When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, consider your needs and preferences. The MacBook Pro offers a midrange price, superior build quality, a high-refresh Mini LED display for smooth visuals, and an effective ecosystem for users of other Apple products, with long battery life and MacOS. It's heavier compared to the Zenbook, making it slightly less portable. On the other hand, the Zenbook Flip S13 has a higher resolution touchscreen display, a more portable design with its light weight, and a Windows 10 Pro operating system, which might work better for those who prefer Windows or need specific applications. It also includes more storage and RAM. However, it has lower build quality, less efficient heat management, and potentially shorter battery life compared to the MacBook Pro. If your work involves 3D, machine learning, or engineering, the MacBook Pro's hardware might be more optimized despite the Zenbook having more RAM. For general use and portability, the Zenbook could be more appealing, while for demanding tasks and a preference for Apple's ecosystem, the MacBook Pro is the better option. 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 Flip S13
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a vibrant display, long battery life, and solid performance suitable for everyday tasks and multimedia work, but the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, although not as battery-efficient, provides a sharper display, more memory, and a lighter, thinner build which enhances portability and is particularly useful for those who prioritize a convertible design for versatile use.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its powerful M3 CPU and high-quality Mini LED screen is suited for demanding engineering and design tasks, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offers a 4K touchscreen and double the RAM, making it an attractive option for design work where screen real estate and multitasking are key. However, the MacBook Pro boasts better build quality and speaker performance, which might be preferable for those prioritizing multimedia quality and durability.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.8/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
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 Zenbook Flip S13 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
7.6/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
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 Flip S13 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
7.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14’s screen offers exceptional color accuracy and a high resolution, which is ideal for general use and engineering tasks, with its wide color gamut covering both DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB crucial for professionals in design. However, its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother visuals are preferred. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 also boasts a high-resolution display with very good color reproduction for general and design tasks, but similar to the MacBook Pro, its refresh rate isn't suited for the fast-paced action in gaming and 3D work.
Battery
17.0 Hours
10.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has 10.5 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
Excellent
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,649
$1,400
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,649 and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 costs $1,400.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its higher refresh rate and Apple's integrated 10-core GPU is well-suited for 3D applications but its operating system limits gaming compatibility. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, with a standard refresh rate and Iris Xe graphics, offers fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks, plus the versatility of a Windows operating system which supports a wider range of games.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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 Asus Zenbook S 13 Flip is an ultra-sleek 2-in-1 convertible. A gorgeous OLED screen and lightweight magnesium chassis make this convertible a traveller’s dream. Its SSD isn’t fast, but it won’t hold you back in everyday use. Its battery life also isn’t class leading, but it’s hardly off the pace. Overall, the Zenbook S 13 Flip OLED holds its head high in the premium convertible category and is a smaller alternative to the Spectre x360 13.5 and the Yoga 9i Gen 7."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
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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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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