The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is typically much more expensive, offering high performance for engineering tasks and 3D/machine learning applications, along with a very high-quality display and build, but it's heavier and has a larger power brick, making it less portable. The ASUS Zenbook 13 is much less expensive and quite portable with a good display, but its performance is more suited for general use and it may struggle with intensive tasks. Consider your budget, the need for portability, and whether your work requires the additional performance the MacBook Pro provides. 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 engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
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 13
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) excels in general use due to its powerful CPU, higher RAM, superior Mini LED screen quality, and longer battery life, making it an excellent choice for demanding applications and multitasking. Though less expensive, the ASUS Zenbook 13 offers good performance with a capable CPU and an OLED screen; however, its lower RAM and battery life make it more suitable for everyday tasks without requiring the high-end specifications of the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is equipped with a superior GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are very important for 3D tasks, alongside a high-quality Mini LED screen, making it well suited for 3D applications even though some games may not be compatible with its operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) excels in engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, substantial RAM, and exceptional screen quality, which are crucial for demanding tasks such as 3D modeling or detailed design work. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook 13, while more portable and budget-friendly, provides lower performance due to its fair CPU and integrated GPU, less RAM, and a lower resolution screen, making it less suitable for intensive engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.6/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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
8.4/10
7.3/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 likely offers a screen with high resolution and brightness, alongside a panel that excels in displaying accurate colors, making it ideal for tasks in general use and engineering where visual clarity and color precision are key. For engineering and design, its screen probably covers a wider color gamut, ensuring that professionals who need to work with an extensive range of colors, like in photo editing or graphic design, get the most accurate representation. However, for 3D applications where the refresh rate is crucial for smooth motion, it falls short, and the ASUS Zenbook 13, while still delivering a good display for general use and design tasks, might have limitations in refresh rate and screen features that diminish gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
13.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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
2.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$890
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the ASUS Zenbook 13 costs $890.
"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 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the ASUS Zenbook 13
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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