For better performance, especially in engineering and graphics-intensive tasks, the Apple MacBook Pro is the superior choice due to its high-end processor and graphics capabilities, though it comes at a higher price. However, it is also heavier and has a lower portability score. The ASUS Vivobook, being more budget-friendly, offers adequate performance for general use and some level of engineering work. While its battery life is significantly shorter, it is also lighter, which may be beneficial if you prioritize portability. Neither are optimal for intensive gaming, but the MacBook Pro is better equipped for multimedia tasks with its superior display quality and color accuracy. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook 14
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 processor, Mini LED display with higher resolution, and substantially longer battery life, offers enhanced performance, screen quality, and durability for general use compared to the ASUS Vivobook 14, which has an Intel i5 processor and IPS screen but comes with less storage and a shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.0/10
4.5/10
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
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Vivobook 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
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.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
6.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its powerful M3 processor and 10-core GPU, excels in CPU and GPU performance compared to the ASUS Vivobook 14, which has a capable but less potent i5 processor and integrated Iris Xe graphics. Additionally, the MacBook Pro's high-quality Mini LED screen and ample storage make it well-suited for engineering and design tasks, although it comes at a higher cost and with less portability than the lighter ASUS Vivobook 14, which offers fair performance and screen quality for less demanding use cases.
Content Creation
8.4/10
6.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
6.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-resolution display with excellent brightness and a wide color gamut, making it ideal for general use and professional engineering and design tasks where accurate color representation is crucial. The ASUS Vivobook 14, while providing a fair resolution and adequate brightness suitable for typical daily tasks and some engineering and design work, falls short of the MacBook Pro in terms of screen fidelity. Neither laptop is optimal for 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth rendering of fast-moving visuals.
Battery
17.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 14 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$421
$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 Vivobook 14 costs $421.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Vivobook 14
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.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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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.