If you prioritize a sleek design, a lightweight build, and a well-integrated operating system with applications for creativity and productivity, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) would suit you, though for intensive tasks it may fall behind in performance. On the other hand, if you are focused on gaming, 3D tasks, or demanding engineering software, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15, with its gaming-oriented hardware, might be the way to go, even if it comes with reduced portability and potentially shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Pro. Keep in mind the Apple ecosystem benefits from better synergy among devices if that's relevant for 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)
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 F15
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
8.0/10
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
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is merely fair for 3D because its Apple M1 GPU is less powerful compared to dedicated gaming GPUs, and it has a standard screen refresh rate, which is not ideal for fast-paced gaming or high-end 3D rendering. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is good for gaming and 3D as it features a high-performance Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, better suited for these tasks, and a higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother visuals, which is very important for gaming, coupled with the fact that many popular games are not compatible with the macOS platform.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has superior screen quality, excellent speakers and keyboard, and is praised for silent operation, making it suitable for design work where such attributes are essential and the portability it offers is significant.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
257.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a high-resolution, bright Retina display that renders colors vividly and text sharply, making it ideal for general use and professional design tasks where accurate colors across a range of spectrums like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB are critical. However, its refresh rate is on the lower side, which is less optimal for 3D applications that require smooth, rapid visual updates. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming F15, while providing adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, doesn't deliver the same level of color fidelity for engineering and design, and its screen refresh rate, while better than the MacBook's, still isn't high enough to satisfy the smooth visuals expected in gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
20.0 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has 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
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming F15 has good 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 F15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$1,399
$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 F15 costs $1,399.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and ASUS TUF Gaming F15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is highly praised for its strong CPU performance in a compact form with excellent battery life and a high-quality, high-resolution display, making it well-suited for various general tasks while being extremely portable and offering silent, fanless operation.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
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 Gaming F15 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
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
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 F15 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 F15 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."
"Aside from all the chassis updates, the new TUF Gaming is most notable for its much higher TGP target of 140 W compared to only 95 W on the previous generation. PC makers everywhere are using the same GeForce GPUs this year since Nvidia has yet to launch the successor to the mobile RTX 3000 series. The more demanding processors of the new TUF Gaming has directly impacted battery life and the size of the AC adapter. Don't expect runtimes to be longer than on the previous generation under most conditions and be prepared to carry around an even larger AC adapter than before."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS TUF Gaming F15
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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