Connectivity options include three USB-C ports, a USB Type-A port, HDMI, a headphone jack, and a full-size SD card reader. An Ethernet port is absent from the design.
Performance benchmarks show mixed results. In PCMark 10 Applications, the P16 scored approximately 3,000 points lower than ASUS’s A16 laptop equipped with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip. It also trailed in Geekbench 6 single-threaded CPU tests. However, the machine outperformed competitors in graphics and AI tasks. It beat the MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip by 4,700 points in Geekbench 6 GPU testing. In Procyon’s AI Computer Vision 2 test, the P16 recorded a score of 3,895 compared to 3,267 for the Apple device.
The laptop successfully ran the Qwen3.8 27B model, which requires 42GB of RAM, leaving ample memory for other tasks. It also handled Cyberpunk 2077 and Control: Resonant at high settings. In Control: Resonant, the device achieved 70 frames per second at 1440p with ultra settings and medium ray tracing. Lowering the settings increased the frame rate to 120 frames per second. NVIDIA states the graphics hardware matches the RTX 5070 mobile GPU while consuming less power.
Compatibility remains a hurdle for general users. Most games rely on Microsoft’s Prism emulator for the Arm CPU, which can reduce performance and cause issues. Native Arm64 builds exist for Fortnite, DOTA 2, and Marvel Rivals. Adobe has supported the platform with its core software, but other multimedia applications have less certainty. Battery life in the PCMark 10 Applications test lasted 10 hours and 51 minutes, which is significantly shorter than the 15-plus hours offered by many premium laptops.
For buyers focused on gaming, the P16 presents a costly alternative. An ASUS Zephyrus G16 with an RTX 5070 and 240Hz OLED screen is available for $2,124 at Best Buy. That model offers better gaming performance and full x86 compatibility. The ProArt P16 starts at $2,800 for base configurations, with costs rising sharply as memory increases.
Source: Engadget
