Choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS ROG Flow X16 depends on your priorities. The MacBook Pro is lighter and offers a longer battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go usage, plus it operates silently as it doesn't have a fan. It's better suited for general use and has a high build quality score. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a larger screen with a high refresh rate, more storage and memory, and powerful CPU and GPU suitable for 3D rendering, machine learning, engineering tasks, and gaming. However, it has a heavier build and shorter battery life, which might make it less portable. Both laptops have similar price points, so the decision comes down to whether portability and battery life or performance and screen size are more important to you. 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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow X16
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.6/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has an integrated GPU that is less potent for 3D tasks and gaming compared to the ASUS ROG Flow X16, which boasts a dedicated Nvidia RTX graphics card and higher screen refresh rate enhancing gaming and 3D performance; additionally, ASUS runs on Windows which supports a wider array of popular games unlike MacOS on the MacBook, which limits gaming compatibility.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.5/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
502.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a high-resolution Retina display known for its brightness and color accuracy, making it splendid for general tasks and detail-oriented work in engineering and design. However, its standard refresh rate is less suited for 3D applications, which can benefit from higher refresh rates for smoother rendering of motion. The ASUS ROG Flow X16, while also featuring a high-resolution, bright display with strong color representation for general and design tasks, may fall short for gaming and 3D enthusiasts who prefer screens with faster refresh rates for a more immersive and responsive experience.
Battery
20.0 Hours
5.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Flow X16 has 5.5 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Flow X16 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X16 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its powerful Apple M1 CPU, sufficient RAM for multitasking, and high-quality IPS screen offers great performance for general tasks, enhanced by its outstanding portability and long battery life, making it ideal for users on the go. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Flow X16 boasts a high-end AMD CPU and substantial RAM, coupled with a superior RTX GPU and a versatile touch-enabled display, offering a robust performance for a range of tasks, including gaming, although it compromises on battery life and is less portable than the MacBook.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow X16 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is 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
7.8/10
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS ROG Flow X16 are both good for software development.
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.
Cost
$1,249
$1,300
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS ROG Flow X16 costs $1,300.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS ROG Flow X16 compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"Above all else, the Asus ROG Flow X16 is one thing - versatile! It is a thin, mobile work device, it's a 2-in-1, tablet, a powerful workstation and even a gaming PC. But something even more surprising: It does all of these things really well without making any big blunders. It's anything but a lazy compromise. Because, despite its compact dimensions and 2-in-1 functionality, the hardware isn't throttled and boasts, at least in turbo mode, above-average performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS ROG Flow X16
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.
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.
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.
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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