A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
If you need a more portable and affordable laptop, the ASUS Zenbook S 13 will suit you with its light weight and smaller screen size. However, for tasks that require robust performance, like intensive engineering or 3D/machine learning tasks, the significantly more expensive Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is better equipped, especially with its higher quality display for such activities. The MacBook also boasts a longer battery life, making it preferable for extended usage without charging. On the other hand, if your usage is more general, the ASUS can provide good performance with adequate display quality for everyday tasks. Both options offer high-quality keyboards and build, but the MacBook Pro has a slight edge in speaker and webcam quality. 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 (2023)
- Excellent for general use
- Good for gaming and AI
- Excellent for content creation
- 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
Gaming and AI
6.5
7.4
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
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
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is equipped with an integrated Intel Iris Xe GPU and a standard 60Hz OLED screen, which, while providing good color representation and screen quality, may not offer the smoothest experience for gaming and 3D applications that benefit from higher refresh rates.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is somewhat better.
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 is equipped with high RAM and a respectable CPU and GPU combination, making it ideal for engineering and design tasks, complemented by an excellent OLED screen for precise color work. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023), with its powerful M2 Pro chip and advanced GPU, larger Mini LED screen with higher brightness, also excels in engineering and design, while offering top-quality speakers and keyboard, though it is heavier and thus slightly less portable compared to the ASUS.
Content Creation
8.5
9.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good.
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.
Software Development
8.3
8.9
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and ASUS Zenbook S 13 are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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
9.3
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
487.0 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 13 is praised for its screen quality for general use and design work due to its high resolution and bright display, which make it easy on the eyes and excellent for detail-oriented tasks. The MacBook Pro 16 shines even brighter in these respects; it offers a superior display with a wider color range that caters exceptionally well to professionals in engineering and design who require true-to-life colors. However, both fall short for 3D applications and gaming because they lack the high refresh rates that are key for smooth motion and competitive gameplay, despite their capable resolutions and panel types.
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 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.6
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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
$2,423
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The ASUS Zenbook S 13 has a price of $1,400 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) costs $2,423.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
General Use
8.6
9.1
2880 x 1800
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
365.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 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 (2023) to be excellent for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook S 13 is very good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the ASUS Zenbook S 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| ASUS Zenbook S 13 | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,400 | $2,423 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | April 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
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 M2 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 1024 GB | 1024 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 | 487 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
See more
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 (2023)
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 (2023)
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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare ASUS Zenbook S 13 vs. HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
VS
Compare ASUS Zenbook S 13 vs. MSI GP66 Leopard
VS
Compare ASUS Zenbook S 13 vs. Acer Swift 14
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) vs. Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) vs. Eluktronics Mech-15 G3R
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) vs. Razer Blade 14 (2023)
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
132,495
Recommendations made
28,708
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
Featured in
