The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a longer battery life and is slightly lighter, making it more suitable for those who value portability and are often on the go. It operates silently with good build quality and is a better pick for general tasks like web browsing, multimedia consumption, and document editing. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 provides a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia graphics card, has a touchscreen, and is better suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming. However, it has a shorter battery life and may cost more. If your work involves engineering software or you're into gaming, the ASUS is the better option, but for everyday use and longer work sessions away from a power outlet, the MacBook Pro would be more practical. 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
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Flow Z13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Excellent portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
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
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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 Apple GPU which is less powerful compared to the dedicated Nvidia RTX 4050 GPU in the ASUS ROG Flow Z13, making the ASUS laptop better suited for gaming and 3D applications that require advanced graphics capabilities.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 is favored for engineering and design due to its more powerful Intel i9 processor, double the memory, and dedicated Nvidia graphics card, which significantly improve performance for intensive tasks, alongside a high-resolution screen that supports touch input.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
511.0 nits
The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 13 offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and color accuracy, making it ideal for everyday tasks, while the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 provides similar qualities, ensuring crisp and vivid visuals. In engineering and design, both laptops deliver wide color gamut coverage, ensuring that professionals can see accurate colors for their projects. However, for 3D applications, neither laptop excels due to the lower refresh rates, which are less optimal for the smooth visuals typically required in gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Flow Z13 has 6.5 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.
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 Z13 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,600
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 costs $1,600.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow Z13 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is a solid choice for general use with its capable Apple M1 CPU and silent, fanless design ensuring good performance with minimal disruption; however, it offers less RAM and a non-touch screen compared to the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 which, with its powerful Intel i9 processor and double the RAM, promises more robust performance and versatility as it also doubles as a tablet with a detachable keyboard. While the MacBook has a longer battery life, better for mobility and longer work sessions away from power outlets, the ASUS has a high-refresh-rate touchscreen, greater storage, and dedicated graphics, making it better suited for heavier tasks and entertainment but with a tradeoff in battery life.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
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 Z13 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
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow Z13 to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
13.4in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Flow Z13 to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS ROG Flow Z13 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."
"The Asus ROG Flow Z13 is a gaming tablet with powerful Alder Lake i9 CPU. The ROG Flow Z13 impresses with its good cooling. After our review, the impression is predominantly positive. Besides a very fast Alder Lake CPU and stable gaming performance, especially the cooling system is surprisingly effective and quiet. You can use the integrated speakers without any issues while gaming. The 1200p display in the 16:10 format also impresses with good color reproduction and high brightness. Since the battery runtimes aren't particularly long as it is, we wouldn't recommend the optional 4K panel."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS ROG Flow Z13
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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