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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers great balance for general use with a high-quality display, good battery life, and lightweight design, suited for professionals needing a portable device with strong build quality and media creation capabilities. The ASUS ROG Strix G18, on the other hand, excels in performance with superior hardware suited for intensive gaming, 3D rendering, and engineering tasks, but it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less portable. Both are priced similarly, but the ASUS provides larger storage and a higher refresh rate screen, while the MacBook Pro has a better battery life and portability. Choose the MacBook Pro for portability and general use or the ASUS for high-end gaming and performance-demanding tasks, considering the tradeoffs in weight and 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)
- 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 G18
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8
8.7
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
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 G18 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a capable GPU and a high-quality Mini LED screen with a reasonable refresh rate, making it suitable for 3D work in a macOS ecosystem, although high-refresh-rate gaming is limited and macOS is not compatible with many popular games.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Strix G18 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is favored in engineering and design for its color-accurate Mini LED screen and efficient Apple M1 Pro processor, which deliver strong performance and high-quality visuals, alongside its more portable design and quiet operating noise. Conversely, the ASUS ROG Strix G18's appeal lies in its larger and faster IPS display, more powerful Intel i9 CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU for intensive tasks, and additional RAM and storage slots, although it sacrifices portability and is louder when running.
Screen Quality
9.2
8.7
14.2in
SIZE
18.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix G18 for general use, and engineering and design, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has a better screen for gaming and AI, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a high-resolution display that shines in color accuracy and brightness, making it excellent for general use and engineering tasks that require precise color representation; however, its traditionally lower refresh rate compared to gaming laptops makes it less suited for 3D applications where smoother motion is crucial. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix G18, while also providing a very good resolution and color gamut for general use and engineering, may fall short for gaming and 3D because despite its gaming-oriented design, it might not offer the extremely high refresh rates found in top-end gaming laptops specifically tailored for the smoothest visual experience. For both laptops, the tradeoff lies between visual fidelity, suited for professional creative work, and the raw refresh performance required for high-level 3D rendering and gaming.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix G18 has 8 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
18.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix G18 has poor 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 G18 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.3
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
422.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its efficient M1 Pro chip and extended battery life is highly favored for general use largely due to its excellent portability paired with a high-quality mini LED screen, whilst the ASUS ROG Strix G18, equipped with a top-tier Intel processor and superior Nvidia graphics, is more suitable for users prioritizing performance and screen size over portability and battery life. Both laptops offer substantial RAM and a solid build, but the MacBook stands out for its sound heat management and lower operating noise, and the ASUS affords a larger storage space and a high refresh rate display that could be beneficial for specific applications like gaming.
Content Creation
8.4
8.6
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS ROG Strix G18 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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.
Software Development
8.3
8.1
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
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) and ASUS ROG Strix G18 are both very 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.
Cost
$1,905
$1,900
$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 G18 costs $1,900.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS ROG Strix G18 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) | ASUS ROG Strix G18 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,905 | $1,900 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | April 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 15.7'' x 11.6'' x 1.06'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 6.61 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 15.71" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 11.57" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | Intel i9-13980HX | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 8 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 18" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | 422 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 5.7/10 | |
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 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.6/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
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 G18
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Florian Glaser | March 2023
"With the ROG Strix G18, Asus has made an almost consistently good debut in the still quite new 18-inch laptop segment. The base unit case shows a few signs of weakness in the area of stability and is something which has an effect on the perceived quality of the input devices (the chassis tends to rattle a bit). Nevertheless, thanks to generous port features (incl. Thunderbolt 4), a striking design, and extensive lighting (keyboard, LED strip on the front), gamers get a fitting gaming platform."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS ROG Strix G18
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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About the laptop team
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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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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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