$7,000 for 128GB: ASUS P16 Priced for Local AI
The new NVIDIA Arm-based laptop targets researchers running large models, but its premium cost and Arm compatibility issues limit its appeal for general gamers.
By Carmen Wojcik ·
ASUS has set a $7,000 price tag for the top configuration of its ProArt P16, a laptop designed to run large artificial intelligence models locally without cloud dependencies. The device features 128GB of unified memory, allowing users to process data directly on the hardware rather than sending it to external servers. This specific pricing point targets AI professionals and researchers who require substantial memory capacity for their workloads.
The ProArt P16 is the first ASUS notebook to utilize NVIDIA's RTX Spark chipset. This system-on-a-chip combines a 20-core Arm CPU with a Blackwell GPU. The architecture mirrors Apple's M-series designs, offering up to 128GB of RAM in a chassis that weighs 3.9 pounds. That weight is lighter than Apple's 16-inch MacBook Pro, which stands at 4.7 pounds. The base model starts at $2,800, but costs rise sharply as memory increases.
Benchmark results show the P16 excelling in graphics and AI tasks while trailing in general CPU performance. The laptop beat a MacBook Pro with an M5 Max by 4,700 points in Geekbench 6 GPU tests. In Procyon's AI Computer Vision 2 test, the P16 scored 3,895 compared to 3,267 for the Apple machine. However, the P16 scored approximately 3,000 points lower in PCMark 10 Applications than ASUS's A16 model equipped with a Snapdragon X2 Elite chip.
Gaming performance is functional but comes with caveats. The reviewer recorded 70 frames per second in Control: Resonant at 1440p resolution with ultra settings and medium ray tracing. Lowering the settings increased the frame rate to 120 fps. NVIDIA states the graphics hardware performs similarly to the RTX 5070 mobile GPU while drawing less power. Most games rely on Microsoft's Prism emulator for the Arm CPU, which can reduce performance and cause stability issues in multiplayer titles.
Battery life remains a weak point for the new platform. The P16 lasted 10 hours and 51 minutes in PCMark 10 Applications testing. That duration is significantly shorter than the 15-plus hours typical of other premium laptops. The 16-inch OLED display reaches 1,600 nits, making it one of the brightest laptop screens tested. The aluminum chassis includes three USB-C ports, a USB Type A port, HDMI, a headphone jack, and an SD card reader, though it lacks an Ethernet port.
For gamers seeking full compatibility and lower costs, the ASUS Zephyrus G16 offers an alternative. Priced at $2,124 at Best Buy, that model features an RTX 5070 and a 240Hz OLED screen. The reviewer suggested that general users and gamers wait at least a year before adopting the RTX Spark platform, citing the high entry price and ongoing software compatibility challenges.
