If you prioritize a strong performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, and gaming, the ASUS ROG Flow X13 might be your preferred choice, especially with its dedicated graphics chip and touch-enabled higher refresh rate display. However, if longer battery life, a higher screen resolution with brighter and more color-accurate display, and a premium build quality are more important to you, and you mainly use applications optimized for MacOS, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) would better suit your needs. The MacBook also comes at a somewhat lower price point but with less storage and RAM when compared to ASUS. The ASUS is more portable due to its slightly smaller size and lighter weight, and it has touch capability, which the MacBook lacks. 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 (Late 2023)
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 ROG Flow X13
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
7.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.2/10
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.4in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
511.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Flow X13 for general use, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's Retina display offers high resolution and brightness, making it excellent for general use where clarity and visibility are key. Its display also covers a wide range of colors, including DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, which is crucial for engineering and design professionals who require accurate color representation for their work. However, its lower refresh rate compared to some gaming-oriented laptops means it's less suitable for 3D applications, which demand quick screen refreshes for smooth motion.
Battery
17.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Flow X13 has 8 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
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Flow X13 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,649
$2,500
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,649 and the ASUS ROG Flow X13 costs $2,500.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS ROG Flow X13 are both very good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-quality Mini LED screen and an integrated Apple M3 GPU, provides great visual clarity and efficient performance, making it suitable for engineering and design tasks, whereas the ASUS ROG Flow X13 boasts a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and Nvidia RTX GPU, offering stronger performance that's particularly advantageous in tasks requiring intensive graphics processing. While the MacBook offers exceptional build quality, keyboard, and speaker attributes, the ASUS is slightly lighter and offers a 2-in-1 form factor, giving it an edge in portability and versatility for design work, but with slightly more operating noise.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS ROG Flow X13 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
8.2/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS ROG Flow X13 are both very good for software development.
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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
13.4in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ROG Flow X13 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS ROG Flow X13 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 ROG Flow X13 is not an off-the-shelf convertible. This quickly becomes clear when you take a closer look at the technical specs. The AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS is a state-of-the-art SoC with 8 cores and 16 threads, which also makes the 2-in-1 interesting as a work device. With 32 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD, gamers are also well taken care of. The dedicated Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q fits well into the overall concept and ensures a solid 3D performance. With the eGPU dock, which is equipped with a GeForce RTX 3080, the small convertible transforms into a full-fledged desktop replacement in terms of performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS ROG Flow X13
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.
Jason Lew
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.