The Apple MacBook Pro 13 is known for its silent, fanless operation, making it an excellent choice for work environments where noise is a concern. It is typically more affordable than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and offers a higher resolution for its size, with the added benefit of Apple's ecosystem integration. However, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 offers a larger and faster screen which is better for gaming and video editing, greater storage, and a more powerful processor suited for demanding tasks. The Zephyrus also has a better-suited keyboard for gaming. So, if you prefer gaming or intensive computational work, the ASUS is the superior option, but if you prioritize a quiet environment, less spending, and are embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the MacBook Pro would be more suited to your needs. 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 Zephyrus G15
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15, featuring a high-end Nvidia RTX 3070 graphics processor unit (GPU) and a screen that refreshes 165 times per second, is superior for gaming and 3D tasks, which demand such advanced graphics capabilities. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has an integrated GPU that's less powerful for such tasks, and its screen refreshes 60 times per second, plus it cannot run many popular games due to macOS compatibility issues.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a competent CPU and GPU for engineering tasks with its Apple M1 chip and benefits from a silent, fanless design, but has less RAM than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15, which is equipped with a high-performance AMD Ryzen 9 5900HS, NVIDIA RTX 3070 GPU, and double the RAM, making it more suited for demanding engineering software and intensive design work. While the MacBook Pro excels in portability and battery life, the ASUS model provides superior screen quality and a larger screen, albeit with reduced portability due to its larger size and weight.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
309.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 for software development, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is praised for its vibrant and accurate screen display, beneficial for color-sensitive engineering and design work due to its high resolution and broad color gamuts, but its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother visuals are crucial. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 also boasts a high-resolution, bright display with impressive color coverage that suits both general users and professionals in engineering and design, but for gaming and 3D tasks, despite being a gaming laptop, its screen falls short if the refresh rate isn't high enough to match the rapid movement in these applications. For everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos, both laptops deliver clarity and detail, but creatives and gamers will notice the deficiencies in their specialized use cases due to the specific demands of color accuracy and fluid motion, respectively.
Battery
20.0 Hours
9.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has 9.5 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
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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 Zephyrus G15 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
$1,637
$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 Zephyrus G15 costs $1,637.
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its Apple M1 processor, high screen brightness, and silent fanless operation offers strong performance, long battery life, and is more portable, making it suitable for general use. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 has a more powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia graphics, more memory, and a larger, high refresh rate screen, but it is heavier with shorter battery life, catering better to those who require higher performance for tasks like gaming and content creation.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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
7.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15 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."
"As long as you're aware of the fact that the GeForce RTX 3080 laptop version can only unfold its potential to a limited extent due to Asus's low TDP setting and that it can be slower than a fast RTX 3070 laptop, the ROG Zephyrus G15 GA503Q cuts a fine figure. One of the biggest highlights turns out to be the WQHD panel, since it attracts customers with 165 Hz, relatively fast response times, FreeSync, and good color-space coverage. Other selling points are the surprisingly rich sound, the long battery life, and the sleek design. In terms of looks, the white edition stands out nicely from the competition."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G15
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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