MacBook Air 15 M4 vs Asus ProArt P16: The Ultimate Creative Laptop Showdown

When it comes to choosing a laptop for creative professionals, the decision often boils down to a battle between macOS and Windows machines. But beyond just operating system preference, specs, performance, and usability play critical roles in picking the right device. Today, we’re diving deep into an in-depth comparison between the MacBook Air 15 M4 and the Asus ProArt P16, two powerhouse laptops that, despite targeting slightly different audiences, overlap in many ways—especially for photographers, designers, and video editors.

If you’re stuck choosing between these two, this comprehensive guide will break down everything you need to know: from design and performance to display quality, ports, battery life, and more. Let’s explore how they stack up.

Design and Build: Sleek vs. Substantial

At first glance, the MacBook Air 15 M4 and Asus ProArt P16 couldn’t be more different in their design philosophies. The MacBook Air carries forward Apple’s signature minimalist aesthetic, featuring a thin, light, and streamlined aluminum body. It sports a 15-inch display, making it slightly more compact and thinner than the ProArt P16, despite sharing a similar screen size category.

Meanwhile, the Asus ProArt P16 is a little bulkier—primarily due to its more robust internal cooling system and broader port selection. Its chassis leans towards a functional, professional look rather than the elegant simplicity Apple champions. The additional thickness provides space for extra ports and fans, which makes sense for a machine targeting content creators who need diverse connectivity.

In terms of weight, both laptops are surprisingly close. Holding them side by side, you wouldn’t feel a significant difference in heft, despite the Asus looking bulkier.

✅ Winner: Tie – The MacBook wins for slimness and portability, while the ProArt offers more utility with its size.

Port Selection: Versatility vs. Minimalism

One of the most notable differences between these laptops is their port configuration. If connectivity matters to you, the Asus ProArt P16 easily takes the lead.

The ProArt P16 offers:

• HDMI port

• 2 x USB-C

• 2 x USB-A

• Headphone jack

• SD card reader

This array allows users to plug in multiple peripherals without needing adapters—a dream for photographers offloading files or editors working with multiple drives.

In contrast, the MacBook Air 15 M4 stays true to Apple’s minimal port approach:

• 2 x USB-C (Thunderbolt 4)

• MagSafe charging port

For MacBook Air users, a dongle or hub is practically mandatory if you’re connecting external monitors, SD cards, or legacy USB-A accessories.

✅ Winner: Asus ProArt P16 – Hands down, it’s the more flexible machine for creatives needing multiple connections.

Fans, Noise, and Thermals: Silence or Performance?

A major distinction comes in how these laptops handle cooling.

The MacBook Air 15 M4 is designed with a fanless cooling system. That means it operates silently under all workloads—whether you’re editing 4K footage, batch-processing photos in Lightroom, or browsing the web. However, sustained high-performance tasks may trigger thermal throttling since there’s no active cooling to dissipate heat.

On the other hand, the Asus ProArt P16 includes an active fan-based cooling system. This ensures better thermal control under prolonged loads, maintaining higher sustained performance for tasks like 3D rendering or video editing. But it does come at the cost of audible fan noise, especially when the system is plugged in and running at full tilt.

If you prioritize silent operation in environments like coffee shops, libraries, or client meetings, the MacBook Air’s silence is unmatched. If you prioritize consistent performance under heavy loads, the ProArt P16’s fans will keep things running smoother.

✅ Winner: Depends on your priorities – Silence favors the MacBook Air; sustained performance under stress favors the Asus ProArt.

Display Showdown: Resolution vs. Calibration

Both devices deliver impressive displays, but with subtle yet important differences.

The MacBook Air 15 M4 features Apple’s renowned Liquid Retina display, offering stunning color accuracy, brightness, and sharpness. It’s a fantastic screen for photographers, video editors, and designers who prioritize vivid visuals and color fidelity.

Meanwhile, the Asus ProArt P16 ups the ante with a 4K resolution display—meaning sharper images, crisper text, and more screen real estate. It also comes pen-compatible, allowing artists to draw directly on the screen with a stylus, turning the laptop into a digital canvas. This is a game-changing feature for illustrators, animators, and designers who prefer working directly on-screen.

It’s worth noting both screens are limited to a 60Hz refresh rate. While this is perfectly fine for creative workflows, gamers or motion designers might wish for a higher refresh panel.

✅ Winner: Asus ProArt P16 – Thanks to its 4K resolution and stylus compatibility, it edges out for creative versatility.

Audio and Webcam: Where the MacBook Shines

Apple continues to dominate when it comes to built-in audio. The MacBook Air 15 M4 delivers an exceptional audio experience, with speakers projecting sound from under the keyboard for immersive depth and clarity rarely found in laptops. Whether you’re listening to music, editing audio, or watching videos, the MacBook Air provides a rich, well-balanced soundstage.

The Asus ProArt P16 offers upward-firing speakers, which are decent but simply not in the same league as the MacBook’s acoustic prowess.

When it comes to webcams, both devices place their cameras on the top bezel, offering solid 1080p video quality and functional built-in microphones. They’re sufficient for video conferencing and casual streaming but aren’t groundbreaking.

✅ Winner: MacBook Air 15 M4 – Audio quality is a standout feature here, offering one of the best speaker experiences in a thin laptop.

Keyboard, Trackpad, and ProArt Dial

The typing experience on both laptops is excellent. The MacBook Air 15 M4 features Apple’s familiar Magic Keyboard with precise, shallow travel and excellent tactile feedback. Its haptic trackpad is large, responsive, and supports a wide range of gestures.

The Asus ProArt P16 also offers a comfortable keyboard, though with a slightly different feel, plus a large glass manual-click trackpad that’s responsive and smooth.

A unique addition on the ProArt P16 is the ProArt Dial, a rotary controller embedded near the trackpad. It’s designed to help creatives quickly adjust parameters like brush size or exposure in supported Adobe apps. While a clever idea, real-world utility may vary—some users love it, while others find themselves rarely using it.

✅ Winner: Tie – The MacBook Air wins for gesture-friendly trackpad; the Asus wins for optional ProArt Dial integration.

Performance and Configuration Options

Both laptops cater to different performance needs.

The MacBook Air 15 M4 packs Apple’s latest M4 chip, offering stellar efficiency and great performance for most creative workloads—photo editing, 4K video editing, and even some light 3D work. However, due to its fanless design, performance under heavy, sustained workloads may throttle to control heat.

The Asus ProArt P16, equipped with Intel CPUs and RTX GPUs (up to RTX 4060), offers stronger graphics performance, ideal for 3D rendering, GPU-accelerated effects, and heavier video editing workflows. If your work involves Blender, CAD, or intensive After Effects projects, the ProArt will deliver higher raw power.

Additionally, the ProArt P16 offers configurations with up to 64GB RAM, while the MacBook Air maxes out at 24GB or 32GB, depending on model. This difference could matter for professionals dealing with extremely large files or memory-intensive applications.

✅ Winner: Asus ProArt P16 – For pure performance, especially GPU-heavy tasks, the Asus takes the crown.

Battery Life: The MacBook Advantage

One area where Apple consistently outperforms Windows competitors is battery life. The MacBook Air 15 M4 offers a staggering 15+ hours of battery life, with negligible battery drain while asleep. You can close the lid at 80% and return the next day with nearly the same charge—a major advantage for travelers and mobile professionals.

The Asus ProArt P16, while competent, can’t match this longevity. You’re likely to see 8-10 hours of typical use, and sleep drain can result in 5-10% overnight battery loss, depending on background processes.

✅ Winner: MacBook Air 15 M4 – For battery longevity and sleep efficiency, it’s unbeatable.

Price and Value

Pricing for both laptops can fluctuate based on configuration. As of writing:

• MacBook Air 15 M4 (24GB RAM): ~$1,899

• Asus ProArt P16 (RTX 4060, 32GB RAM): ~$1,849 (on sale)

Both devices sit in a similar price bracket for mid-to-high configurations, though the Asus often provides more raw specs for the dollar.

✅ Winner: Depends on needs – If you need performance, Asus offers more hardware per dollar. If you prioritize battery life, display color accuracy, and build quality, the MacBook Air is worth the premium.

MacBook Air M4 vs. Asus ProArt P16: Complete Specs Comparison

Final Verdict: Which Laptop Should You Choose?

Both the MacBook Air 15 M4 and the Asus ProArt P16 are outstanding laptops for creative professionals, but they cater to slightly different users.

✅ Choose the MacBook Air 15 M4 if:

• You prioritize portability and silent operation

• You want excellent battery life

• You prefer macOS for its simplicity and ecosystem

• You need color-accurate display and stellar speakers

✅ Choose the Asus ProArt P16 if:

• You need 4K resolution with pen input for drawing or illustration

• You want more ports and native connectivity

• You work with GPU-accelerated applications

• You prioritize Windows software compatibility

In the end, it’s not just about specs—it’s about which device integrates seamlessly into your workflow. For light-to-moderate creative work with superior battery life, the MacBook Air wins. For heavier creative tasks, especially involving GPU power and stylus input, the Asus ProArt P16 shines.

Whichever you choose, you’re investing in a powerful creative tool built to fuel your imagination.