The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its Apple M1 chip offers longer battery life and a higher resolution display, making it suitable for tasks that require a vivid and sharp screen, like photo editing or general media consumption. It's also lighter and has a very high build quality, which enhances portability and durability. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Dash 15, powered by an Intel i7 and RTX 3060, boasts better graphics performance and is a better fit for gaming, 3D rendering, or engineering software. Plus, it has a larger screen and higher refresh rate, which can benefit fast-paced gaming and some multimedia tasks. However, it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, which could limit mobility. The MacBook Pro tends to be pricier, so if cost is a factor, the ASUS offers a considerable amount of power at a usually lower price point. Give Feedback
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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 speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Dash 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 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 which is less powerful compared to the ASUS TUF Dash 15's dedicated Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card, thus making the ASUS preferable for gaming and 3D applications that demand high-performance graphics processing. Additionally, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a higher screen refresh rate, which is favorable for a smoother visual experience in fast-paced games, whereas the MacBook's lower refresh rate may not be as fluid for such tasks.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.0/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
272.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Dash 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its high-resolution Retina display and brilliant brightness provides an exceptional visual experience suitable for users requiring sharp text and detailed images in everyday tasks; for engineering and design, this laptop excels due to its wide color gamut, rendering accurate and vibrant colors crucial for professional work. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Dash 15, while still offering a competent display for general use and engineering, may not match the MacBook Pro in terms of color accuracy and brightness, yet it's structured more towards durability and gaming with other features prioritized over screen characteristics. However, for 3D applications and gaming, neither laptop is optimal as they lack the high refresh rate screens that are essential for fluid motion and fast-paced action, suggesting that those keen on such tasks should consider alternatives more specialized for these demands.
Battery
20.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS TUF Dash 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers solid performance for general use with an efficient Apple M1 CPU, ample RAM, and a high-resolution screen while being highly portable with a long battery life and silent operation, which makes it suitable for on-the-go users who need a laptop with all-day battery and a crisp display.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is valuable for engineering and design due to its high-resolution IPS screen with excellent color coverage and an efficient Apple M1 CPU that offers silent operation, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is favored for its stronger Intel CPU, double the RAM for multitasking, dedicated Nvidia GPU for complex graphics tasks, and a higher refresh rate screen that could benefit some design applications. However, the MacBook Pro's portability is superior owing to its lighter weight and longer battery life, contrasting with the TUF Dash 15's heftier form and shorter battery duration but added advantage of a gaming-grade GPU and additional ports for connectivity.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS TUF Dash 15 are both 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.
Software Development
7.8/10
7.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS TUF Dash 15 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
$1,150
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 costs $1,150.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 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 TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS TUF Dash 15
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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