If you require a laptop with higher performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering software, the ASUS Vivobook 16X, with its dedicated Nvidia GPU, will be more adept at handling these demands compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) which has integrated graphics. However, the MacBook Pro offers better build quality, speakers, and a display with higher brightness and color accuracy, making it a premium option for design and multimedia work. It's also slightly more portable and offers longer battery life for everyday use. The Vivobook will typically be less expensive, so if budget is a primary concern, it provides good performance for its price range. Keep in mind, though, that the MacBook Pro comes with MacOS while the Vivobook runs Windows 11, which may influence your choice based on preferred operating systems or specific application 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 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 keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook 16X
Good for gaming and AI
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
300.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
5.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 16X is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its high-quality Mini LED display, lightweight design, and excellent battery life excels in portability and screen quality for a great general use experience, whereas the ASUS Vivobook 16X, with a larger screen and dedicated graphics card, balances good portability and screen quality with the potential for more demanding applications, though it has a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
7.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Vivobook 16X is 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 powerful Apple M1 Pro GPU and a high-resolution Mini LED display which is great for 3D work but has a macOS that limits gaming options. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook 16X sports an Nvidia RTX 4060 GPU known for superior gaming performance and a screen with a high refresh rate; however, its IPS screen may be less vivid than Apple's for detailed graphic tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
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 16X 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
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
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 Vivobook 16X 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
7.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 16X for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's screen is highly regarded for general use due to its superior resolution and brightness, offering a crisp and vibrant visual experience. For engineering and design, its wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation, which is crucial for professional creative work. However, for 3D applications which demand smoother motion rendering, the lower refresh rate of the MacBook Pro falls short compared to screens designed with a high refresh rate, pertinent for fluid visuals in fast-paced scenes.
Battery
13.5 Hours
5.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 16X has 5 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
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 16X 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 16X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,150
$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 16X costs $1,150.
The ASUS Vivobook 16X and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its M1 Pro processor and high-resolution Mini LED display is excellent for engineering and design, offering a powerful CPU and GPU with outstanding screen quality, whereas the ASUS Vivobook 16X, although heavier and less portable, includes a high-end Intel processor and Nvidia RTX series GPU, making it equally adept at handling demanding software while also featuring a large IPS screen, albeit with a lower screen resolution compared to the MacBook. Both laptops are equipped with sufficient RAM and have quality keyboards and speakers, but the MacBook Pro stands out for its higher screen brightness and color coverage, which can be essential for design precision, while the Vivobook offers more connectivity options such as an available storage slot and hardware ray tracing, beneficial for certain engineering applications.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS Vivobook 16X 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."
"I think the ASUS Vivobook 16X is fantastic. Great performance, decent battery life, good keyboard and trackpad, and a massive screen – just that the screen quality itself is kinda subpar. If you’re okay with the screen, then I think this is an okay laptop. However, I’d like to see a price drop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS Vivobook 16X
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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