MacBook 12” 2016 vs. ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017): Full specs comparison

We thoroughly analyzed technical specifications for MacBook 12” 2016 and ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) models, including CPU, memory, storage, battery life, display quality, and other features.

MacBook 12” 2016 Pros

Reasons that MacBook 12” 2016 is better than ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017).

About 59% lighter

MacBook 12” 2016 weighed 2.03 pounds, 59% lighter than the 4.85 pounds ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017).

WeightMacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Pound
2.03 lbs.
4.85 lbs.
Kilogram
0.92 kg
2.20 kg

ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) Pros

Reasons that ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) is better than MacBook 12” 2016.

Newer manufacturing

2017 vs. 2016

Much faster CPU performance

Intel Core i7-7700HQ inside ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) has a 130% better multi-core CPU performance score than the Intel Core m7-6Y75 inside MacBook 12” 2016.

Geekbench 5 multi-core score
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) - Intel Core i7-7700HQ
3,208
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) - Intel Core i5-7300HQ
2,685
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m7-6Y75
1,390
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m5-6Y54
1,295
MacBook 12” 2016 - Intel Core m3-6Y30
1,058
Supports larger memory

ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) supports a larger memory capacity than the MacBook 12” 2016. It supports up to 24GB versus 8GB of system memory on the MacBook 12” 2016.

Max system memory size
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
24 GB
MacBook 12” 2016
8 GB
Supports faster memory

ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) supports a faster memory speed than the MacBook 12” 2016. It supports up to 2400MHz versus 1866MHz of system memory on the MacBook 12” 2016.

Memory type and speed
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) - DDR4
2,400 MHz
MacBook 12” 2016 - LPDDR3
1,866 MHz
Supports discrete graphics

Configurable up to Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8GB GDDR5 with Max-Q vs. integrated

Upgradable storage

ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) comes with two M.2 slots that you can easily upgrade and install an additional SSD to expand the storage on the device.

SlotsMacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
M.2
Onboard
Yes x2
30% larger display

ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) has a 15.6-inch screen size 30% larger than the 12-inch MacBook 12” 2016.

Display size
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
15.6-inch
MacBook 12” 2016
12-inch

Prices

Here are the latest price updates and offers for both devices.

MacBook 12” 2016 Price
2017 Apple Macbook with 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 (12-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Space Gray (Renewed)
2017 Apple Macbook with 1.2GHz Intel Core m3 (12-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) Space Gray (Renewed)
By Apple
$372.34
Apple MacBook MF865LL/A 12-inch Laptop with Retina Display 512GB, Silver - (Renewed)
Apple MacBook MF865LL/A 12-inch Laptop with Retina Display 512GB, Silver - (Renewed)
By Apple
$414.98
Apple Macbook Retina Display 12 Inch Core M-5Y31 1.1GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Renewed)
Apple Macbook Retina Display 12 Inch Core M-5Y31 1.1GHz 8GB RAM 256GB SSD (Renewed)
By Apple
$319.68
ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017) Price
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2022) Gaming Laptop, 16” 165Hz IPS Type WUXGA 16:10 Display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, Windows 11, GX650RM-ES74
ASUS ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (2022) Gaming Laptop, 16” 165Hz IPS Type WUXGA 16:10 Display, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, AMD Ryzen 7 6800H, 16GB DDR5, 1TB SSD, Windows 11, GX650RM-ES74
By ASUS
$1,699.99
$2,499.99 32% OFF
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop, 16" QHD Display, Intel 14-Core i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 (Up to 5.40GHz), 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe 4.0, TB 4, RGB KB, WiFi 6, VR Ready, PDG HDMI Cable, Win 11 Pro
ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 Gaming Laptop, 16" QHD Display, Intel 14-Core i9-13900H, GeForce RTX 4070 (Up to 5.40GHz), 32GB DDR5, 2TB NVMe 4.0, TB 4, RGB KB, WiFi 6, VR Ready, PDG HDMI Cable, Win 11 Pro
By ASUS
$2,059.99
ASUS 2023 ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop, MUX Switch, 16” FHD 165Hz, Latest 10-Core i7-13620H CPU, RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6, Thin & Light, RGB, Win 11 H, W/Mouse Pad (32GB RAM | 2TB PCIe SSD)
ASUS 2023 ROG Zephyrus G16 Gaming Laptop, MUX Switch, 16” FHD 165Hz, Latest 10-Core i7-13620H CPU, RTX 4060 8GB GDDR6, Thin & Light, RGB, Win 11 H, W/Mouse Pad (32GB RAM | 2TB PCIe SSD)
By ASUS
$1,389.99

Availability

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Released20162017
Release Date
  • Announced on April 19, 2016
  • Available on April 19, 2016
-
Pricing
  • $1,299
    Intel Core m3-6Y30 | 8GB RAM | 256GB SSD
  • $1,599
    Intel Core m5-6Y54 | 8GB RAM | 512GB SSD
-

Exterior

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Dimensions11.04” x 7.74” x 0.14 - 0.52” (280.5 mm x 196.5 mm x 3.5 - 13.1 mm)14.92” x 10.31” x 0.66 ~ 0.70” (379 x 262 x 16.9 ~ 17.9 mm)
WeightStarting at 2.03 pounds (920 g)4.85 lbs (2.2 kg)
Colors
Silver Space Gray Gold Rose Gold
-
Keyboard and TrackpadFull-size backlit keyboard with:
  • 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) individual LED backlit keys, including 12 function keys and 4 arrow keys with ambient light sensor
  • Force Touch trackpad for precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities; enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures
  • AURA RGB
  • Backlit chiclet keyboard
  • Marked QWER / WASD keys
  • Hot keys: Ten-key Function / ROG Gaming Center
  • 1.4mm travel distance

Display

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Size12 Inches15.6 Inches
InfoRetina display
  • 12-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display with IPS technology
  • 2304-by-1440 resolution at 226 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors
  • 16:10 aspect ratio
  • Supported scaled resolutions:
    • 1440 by 900
    • 1280 by 800
    • 1024 by 640
15.6-inch Full HD (1920x1080) IPS-level panel, 120Hz, 100% sRGB

Ports

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
One USB Type-C port with support for:
  • Charging
  • USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
  • Native DisplayPort 1.2 video output
  • VGA output using USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
  • HDMI video output using USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter (sold separately)
  • 1 x USB 3.1 Gen2 Type-C over Thunderbolt™
  • 4 x USB 3.1 Gen1
  • 1 x HDMI 2.0
  • 1 x 3.5mm headphone and microphone combo jack
  • 1 x Kensington lock

Internal Specs

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Processor
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
    2 cores, 4 threads, 0.90 → 2.20 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  2. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.10 → 2.70 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  3. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
    2 cores, 4 threads, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz, 4MB SmartCache, 4.5W
  1. 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7300HQ
    4 cores, 4 threads, 2.50 → 3.50 GHz, 6MB Cache, 45W
  2. 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ
    4 cores, 8 threads, 2.80 → 3.80 GHz, 6MB Cache, 45W
Integrated Graphics
  1. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m3-6Y30
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 850 MHz
  2. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m5-6Y54
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 900 MHz
  3. 6th Gen Intel® Core™ m7-6Y75
    Intel® HD Graphics 515
    24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
  1. 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-7300HQ
    Intel® HD Graphics 630
    24 Execution Units, 350 → 1000 MHz
  2. 7th Gen Intel® Core™ i7-7700HQ
    Intel® HD Graphics 630
    24 Execution Units, 350 → 1100 MHz
Memory
8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3 onboard memory
Up to 24GB DDR4 2400MHz SDRAM
Discrete Graphics-
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1070 (Max-Q)
    8GB GDDR5X VRAM.
  • NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 1080 (Max-Q)
    8GB GDDR5X VRAM.
Storage
256GB 512GB
PCIe-based onboard flash storage.
256GB 512GB 1TB
2 x M.2 NVMe PCIE 3.0 x 4

Connectivity

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Wi-Fi
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking
  • IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible
802.11ac 2x2 WLAN
BluetoothBluetooth 4.0 wireless technologyBluetooth 4.1
Ethernet- Gigabit LAN
Speed: 10/100/1000 Mbps.

Battery

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Size41.4 Wh lithium‑polymer battery-
Battery Life
  • Up to 10 hours of wireless web
  • Up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback
  • Up to 30 days of standby time
Up to 2 hours of battery life
Power Supply29W USB-C Power Adapter230W power adapter

Software

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
OSShipped with OS X El Capitan
  • Windows 10 Home
  • Windows 10 Pro
Built-in Apps
Photos iMovie GarageBand Pages Numbers Keynote Safari Mail Messages FaceTime Calendar Notes App Store iTunes iBooks Maps Contacts Reminders
ROG Gaming Center ROG GameFirst ROG GameVisual Sonic Studio & Sonic Radar Aura Core XSplit Gamecaster (Free) Android App

Camera & Audio

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Camera480p FaceTime HD cameraHD Front-facing webcam.
Audio
  • Stereo speakers
  • Dual microphones
  • 3.5 mm headphone jack
    • Support for Apple iPhone headset with remote and microphone
  • 2 x 1W speaker with Smart AMP technology
  • Array microphones

Misc

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
Security-
  • Kensington lock slot
In the box
  • MacBook
  • 29W USB-C Power Adapter
  • USB-C Charge Cable (2 m)
-
WarrantyLimited Warranty and ServiceYour MacBook comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer’s purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. For more information, visit Apple Support or call 800-823-2275. -
MoreVideo Support
  • Intel HD Graphics 515
  • Dual display and video mirroring: simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 3840 by 2160 pixels at 30Hz on an external display, both at millions of colors
-

Key Features

MacBook 12” 2016ROG Zephyrus GX501 (2017)
At Glance
Released in Early
2016
16:10 QHD
12”
1440p 60Hz
Weight
2.03 lb
0.92 kg
Up to
Intel Core m7-6Y75
2C/4T, 1.20 → 3.10 GHz
Geekbench 5
639
Single Core
Geekbench 5
1,390
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 515
24 Execution Units, 300 → 1000 MHz
8GB
1866 MHz LPDDR3
Released in
2017
16:9 FHD
15.6”
1080p 120Hz
Weight
4.85 lb
2.20 kg
Up to
Intel Core i7-7700HQ
4C/8T, 2.80 → 3.80 GHz
Geekbench 5
852
Single Core
Geekbench 5
3,208
Multi-Core
With integrated
Intel® HD Graphics 630
24 Execution Units, 350 → 1100 MHz
Up to
24GB
2400 MHz DDR4
Nvidia GeForce
GTX 1080
8GB GDDR5 with Max-Q

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