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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you want a high-performance laptop for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, with its powerful processor and advanced graphics, is the better choice. However, it is heavier and has a shorter battery life, making it less suitable for on-the-go use. On the other hand, if you prioritize portability for general use or creative work, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers a balance between performance and mobility, with a lighter design and longer battery life but less suited for gaming or the most demanding tasks. Both are similarly priced and have high-quality displays, but the MacBook has better screen technology which provides excellent colors and brightness, while the ASUS offers a faster refresh rate, beneficial for gaming. 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)
- Very good for general use
- Very good for software development
- Best in class overall build quality
- Very good portability
- Excellent battery life
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
- Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.7
8.5
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.2/10
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is recognized for its strong GPU performance and high-quality display, both essential for 3D applications; however, its lower screen refresh rate may limit its appeal for gaming, particularly as many popular games are not supported on macOS. On the other hand, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 stands out with its even more powerful GPU and significantly higher screen refresh rate, making it very suitable for gaming and 3D tasks on the Windows platform where game compatibility is not an issue.
Engineering and Design
8.1
8.8
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for engineering and design, though the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) provides a balance of portability with high screen quality and strong CPU and GPU integrated into the Apple M3 chip, adequate for engineering and design tasks but may fall short in the most demanding scenarios. In contrast, the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 offers superior performance with an advanced Intel i9 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, more RAM for complex tasks, and a higher refresh rate display, making it excellent for engineering and design, albeit with less battery life and increased weight impacting portability.
Screen Quality
9.2
9.0
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
627.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 for general use, engineering and design, and software development, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Pro 14’s screen shines for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, bright display, and wide color gamut, ensuring crisp visuals and accurate colors, crucial for detailed design work. While the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 also offers a very good display for these uses with similar features, its screen is tailored more towards gamers and may lack the color precision that the MacBook Pro provides. However, both fall short for 3D applications as they do not prioritize high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth rendering of fast-moving graphics.
Battery
17.0 Hours
4.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has 4.5 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
Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$2,059
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,499 and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 costs $2,059.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.2
7.9
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
627.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for general use, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) excels in general use thanks to its high-resolution Mini LED screen, long battery life, and lightweight design, making it very portable and suitable for a variety of tasks. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16, though heavier and with shorter battery life, offers powerful performance due to its advanced Intel CPU and Nvidia GPU, more RAM and storage, higher refresh rate screen, and better heat management, making it also versatile for general use and even suitable for intensive gaming.
Content Creation
8.4
8.2
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
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 Zephyrus M16 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
7.7
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) | ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,499 | $2,059 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | March 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14'' x 9.7'' x 0.83'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 4.63 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.69" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M3 | Intel i9-13900H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 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 | 17 Hours | 4.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 90 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 627 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 7.3/10 | |
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 | 6.3/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
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 Zephyrus M16
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Christian Hintze | March 2023
"The ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16 is not yet as optimised as its predecessor. Compared to the previous gen, performance and efficiency have improved significantly. What's more, the wonderful, Mini-LED Nebula display is a contender for the main highlight and almost manages to put the CPU and GPU in the shade. We already found its predecessor to be a well-rounded and well-optimised gaming machine. Generally, but not unequivocally, that also applies to the new Asus M16. Similar to most of the current, new laptops, we are dealing with a double generational leap in terms of the CPU and GPU. However, this change doesn't always run smoothly."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS ROG Zephyrus M16
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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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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