The decision between an Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and an ASUS TUF Gaming A17 depends on your specific needs. Consider a MacBook Pro if you prioritize a more premium build, higher resolution display, excellent software-hardware integration, and better portability facilitated by its smaller size and longer battery life. It's well-suited for general use and professional tasks that benefit from macOS and its ecosystem. Conversely, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is tailored for gaming and performance-heavy tasks due to its more powerful graphics card and larger screen. It's a better fit for 3D work, machine learning, and engineering applications but at the cost of reduced portability and potentially shorter battery life. The ASUS might also offer a better price-to-performance ratio, which is important if you're budget-conscious and need high performance. 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)
Good overall display quality
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 Gaming A17
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Very good for content creation
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
8.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
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
7.5/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers great screen quality and a silent, fanless operation that suits design work in quiet environments, but with lesser CPU and GPU power compared to the ASUS TUF Gaming A17, which boasts stronger performance specs, including a high-end CPU and GPU suitable for demanding engineering tasks. However, the MacBook provides more portability and a higher quality keyboard, beneficial for on-the-go use and prolonged typing sessions, while the larger and heavier ASUS excels in gaming and 3D applications, but is less convenient to carry around.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.8/10
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
253.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 for general use, and engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has a better screen for software development.
The MacBook Pro's Retina display offers a high resolution and brightness, which provides crisp and clear visuals for casual and professional tasks, while its superior color accuracy benefits engineering and design work. However, its typical 60Hz refresh rate is not ideal for 3D applications, where a higher refresh rate can greatly enhance fluidity and realism. The ASUS TUF Gaming A17's display, being more moderate in resolution and brightness, suffices for daily use and engineering tasks but lacks the higher refresh rates and color fidelity needed for optimal 3D and gaming experiences.
Battery
20.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has 10 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
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
17.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,552
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 costs $1,552.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A17 to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers superior portability due to its lighter weight and longer battery life, making it suitable for those who need to work on the go, but its smaller screen and comparatively less powerful CPU and GPU mean lower performance for more intensive tasks. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 provides substantial power with its higher-end CPU and GPU, more RAM, and larger storage, which is great for demanding applications and multitasking, yet it is less portable and has a lower battery life, making it a less ideal option for frequent travelers.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS TUF Gaming A17 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
9.2/10
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 Gaming A17 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 TUF Gaming A17 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."
"There is one big question that needs an answer. Is the TUF Gaming A17 FA707 a better purchase than the ROG Strix G17 G713R (2022)? Well, it depends. Undoubtedly, the Strix is the more premium product. Arguably the biggest advantage it has over its TUF fellow is in regards to the display. ASUS TUF Gaming A17 A707’s IPS panel has a Full HD resolution, comfortable viewing angles, and a very good contrast ratio."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A17
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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