The first array of laptops powered by Nvidia’s new RTX Spark chip are designed to compete with high-end MacBook Pros – and they’ve got some high-end prices to match. The flagship Surface Laptop Ultra and RTX Spark laptops from Dell, Lenovo, MSI, HP, and Asus start as low as $2,599 for configurations with an 18-core CPU, 24GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage. That’s close in price to a similarly specced 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip, though Apple includes 1TB of storage. But the prices for both RTX Spark and Apple laptops of course go much, much higher. Of the pricing we’ve seen so far, a kitted-out Asus ProArt P16 RTX Spark tops the scale at a staggering $7,000, making it a serious contender for the title of “most expensive laptop in the world” – and that’s before you even consider the potential for a custom paint job or a built-in espresso machine.

First, let’s roast the claim that the RTX Spark laptops are designed to compete with high-end MacBook Pros. While it’s true that both aim for premium performance, the MacBook Pros have been doing the whole “premium” thing for years, whereas the RTX Spark laptops are just getting their first taste of the spotlight. Apple’s reputation for sleek design and seamless integration with its ecosystem is hard to shake, especially when you compare it to the more modular, PC-based RTX Spark lineup. Plus, Apple’s penchant for overpricing its hardware means that even a modest RTX Spark laptop can feel like a steal in comparison.

Now, let’s dive into the numbers. The $2,599 starting price for the Surface Laptop Ultra with an 18-core CPU, 24GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage is indeed impressive, but it’s also a bit of a mixed bag. Sure, it’s close to a similarly specced MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, but Apple’s inclusion of 1TB storage in the base model nudges it ahead. However, when you start adding up the bells and whistles—like the Asus ProArt P16’s $7,000 kitted-out version—the price tags begin to stretch reality. At $7,000, that Asus ProArt P16 could also buy you a small island or a very fancy car, leaving us to wonder if the laptop’s performance truly justifies the cost.

Finally, let’s not forget the underlying assumption that the RTX Spark chip itself is the magic bullet that will catapult these laptops to MacBook Pro levels. While Nvidia’s RTX Spark is undoubtedly powerful, especially for graphics-intensive tasks, it’s still a newcomer in the laptop arena. Apple’s M-series chips have been refined over years of iteration and are already proving their mettle in both performance and efficiency. So, while the RTX Spark laptops may shine in certain areas, they might still be a few steps behind the Apple juggernaut, especially when it comes to overall user experience and ecosystem integration.

In conclusion, while the first Nvidia RTX Spark laptops are indeed pricey and promising, they face stiff competition from the well-established MacBook Pros. The $2,599 starting price is a great entry point, but the $7,000 kitted-out Asus ProArt P16 might be a bit too steep for the average consumer. With Nvidia still proving its chops, the RTX Spark laptops have the potential to become worthy rivals, but they’ll need more than just high prices to truly stand out. So, the next time you’re eyeing one of these shiny new laptops, remember: you might be paying for the name as much as for the performance.