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Updated January 10, 2024·
When making a decision between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Zenbook 13, consider the following: The MacBook Pro has a higher price but offers better performance for intensive engineering tasks, superior build quality, and a higher-quality display with vibrant colors and high brightness. It also has a better keyboard, speakers, and webcam but is less portable due to more weight. The Zenbook, while cheaper and lighter, making it more portable, does not match the MacBook in performance or display quality, making it less suitable for demanding engineering work or jobs that require color accuracy. The Zenbook also falls behind slightly in build quality and keyboard feel. It's essential to weigh these factors against your needs and budget. If performance and quality are top priorities and you're willing to invest more, the MacBook Pro might be a better fit. If portability and budget are more critical, and you're okay with sacrificing some performance, the Zenbook could be a more appropriate choice. 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 Zenbook 13
- Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2
7.4
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its Apple M3 processor and high-quality Mini LED screen is known for excellent performance and superb screen quality, making it suitable for general use, plus its large battery affords it long life; however, it is less portable due to its higher weight. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook 13 with an AMD Ryzen processor and OLED screen also delivers solid performance and screen quality for general tasks, while being lighter and thus more portable, yet with a shorter battery life compared to the MacBook.
Gaming and AI
6.7
6.2
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
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its high-refresh-rate screen and advanced GPU is well-suited for 3D tasks, though its operating system limits the availability of popular games. The ASUS Zenbook 13, while offering fair gaming performance owing to its capable but less powerful GPU and standard screen refresh rate, can run a wider range of games available on Windows.
Engineering and Design
8.1
7.1
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
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 Zenbook 13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is better for engineering and design use because it has a more capable CPU, higher RAM options, and a superior GPU, which together offer robust performance and support complex applications, along with a high-quality screen that is essential for precise design work. In comparison, the ASUS Zenbook 13 provides fair performance with a decent processor and GPU for lightweight tasks, but its limitations in power and a lower screen resolution make it less ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.4
7.6
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 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
7.3
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
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 Zenbook 13 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
7.8
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
378.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro's display excels in clarity and color accuracy due to its high resolution and strong coverage of professional color gamuts, making it ideal for engineering and design work. The ASUS Zenbook, with a sharp display and competent color reproduction, provides a very good visual experience for general use and design tasks. However, both laptops have displays with lower refresh rates, which are less optimal for 3D applications where smoother motion quality is key.
Battery
17.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 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
Excellent
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.4
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,499
$890
$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 Zenbook 13 costs $890.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Zenbook 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) | ASUS Zenbook 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,499 | $890 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | February 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 12'' x 8'' x 0.55'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.4 lbs | 2.55 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 11.97" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 7.99" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M3 | AMD Ryzen 7 5700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 67 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 489 nits | 378 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8.4/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
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 | N/A | |
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 Zenbook 13
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sebastian Bade | May 2021
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Zenbook 13
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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