Selecting between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED depends on your priorities. If you prioritize performance for tasks such as video editing or 3D rendering and prefer a high-quality display, the MacBook Pro, with its powerful Apple M1 Pro chip and Mini LED display, would be an excellent choice though it's more expensive and less portable. However, if budget and portability are important, along with Windows compatibility, the ASUS Vivobook offers an OLED display and an Intel i9 processor at a lower price, with more connectivity options but lower overall performance for intensive tasks. 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 speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
600.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 14's high-resolution and bright display bring out crisp images and vibrant colors, making it visually pleasing, whereas the ASUS Vivobook's OLED panel provides deep blacks and excellent contrast, which are also great for everyday tasks. In engineering and design work, the MacBook Pro's wide color gamut support ensures accurate color representation, which is critical for professionals, while the Vivobook's OLED also excels in color accuracy but may lack the MacBook's breadth of color support. However, when it comes to 3D work, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which might not provide the smoothest experience that's highly valued in fast-paced 3D environments.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has 7 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
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$990
$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 S 15 OLED costs $990.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a high-quality CPU and superior battery life, making it very good for general use, while its lightweight and smaller screen contribute to better portability; it also features a Mini LED display with excellent color coverage for top-notch screen quality. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED offers good performance with a considerable CPU as well and has an OLED screen which provides vibrant colors and high brightness but has a shorter battery life and is slightly heavier, making it somewhat less portable, although it compensates with additional storage.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a powerful GPU and a high-quality mini LED screen with a 120Hz refresh rate, making it suitable for 3D tasks even without many popular games being supported on macOS. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED, with its high-performance CPU, Iris Xe GPU, and OLED screen also with a 120Hz refresh rate, provides a balanced choice for gaming and 3D work, especially considering it runs Windows 11 which supports a wider variety of games.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED are both very good for engineering and design.
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.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED 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
8.3/10
7.9/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED 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 Vivobook S 15 OLED excels as a capable work machine at an affordable price. It offers commendable performance, thanks to its 12th Gen Intel chip, delivers quality on-screen entertainment with its 15.6-inch OLED display, and can (kind of) get you through a full day of work. Oh, and its special Asus Antibacterial Guard is a nice touch for those who like a clean laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED
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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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.