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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) offers a balance of performance and portability, suitable for general use, 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering tasks due to its Apple M2 Pro chip. Its high-resolution Mini LED display ensures crisp visuals and it boasts a lightweight design for easy mobility, alongside a long battery life. However, it comes at a higher cost and may not be as adept for high-end gaming or intensive engineering tasks requiring a dedicated graphics card. Alternatively, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is tailored for gaming and extensive computational tasks with its Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics. The larger screen and high refresh rate are optimal for fast-paced gaming and intensive engineering software. It offers plentiful storage and is better suited for those who prioritize performance over portability, as it's heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less convenient to carry around. Despite its higher price tag, it's an investment for users needing top-tier performance and is not as focused on portability and battery life. 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 (2023)
- 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 ROG Strix Scar 17
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.5
7.9
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
292.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is well-suited for general use due to its high-resolution Mini LED screen, powerful Apple M2 Pro CPU, and substantial battery life, complemented by its light weight and compact size for easy portability. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its superior storage and top-tier Intel i9 CPU suited for demanding tasks, is also good for general use, but it's heavier with a larger screen, trading off some portability and battery life for better gaming performance and a higher screen refresh rate.
Gaming and AI
7.0
8.4
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, with its Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU and a high screen refresh rate of 360Hz, caters to gamers seeking smooth, competitive gameplay, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14's Mini-LED display with a refresh rate of 120Hz and an M2 Pro 16-core GPU provides sufficient power and screen quality for 3D creative work; however, the MacBook's compatibility with popular games is limited compared to the Windows-based ASUS.
Software Development
8.4
7.5
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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
8.1
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
360Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
292.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
If you prioritize a vibrant and accurate display for tasks like photo editing or design work, the Apple MacBook Pro 14's screen excels in color accuracy and range, offering superior visual fidelity in those areas. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17, while suitable for general use and engineering with good resolution and brightness, may fall short for gaming and 3D applications due to its lower refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth motion. In contrast, the MacBook may not be ideal for 3D work that demands high refresh rates, despite its high resolution and panel quality.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,695
$2,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,695 and the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 costs $2,499.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.4
8.6
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) excels in engineering and design due to its high-end Apple M2 Pro CPU and integrated GPU that ensure smooth performance, complemented by a high-quality Mini LED screen with excellent color accuracy, which is crucial for design work. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 offers a robust Intel i9 processor and a superior Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti GPU, making it ideal for engineering tasks that require intensive graphical processing, and it also has a larger, high-refresh-rate screen, but it trades off some portability and screen resolution.
Content Creation
8.5
8.2
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) | ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,695 | $2,499 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | January 1, 2023 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 15.6'' x 11.1'' x 1.02'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 6.39 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 15.55" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 11.1" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M2 Pro (10C) | Intel i9-12900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 17.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 360Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 292 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 5.9/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | No Webcam | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"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."
ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2021
"Asus ROG Strix Scar 17 laptop review: liquid metal 7 nm AMD Zen 3 is stunning. The raw performance increase is absolutely bonkers if you're upgrading from a laptop on Coffee Lake-H or older. The 45 W Ryzen 9 5900HX is neck-to-neck with the thicker, heavier, and hotter Schenker Ultra 17 running on a desktop-class Core i9-11900K despite their wide TDP differences. The performance-per-watt advantages can make Intel Rocket Lake feel like a last generation platform at times. As for the chassis itself, it's a huge light show with RGB LEDs on almost all sides of the system."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the ASUS ROG Strix Scar 17
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.
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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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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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