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What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is known for its high-quality build, excellent battery life, and strong performance, particularly for creative work like video editing, thanks to its optimized software-hardware integration. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is typically geared towards gaming and intensive tasks with higher-end graphics capabilities and a cooling system to match, but with trade-offs in battery life and portability. If your primary needs are for general use, creative tasks, and a balance of performance and portability, the MacBook Pro might be the better choice. If you are focused on gaming, high-performance computing, or require a dedicated GPU for tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, the ASUS may serve you better, but it will be bulkier and may not offer the same battery longevity as the MacBook. The decision also hinges on your budget considerations, as the MacBook Pro is often at a higher price point. 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 14 (2021)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G16
- Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.4
7.7
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
291.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
6.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use because it combines a premium build with a high-quality Mini LED screen and excellent portability, along with long battery life and a quiet operation that suits varied everyday tasks. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G16, while also good for general use, is tailored more towards gaming with its high-refresh-rate IPS screen and robust heat management but is less portable and has a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.8
7.9
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-quality screen and powerful GPU, excels in 3D rendering and visual tasks, but its operating system limits the variety of games available. The ASUS ROG Strix G16, on the other hand, with its superior screen refresh rate and dedicated gaming GPU, is optimized for a smooth gaming experience and is compatible with a wider selection of popular games.
Software Development
8.3
7.7
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
9.2
7.5
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
291.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, bright panel, and wide color gamut that delivers precise and vibrant images essential for detail-oriented work. For engineering and design, its superior color accuracy, encompassing professional color spaces like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensures that designers see true-to-life colors for their projects. However, its lower refresh rate compared to gaming-optimized laptops makes it less ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion and responsiveness are key.
Battery
13.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G16 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
Fair
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,374
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 costs $1,374.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.3
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its high-quality CPU and GPU - the Apple M1 Pro, combined with exceptional screen quality featuring Mini LED technology and excellent color accuracy. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G16, while also suitable for engineering and design, offers a high-performance Intel CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, catering to the additional demands of gaming with a higher refresh rate screen but at a slight compromise in portability and screen resolution.
Content Creation
8.4
7.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for content creation, while the ASUS ROG Strix G16 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) | ASUS ROG Strix G16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,905 | $1,374 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | February 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 13.9'' x 10.4'' x 1.05'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 5.51 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 13.94" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 10.39" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | Intel i7-13650HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1200 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 165Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | 291 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
ASUS ROG Strix G16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter | March 2023
"With the mobile Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080, the Asus ROG Stix G16 hits the sweet spot between performance and cooling. The G16 also does not have to shy away from direct comparison with its supposedly stronger family member, the ROG Strix Scar 18 with its RTX 4090, as most benchmarks of the two laptops are very close to each other. Moreover, the G16 should be significantly cheaper. Depending on the supplier, the price difference here could be almost US$ 2,000. In the 2023 model series, Asus has significantly leveled out the differences between the two high-end lines."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS ROG Strix G16
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.
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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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