Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) vs ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96

Benchmark-weighted head-to-head · data updated 2026-09-10

Winner: ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96

ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96 takes 8.5 weighted points vs 3.8, winning on CPU Benchmark, RAM, Refresh Rate. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) counters in a higher tier — worth it if its strengths match your needs.

Highly Rated

Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)

Apple M5 (10 Core) · Integrated (Apple iGPU)

Under $1800
4.8 (748)
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VS
Winner

ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96

AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX · NVIDIA RTX 5070

Under $2500
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Use-Case Scores

CategoryMacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96
Gaming3.2/107.2/10
Productivity6/105/10
Programming5.4/106.2/10
Engineering / 3D4.2/106.8/10
Student6/104.3/10
Travel / Portability7.2/103.5/10
AI Workloads3.8/106.7/10
Value for Money5/108.5/10

Detailed Specification Comparison

SpecMacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026)ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96
CPUApple M5 (10 Core)AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX
PassMark Score27,32256,055
CPU Cores4P+6E16
GPUIntegrated (Apple iGPU)NVIDIA RTX 5070
G3DMark Score—20,472
RAM16 GB DDR532 GB DDR5
RAM UpgradeableNo (soldered)Yes
Storage1 TBSSD1 TBSSD
Display15.3″ Liquid Retina16″ IPS
Resolution2880x18642560x1600
Refresh Rate60 Hz240 Hz
Pixel Density224 PPI189 PPI
TouchscreenNoNo
Weight3.32 lbsnull lbs
Thickness0.45″0.89″
Amazon Rating4.8 ★ (748)—
Value Score5/108.5/10

CPU Comparison

The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96's AMD Ryzen 9 9955HX is ~105% faster in multi-threaded PassMark (56,055 vs 27,322). A generational gap you will feel in exports, compiles and heavy multitasking.

GPU & Gaming

Only the ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96 has a dedicated GPU (RTX 5070, 20,472 G3DMark) — it wins gaming outright.

Productivity & Battery

Office scores: 6/10 vs 5/10. Battery isn't in our dataset, but the iGPU-only Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) will typically outlast the ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96 unplugged.

Display

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026): 15.3″ Liquid Retina 2880x1864 @ 60 Hz. ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96: 16″ IPS 2560x1600 @ 240 Hz. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96's higher refresh rate wins for motion clarity.

RAM, Storage & Upgradeability

MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026): 16 GB DDR5 (soldered) + 1 TBSSD. ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96: 32 GB DDR5 (upgradeable) + 1 TBSSD. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96's socketed RAM is a longevity advantage.

Build & Portability

3.32 lbs / 0.45″ vs null lbs / 0.89″. The Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) is 3.3 lbs lighter — significant for daily carry. Travel scores: 7.2 vs 3.5.

Value

Value scores land 5/10 vs 8.5/10. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96 extracts more performance per dollar.

Final Verdict

Buy the ASUS ROG Strix G16 G614FP-DS96 — it wins the weighted spec battle. Choose the Apple MacBook Air 15 (M5) 16GB (2026) only if portability matter more to you.

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