If portability and battery life are key for you, then the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) could be the preferred choice, as it's lighter and has longer battery life. It also has higher screen resolution, refresh rate, and better scores in display color quality, which suits those in design or content creation. However, if you require more storage, memory, and a higher-performing main processor and graphics card for demanding engineering tasks, gaming, or 3D/machine learning, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 may be a better fit. The ASUS also includes a numeric keypad and a wider variety of connectivity ports, but it's heavier, which may affect portability. Keep in mind though, the MacBook's display has superior brightness and offers a higher pixel density for sharper images. 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 software development
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 Zenbook Pro 17
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
7.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-resolution, bright display with excellent color accuracy, supporting wide color gamuts which is essential for engineering and design work, but the lower refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 has a quality display that is suitable for general use and offers good color reproduction for tasks like engineering and design; however, similar to the MacBook, its refresh rate isn't tailored for the high frame rates desired in gaming and 3D rendering. Screen quality for general use in both laptops is commendable due to their panel types and resolutions that ensure sharp, vibrant visuals, but professionals in 3D graphics may find the refresh rates inadequate for their specific needs.
Battery
17.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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
Good
14.2in
SIZE
17.3in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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 Zenbook Pro 17 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers excellent portability with a longer battery life, and its high-quality screen and powerful CPU provide a smooth experience for general use; however, it has less RAM and storage compared to the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17, which boasts a larger screen and higher RAM, making it very good for demanding tasks, but it's heavier and not as portable. Both laptops offer great screen quality and performance, but the MacBook Pro tends more towards portability and battery, while the Zenbook leans towards more power and screen size.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
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
8.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.1/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its Apple M3 processor, integrated graphics, and high-resolution Mini LED screen excels in CPU, GPU, and screen quality, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks while also offering excellent portability and lower operating noise. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 features a powerful AMD Ryzen processor, dedicated Nvidia graphics, and a larger screen, making it a strong contender for similar tasks, but it's heavier, which impacts portability, and the screen's lower resolution and different technology may not match the MacBook's display quality.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 are both very good for content creation.
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
7.9/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for software development, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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.
Cost
$1,499
$1,500
$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 Pro 17 costs $1,500.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 17
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.
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.
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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.
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.