If you need top performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 is a superior choice, offering exceptional build quality, speaker sound, and a high-quality display. However, it comes at a high price and is less portable. The ASUS Vivobook 16, while being much more affordable and offering a larger screen, provides competent performance for general use and some engineering applications but may not suffice for the most demanding tasks. It is heavier, affecting portability, and typically has a lower battery life, impacting mobility and ease of use throughout the day. Both laptops offer backlit keyboards and a selection of ports, but only the MacBook Pro supports Thunderbolt connections. The MacBook Pro runs MacOS, whereas the Vivobook operates on Windows 11 Home, which can influence your software compatibility based on your specific needs. 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 engineering and design
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 Vivobook 16
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
295.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) edges out primarily because of its superior CPU and screen quality, resulting in a better overall experience for general use; its high-resolution Mini LED display, coupled with a powerful Apple M1 Pro processor, ensures smooth operation and vibrant visuals. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook 16 offers twice the storage and a quality AMD Ryzen CPU at a lower weight, but it falls short on display quality and battery life, making it less optimal for long uninterrupted use and those who prioritize screen fidelity.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) surpasses the ASUS Vivobook 16 in engineering and design use due to its superior screen quality, including higher brightness, greater color coverage, and resolution that enable detailed and vibrant visual work. Additionally, the MacBook Pro offers higher portability, top-notch keyboard and speaker quality, alongside better management of heat and operating noise, making it more suitable for long periods of intensive work.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 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
8.3/10
7.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 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
6.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
295.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's display excels in resolution, brightness, and color accuracy, offering a superior viewing experience for general use and detail-oriented tasks like engineering and design due to its strong performance in color gamuts. Conversely, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 provides a satisfactory experience for general purposes and engineering with decent resolution and brightness, its color accuracy may not be as high-end. For 3D work, where a high refresh rate is crucial, both laptops fall short, but the MacBook might still edge out with its better resolution and panel technology.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 16 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
Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$668
$0
$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 Vivobook 16 costs $668.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS Vivobook 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its Apple M1 Pro GPU and a high screen refresh rate is better suited for smooth 3D rendering, while the ASUS Vivobook 16, equipped with an AMD Vega 8 GPU and a standard refresh rate, offers decent performance for gaming and 3D but may not deliver as fluid visuals. Although the MacBook Pro has a more capable GPU and refresh rate for 3D work, many popular games are not compatible with its macOS, a limitation the Windows-based Vivobook does not have.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS Vivobook 16 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."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, Yannick Khong | May 2023
"The ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a budget Windows laptop. It's available with various AMD Ryzen 5000 and 7000 U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. You can only get 8GB of RAM; however, there's an empty SO-DIMM slot if you want to upgrade it. It has an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. Ports include three USB-As, one USB-C, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports charging but no video output."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS Vivobook 16
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
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
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Laptops Expert
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