If you value a sleek design, long battery life, and a high-resolution display suitable for creative work, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 may be the better option for you. However, if your primary focus is on gaming or running performance-intensive applications, the ASUS ROG Strix G17 with its larger display and powerful graphics could serve you better. Remember, the MacBook Pro 14 is more portable and may be better for general productivity, especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem, while the ASUS will provide a superior gaming experience but is heavier and may not match the MacBook's battery life. 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
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Strix G17
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.4/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 is very 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 capable GPU, is suitable for 3D design work, but its gaming capabilities are limited because many popular games are not compatible with macOS. The ASUS ROG Strix G17, on the other hand, offers a superior gaming experience with a high refresh rate display and a powerful GPU that outperforms the MacBook in rendering games and 3D graphics.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G17 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is somewhat better.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 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
9.2/10
8.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
320.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G17 for general use, engineering and design, and software development.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-resolution screen with exceptional brightness and color clarity, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17, despite its very good display, falls short on ultimate resolution and brightness. In engineering and design, the MacBook Pro excels with wide color gamuts, making it ideal for precise color work, whereas the ROG Strix G17, though very good, may not cover color spaces as extensively. When it comes to 3D work, the MacBook Pro is not designed for high refresh rates, leading to a less smooth experience, while the ROG Strix G17 might also underperform in 3D tasks, as it doesn't prioritize the highest refresh rates commonly sought after in that domain.
Battery
13.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G17 has 3 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
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,350
$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 G17 costs $1,350.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix G17 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in general use due to its high-quality screen, efficient CPU, long battery life, and excellent portability, making it suitable for a variety of tasks while being easy to carry around. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G17, while also good for general use, trades some portability and battery life for a larger screen and a focus on gaming thanks to its powerful main processor and dedicated graphics unit, which may make it more appealing for users with an interest in gaming or intensive applications.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS ROG Strix G17 are both very 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G17 compare to other laptops
"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."
"The Asus ROG Strix G17 is an attractive but unbalanced gaming laptop. Its potent AMD Ryzen 9 processor excels in 1080p gaming, but playing at 1440p leaves the middling GeForce RTX 4060 GPU shouldering most of the burden. The display is exceptionally colorful, which is handy for content creators, but since this is a gaming laptop it would be better served with improved HDR capabilities. If battery life isn't a priority, the Strix G17 could serve as a designer by day and a gamer by night."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS ROG Strix G17
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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