The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers higher build quality, better speakers, and a more color-accurate screen, which makes it suitable for creative professionals and those who prioritize display and audio quality. Its performance is robust for general use and it has a longer battery life, but it is more expensive. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is less expensive and has a dual-screen feature which can be beneficial for multitasking and productivity. The Zenbook is also touch-enabled, runs Windows, has a number pad on the keyboard, and is suited for light gaming. However, its overall performance and screen quality are not as advanced as the MacBook Pro. Both laptops are comparably portable and offer sufficient storage and connectivity, but your choice should be based on whether you value a superior screen and build, and MacOS ecosystem of the MacBook Pro, or the multitasking capability and cost savings of the Zenbook Duo. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14
The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
314.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its high-resolution Mini LED screen, more powerful M1 Pro processor, and substantial battery life stands out for general use, while also offering greater portability due to its lower weight and better build quality.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
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 Zenbook Duo 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M1 Pro GPU and Mini LED display, offers a high-quality screen and accelerated graphics performance suitable for 3D applications, but its MacOS may limit game compatibility compared to Windows devices.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 in engineering and design tasks mainly because it has a more powerful CPU and GPU, more RAM, and a superior mini LED screen offering higher resolution, brightness, and color accuracy. While both laptops are relatively portable, the Zenbook Duo does have an edge with an additional screen for multitasking, but falls short in comparison with its less vibrant IPS screen and lower-tier processor and integrated graphics.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 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
6.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
314.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is renowned for its vivid, high-resolution Retina display that boasts exceptional brightness and wide color gamuts, making it ideal for general use and engineering tasks that require accurate color representation. However, its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications, where smoother motion through higher refresh rates is key. Contrastingly, the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14's dual-display setup offers good color accuracy and is quite versatile for general tasks and engineering design but similarly lacks a high refresh rate required for an optimal gaming or 3D experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has 8.5 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$999
$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 Zenbook Duo 14 costs $999.
"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 ZenBook Duo's second screen is like the Apple Touch Bar, but better. Most would agree that having two screens instead of one can really boost productivity and the ZenBook Duo is no different in this regard. It's tough going back to just one screen after becoming accustomed to spacious dual-screen setups. For a laptop form factor, however, users will have to accept some compromises. Firstly, weight is the most obvious drawback as the system is several hundred grams heavier than a regular ZenBook 14. Additionally, colors on the second screen will not be as vivid as the main display."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS Zenbook Duo 14
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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