Given your situation, consider the following: The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is a powerful device well-suited for intensive tasks like video editing, graphic design, and music production, but it is larger and heavier, which may impact portability. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 is lighter and more versatile with its flip screen, making it ideal for presentations and use on the go. If price is a major concern and you require a machine for demanding workloads, the MacBook Pro might be a better investment. However, if you prioritize portability and versatility and can manage the higher cost, the Zenbook Flip S13 could be the better option. Note that battery life may also differ, with the MacBook Pro typically offering longer usage between charges, which is important if you're frequently away from power outlets. 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)
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13
Excellent portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.9/10
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
372.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 for software development, and content creation.
For general use, both the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 offer high resolutions and bright displays, making them excellent for browsing and media consumption. Engineers and designers would find both laptops appealing as their screens cover a broad color spectrum, which is crucial for accurate color work. However, for 3D applications or gaming that demand smooth motion, both laptops fall short due to their lower refresh rates, which can result in less fluid visuals compared to specialized gaming systems.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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
Good
Excellent
16.0in
SIZE
13.3in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
$540
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 costs $1,400.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) excels in performance with a strong CPU and dedicated GPU, making it suitable for more demanding general use cases, and offers a large, high-quality screen with great color accuracy, though it is less portable due to its size and weight. Meanwhile, the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, while also providing a capable CPU and ample RAM for general tasks, boasts a high-resolution touchscreen for versatility, enhanced portability with a lighter build, and a longer battery life, but its integrated graphics may not handle intensive tasks as well as the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.3/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) with its AMD Radeon Pro GPU and standard screen refresh rate is fair for 3D tasks but can be limited for gaming, particularly because many popular games don't run on macOS. The ASUS Zenbook Flip S13, on the other hand, while also having a fair capability for gaming and 3D with its Intel Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate, benefits from running Windows which supports a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its dedicated AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics and Intel i7 processor, is built for demanding engineering tasks and offers high-quality display with a larger screen for design work, but is less portable due to its weight.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) to be 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
7.9/10
7.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS Zenbook Flip S13 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 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 16 (Late 2019) 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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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
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.