If affordability is a priority and you're looking for a reliable laptop for general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a solid balance of performance and value. However, if you work in fields that benefit from high-quality visuals like graphic design or video editing, and you have a flexible budget, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED with its superior display may be worth the investment. Be mindful of potential trade-offs in portability and battery life, as the MacBook Pro tends to have a longer battery life but is heavier, while the ASUS offers a lighter option at the cost of shorter battery usage times per charge. For computational tasks like 3D modeling, machine learning or engineering software, higher performance hardware, which might be found in the ASUS, can be critical, but ensure that software compatibility aligns with your choice, especially if specific programs are only available for macOS or Windows. 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 16 (Late 2019)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED
Very good for engineering and design
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with an Intel i7 CPU and AMD Radeon Pro GPU, is praised for its higher-resolution IPS screen and its suitability for creative tasks thanks to excellent screen color accuracy and robust build quality. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED offers a more recent high-performance Intel i9 CPU and integrated Iris Xe graphics, coupled with an OLED display for deep contrasts and high brightness levels, while being considerably lighter, making it more portable but with a trade-off in battery life and perceived build quality.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
600.0 nits
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for general use, gaming and AI, and engineering and design.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro’s display offers sharp visuals with its high resolution and brightness, a boon for daily tasks and media consumption, while the ASUS Vivobook matches this with its own OLED display that similarly brings vibrant colors and deep contrasts. When it comes to engineering and design work, the MacBook Pro's color accuracy across professional color gamuts ensures that the visuals on screen more accurately reflect the final product, an edge that the Vivobook also possesses with its high-fidelity OLED panel. However, both the MacBook Pro and Vivobook may fall short for 3D work or gaming where a higher refresh rate is crucial, as their displays are not specifically tailored for the high-refresh visuals, which can be a setback for those specific use cases.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED 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
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$990
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED costs $990.
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a high-quality IPS screen, large battery, and more Thunderbolt ports for connectivity, making it a strong choice for general use with a focus on screen quality, battery life, and portability. The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED, on the other hand, offers a better CPU, double the storage capacity, and an outstanding OLED screen that's well-suited for vibrant visuals, at the expense of a few hours less in battery life and slightly less portability.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its AMD Radeon Pro 5300M and standard refresh rate screen, delivers a fair experience, adequate for some 3D tasks but limited for gaming, especially since many popular games are not compatible with macOS. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED is equipped with a higher refresh rate screen and a capable integrated Intel GPU, making it more suitable for a good gaming and 3D experience in Windows environment.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9/10
7.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1620
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED are both good for software development.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"The Asus Vivobook S 15 OLED excels as a capable work machine at an affordable price. It offers commendable performance, thanks to its 12th Gen Intel chip, delivers quality on-screen entertainment with its 15.6-inch OLED display, and can (kind of) get you through a full day of work. Oh, and its special Asus Antibacterial Guard is a nice touch for those who like a clean laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS Vivobook S 15 OLED
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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