ASUS ProArt P16 targets AI users

ASUS has released its first laptop built around NVIDIA's new RTX Spark chipset.

The ProArt P16 starts at $2,800, but the price jumps quickly as memory increases. The specific unit tested for the review included 128GB of RAM and cost $7,000.

The machine weighs 3.9 pounds, making it lighter than the 4.7-pound Apple MacBook Pro. It features an aluminum chassis and a 16-inch OLED display that reaches 1,600 nits. The keyboard and haptic touchpad are large, though the black finish collects fingerprints easily. Users get three USB-C ports, a USB Type A port, HDMI, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader. An Ethernet port is absent.

Inside the chassis, the RTX Spark is a system-on-a-chip. It combines a 20-core Arm CPU with a Blackwell GPU. It supports up to 128GB of unified memory, a design similar to Apple's M-series processors. This architecture aims to serve AI researchers and creators who need large amounts of local memory.

Performance benchmarks showed a mixed result. The P16 scored approximately 3,000 points lower than an ASUS A16 running a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip in PCMark 10 Applications tests. It also trailed slightly in Geekbench 6 single-threaded CPU results. However, it outperformed a MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip in graphics and AI tasks. In Geekbench 6 GPU tests, the P16 beat the Apple machine by 4,700 points. It also scored 3,895 in Procyon's AI Computer Vision 2 test, compared to 3,267 for the MacBook Pro.

The laptop handled heavy AI workloads effectively. It ran the Qwen3.8 27B model, which consumes 42GB of RAM, with space to spare. It also ran OpenClaw smoothly. Gaming performance was adequate but loud. In Control: Resonant, the device achieved 70 frames per second at 1440p with ultra settings and medium ray tracing. Lowering the settings pushed that number to 120 frames per second.

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 glitches. Native Arm64 versions exist for titles like Fortnite, DOTA 2, and Marvel Rivals. NVIDIA is working with anti-cheat providers, but some multiplayer games may still fail. Adobe has ported its main software, but other multimedia apps lack confirmed support.

Battery life fell short of premium standards. The P16 lasted ten hours and 51 minutes in PCMark 10 Applications tests. Many competing laptops exceed 15 hours. Performance did not drop when the device was unplugged.

The review suggests the P16 is best suited for professionals who need local AI capabilities. Gamers might find better value elsewhere. An ASUS Zephyrus G16 with an RTX 5070 and 240Hz OLED screen costs $2,124 at Best Buy. That model offers higher gaming performance and full compatibility.

The reviewer advised waiting at least a year before recommending RTX Spark for general consumers. The high price and limited software support make it a specialized tool rather than a mass-market device.