If you prioritize high performance for tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, and a gaming-oriented laptop with ample storage, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is a more affordable option and also offers a larger screen, though at the expense of portability and battery life. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a premium build, better screen quality, and longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and professional tasks like engineering. However, it comes at a higher price point. Neither is designed primarily for intensive gaming despite having the necessary capabilities. Consider what's more important for your usage: cost savings and screen size with the ASUS, or build quality and battery life with the MacBook Pro. 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 engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
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 TUF Gaming A16
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
12.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a well-balanced combination of processing power and memory for smooth multitasking, paired with a high-quality screen that enhances the viewing experience; its lighter weight and longer battery life support greater mobility and usage on-the-go.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
7.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.7/10
The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 GPU and Mini LED display, is powerful for 3D rendering tasks and offers high screen resolution and quality for detailed visuals, but its limited game compatibility on MacOS can be restrictive for gaming. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16's AMD RX 7600S GPU and higher screen refresh rate make it better suited for gaming experiences, with smoother motion on its IPS display, while also being capable for 3D tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
8.2/10
7.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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
7.5/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
294.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's screen stands out in general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, along with a wide color gamut ensuring precise color representation, which is crucial for design work. Its screen quality for 3D falls short because of a lower refresh rate, which is less than ideal for the smooth visuals needed in 3D applications. Conversely, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16's screen, while offering good resolution and decent color accuracy for everyday tasks and design, doesn't meet gaming and 3D requirements due to a poorer refresh rate, impacting the fluidity and responsiveness in such scenarios.
Battery
17.0 Hours
12.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has 12 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
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$838
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,499 and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 costs $838.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high-performance CPU, powerful integrated GPU, and superior Mini LED screen, offers a strong combination of computational power and visual precision for engineering and design efforts, complemented by its lightweight and quiet operation. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Gaming A16, with its robust AMD CPU, dedicated gaming-grade GPU, and larger RAM capacity, provides a more affordable option with considerable power and better suited for graphic-intensive tasks, though it is less portable and has a lower quality display..
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS TUF Gaming A16 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 A16 makes an excellent case against more expensive laptops like the Asus ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 and the MSI Katana GF76, especially if you’re into 1080p gaming. However, although its affordable, it doesn’t skimp on performance or a robust chassis. But for me, the biggest factor that sets it apart from these options is its incredible battery life. In my time reviewing laptops, I can’t remember when I last saw a gaming laptop lasted 11 and a half hours on a single charge, which makes the A16, in my book, truly outstanding."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS TUF Gaming A16
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
Consumer hours saved
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
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.