If you're prioritizing portability and battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers a lightweight design and a longer-lasting battery, suitable for general use and on-the-go tasks. On the other hand, if your work involves intensive engineering tasks, 3D, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15, with its robust performance, would be a better choice, although it is heavier and may have shorter battery life. The dual-screen feature of the ZenBook can enhance multitasking for creative and professional work, but it also adds to the cost and can reduce portability because of the extra weight. 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 Duo 15
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
332.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 with its lighter weight and longer battery life is highly portable, making it a solid choice for general use, whereas the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 offers a more powerful CPU and extra RAM which is great for more demanding tasks, but it's heavier and has shorter battery life, reducing its portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.8/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 features its own integrated GPU and a standard screen refresh rate, limiting its ability to excel in 3D applications and gaming, exacerbated by its lack of compatibility with many popular games. Conversely, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15, with its high-performance Nvidia GPU and equivalent screen refresh rate, delivers superior capabilities for gaming and 3D pursuits, further enhanced by Windows 11's broad game support.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
9.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 outstrips the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with a higher-end processor, more memory, and superior GPU, vital for demanding engineering and design applications; its OLED screen also offers higher resolution and quality which are beneficial for design clarity and detail.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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.
Software Development
7.8/10
8.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is 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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
8.3/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
332.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MacBook Pro 13 has a high-resolution Retina display with bright and accurate colors that cater well to general use and design tasks requiring precise color representation, but its standard refresh rate is not ideal for 3D applications where smoother on-screen motion is crucial. The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 also boasts high resolution and color accuracy, making it suitable for detailed engineering and design work, but it similarly lacks a high refresh rate, which is a drawback for gaming and 3D modeling. For both laptops, the combination of resolution, color gamut coverage, and panel brightness delivers a strong visual experience for everyday and professional use, but their screens are less optimal for high-refresh scenarios required by 3D content.
Battery
20.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 has 7 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
5.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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 Duo 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$2,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 costs $2,000.
"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."
"Benchmarks aside, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is hard to compare with other PCs. Its closest competition may be a multi-monitor desktop, or a laptop with an attached travel monitor. The Pro Duo is more portable and versatile than either of those options, especially with the software tools Asus has thrown on top. For a certain niche of artists, media creators, and gamers, all that might add up to something special, even if it’s unattainable for the rest of us."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 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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