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Updated January 10, 2024·
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a balance of portability, performance, and value, making it suitable for general use and light engineering tasks. It's more compact and lightweight than the MacBook Pro 16, but it may fall short in battery life and performance for heavy applications. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 16, while more expensive, provides superior performance for intensive engineering, 3D rendering, and machine learning tasks, with a longer battery life and a larger, higher resolution but less portable design. Both have high-quality displays, but the MacBook's is larger and has a higher refresh rate, which is better for fast motion clarity, while the ASUS has an OLED screen that is highly color accurate and provides deep contrast. Choose the ASUS if you value portability and a lower price, or the MacBook Pro if you need top-tier performance and a larger workspace, and are willing to carry a heavier device and pay a premium. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook S 13
- Best in class portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
- Excellent for general use
- Good for gaming and AI
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 offers a strong CPU and Iris Xe integrated graphics, ample RAM, and a high-resolution OLED screen, making it well-suited for engineering and design tasks that require clear visuals and computational power, while being more portable than the MacBook given its lighter weight and smaller size. Conversely, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a powerful M1 Pro chip and dedicated GPU for more graphics-intensive work, a larger and brighter Mini LED screen with a high pixel density for detailed design work, and a longer battery life, albeit at a higher weight which impacts portability.
Software Development
8.3
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
8.1
9.4
13.3in
SIZE
16.2in
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
365.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook S 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The ASUS Zenbook's screen offers high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for daily tasks and viewing high-detail images in engineering, but its lower refresh rate limits its appeal for gaming and 3D applications where fluid motion is key. The MacBook Pro stands out with an exceptional resolution and bright display, alongside wide color gamuts, providing precision for professional design work, but like the Zenbook, it's not optimized for 3D due to its standard refresh rate. While both are superb for productivity and creative tasks, neither is geared towards gamers or professionals who prioritize fast refresh rates for 3D rendering.
Battery
11.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has 11 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Best in Class
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.2in
2.2 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.4in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has best in class portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,400
$1,949
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) costs $1,949.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.6
9.0
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
11.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
9.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be excellent for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13's lightweight design and capable Intel CPU make it highly portable and suitable for day-to-day tasks, while its OLED screen provides excellent visual quality for general use. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 with its Apple M1 Pro chip offers exceptional performance and a Mini LED screen that excels in color accuracy and brightness, alongside a larger screen size and longer battery life, making it ideal for more demanding general use applications but at a higher weight.
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.0
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Content Creation
8.5
8.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for content creation.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
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How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $1,949 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | October 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 11.7'' x 8.5'' x 0.46'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 2.2 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.66" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.52" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Intel i7-1355U | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 32 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 11 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 63 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | OLED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2880 x 1800 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 365 nits | 497 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 7.6/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 9.5/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 7.5/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 8/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 8.4/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | No | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 1 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 3 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
ASUS Zenbook S 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | May 2023
"The Asus Zenbook S 13 is the slimmest OLED ultrabook worldwide struggles with annoying fans. The new Zenbook S 13 leaves us with mixed feelings, particularly since last year's model was so good. Asus has completely reworked the device, making the laptop noticeably slimmer. The result also looks good and the case makes a great impression, particularly also in terms of the stability. The new plasma ceramic surface feels great, and there are no problems with fingerprints. In addition, it now includes some of the known connections such as an HDMI port and a regular USB-A connection, which is a good achievement in such a slim device."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook S 13 or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
About ASUS
ASUS, a Taiwanese electronics brand, is one of the largest personal computer vendor by market share. The majority of their laptops are targeted towards personal use or gaming. Their most popular product lines include the budget-friendly VivoBook, more premium ZenBook, and their TUF and ROG gaming laptops, the latter of which has a reputation for excellent gaming performance.
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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