If performance is your top priority, especially for tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning, or engineering applications, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo offers higher specifications with more RAM and a better display for such activities. However, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a longer battery life, which could be crucial if you need to work on the go without frequent access to a power source. The ASUS has a slight edge in portability but both are within a similar range. For general use, the MacBook Pro 13 is well-regarded for its build quality and efficient heat management, and its operating system is notably user-friendly. On the other hand, if your work benefits from a touchscreen or you desire a laptop with a 2-in-1 form factor, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is the better choice as the MacBook does not have these features. Consider these factors based on your specific needs and preferences before making a decision. 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 ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
357.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 offers high-quality CPU and RAM specifications, ensuring smooth multitasking and compilation for most engineering tasks, complemented by a superior screen and reliable performance with lower operating noise; however, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo provides an even more powerful CPU, higher RAM capacity, and a dedicated GPU which significantly boosts tasks such as 3D modeling and machine learning, at the expense of being heavier and possibly louder, with a dual-screen setup that enhances productivity, albeit potentially affecting portability.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is 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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.6/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.5in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
357.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo 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, both the Apple MacBook Pro 13 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo have displays with high resolution and brightness, offering clear and vibrant visuals, and the panel type contributes to wide viewing angles and accurate color representation. In engineering and design, the importance of color accuracy is met by both laptops as they cover a broad spectrum of color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensuring precise color work. However, for 3D work or gaming, where high refresh rates are crucial for smooth motion, both laptops may fall short due to their standard refresh rates, which are not tailored for such high-intensity graphical tasks.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo has 6 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
14.5in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 with its integrated Apple M1 GPU offers satisfactory performance for 3D tasks; however, due to its 60Hz screen refresh rate, it's less ideal for fast-paced gaming, which is further limited by the lesser availability of popular games for macOS.
Software Development
7.8/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo 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.
Cost
$1,249
$1,299
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo costs $1,299.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo 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 Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a well-tuned instrument for content creators, excelling at a range of general office tasks as well as tasks that require a little more grunt like encoding and 3D rendering. The big attraction is the laptop’s dual displays. They’re the best ones we’ve used in an Asus Zenbook Duo laptop to date with a spate of year-on-year improvements that make the visuals more striking and the cross-screen integration easier than ever before."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
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 Golden, Ph.D
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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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
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