The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers higher build and speaker quality, better performance for intensive tasks, and longer battery life, making it suitable for professional work in engineering or media production. However, it is heavier and less portable than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13. The ASUS packs a higher storage capacity, a touchscreen with a 360-degree hinge for tablet-like use, and a sharper screen with 4K resolution, which is convenient for artists or those who prioritize portability and versatility. Both are similarly priced and have ample performance for general use, but your choice depends on whether you prioritize portability or performance for demanding applications. Give Feedback
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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 Flip S13
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) stands out for general use with its robust processor, high RAM, superior screen quality with higher brightness and contrast, longer battery life, and a solid build, but it's heavier and thus less portable than the ASUS ZenBook Flip S13, which also offers a high-resolution touchscreen, more storage, and a 2-in-1 convertible design, though it has a shorter battery life and lower screen brightness.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has an advanced CPU and GPU, specifically designed by Apple and is favored for its high-resolution Mini LED screen, making it highly suited for engineering and design tasks that require color accuracy and processing power. In comparison, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers the versatility of a 2-in-1 convertible design and a very high-resolution touch screen, but it relies on Intel parts for the CPU and integrated graphics, which are generally less powerful than the Apple's custom components.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
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 Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14's screen stands out due to its high resolution and brightness, providing crisp and clear visuals, whereas the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers a very good display that is slightly less superior in brightness and crispness. In engineering and design, the MacBook Pro's wider color gamut coverage ensures accurate color rendition which is critical for these tasks, while the Zenbook Flip also performs well but may not match the MacBook's range of colors. For 3D applications and gaming, however, the MacBook Pro falls short as it lacks a high refresh rate, which is essential for smooth motion, a feature more critical in this area than the resolution or panel type, while the Zenbook Flip, although offering a versatile flip screen, shares this limitation in refresh rate, affecting gaming and 3D performance.
Battery
13.5 Hours
10.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$1,400
$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 Flip S13 costs $1,400.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M1 Pro GPU and a 120Hz refresh rate, provides robust performance suitable for 3D work, but its operating system limits game compatibility compared to the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, which offers a fair gaming experience with its Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard 60Hz screen, yet still trails in 3D tasks due to a less powerful GPU.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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 Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
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.