If high performance and long battery life are essential for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or demanding software, the Apple MacBook Pro may suit you, but it comes at a higher cost. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook offers more storage and RAM at a lower price, making it suitable for everyday use and light engineering work. The MacBook Pro's premium build, better heat management, and superior screen are advantages for professional environments, but its heavier weight may affect portability. The ASUS, meanwhile, offers a larger screen and a numeric keypad which can be beneficial for data entry. 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 Vivobook 16
The ASUS Vivobook 16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
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
295.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) excels in screen quality with a Mini LED display and significant battery life, making it ideal for general use where visual experience and mobility are prioritized. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook 16 offers more storage and RAM, along with a larger screen, suiting users who need more space and multitasking capability but can compromise on display finesse and portability.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 provides a superior visual experience for engineering and design with its Mini LED screen that offers high brightness and color accuracy, complemented by a powerful M3 processor and integrated GPU suitable for demanding tasks. Meanwhile, the ASUS Vivobook 16 offers a larger screen and double the RAM which is beneficial for multitasking and complex projects, along with an ample Vega 8 GPU, but has a less impressive IPS display and lower screen resolution. Both offer different strengths, with the MacBook boasting better portability and build quality and the Vivobook providing expandable RAM and storage options.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
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 Vivobook 16 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
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 16 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
6.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
295.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it excellent for general use and engineering tasks where precise color representation is crucial. The ASUS Vivobook 16 offers decent visuals for general use and engineering but may lack the superior color range and brightness found on the MacBook Pro. For 3D applications, both have limitations: the MacBook Pro, despite its display quality, has a lower refresh rate that may not be ideal for fast-paced 3D tasks, while the Vivobook, having moderate panel quality, also doesn't prioritize high refresh rates, making neither optimal for 3D gaming or advanced rendering.
Battery
17.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 16 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.
Portability
Very Good
Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS Vivobook 16 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$668
$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 16 costs $668.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Vivobook 16 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its high refresh rate Mini LED display and superior integrated GPU, is better suited for 3D tasks, offering vivid visuals and smooth graphics, but it is restricted in gaming due to limited compatibility with popular games. Meanwhile, the ASUS Vivobook 16's IPS display and integrated GPU provide fair gaming and 3D performance, helped by a broader game library on Windows, although at lower refresh rates and screen quality compared to the MacBook.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Vivobook 16 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."
Olivier Martin, Ryan Lim, Yannick Khong | May 2023
"The ASUS Vivobook 16 M1605 (2023) is a budget Windows laptop. It's available with various AMD Ryzen 5000 and 7000 U-series CPUs and integrated graphics. You can only get 8GB of RAM; however, there's an empty SO-DIMM slot if you want to upgrade it. It has an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 16:10 IPS display, a full-size keyboard with a Numpad, a 720p webcam, and Wi-Fi 6E wireless connectivity. Ports include three USB-As, one USB-C, an HDMI, and a headphone jack. The USB-C supports charging but no video output."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Vivobook 16
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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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.