If you're looking for a balance of performance and cost, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers respectable computing power with a dedicated graphics card and a high-resolution display while typically costing less, which makes it a good choice for general use and some professional applications. On the other hand, if you require a laptop with a newer processor, more memory, additional storage, and a high refresh rate OLED screen that may be better for creative tasks like video editing or 3D work, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo delivers those advanced features but at a higher price. The MacBook Pro offers greater battery life and a larger screen, beneficial for long work sessions and multitasking, while the ZenBook Pro is more compact and portable with a secondary touchscreen, which could enhance productivity in certain workflows but with the tradeoff of being more expensive and potentially shorter battery life. Consider the MacBook Pro if you prefer Mac OS and a more substantial display or the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo for cutting-edge features in a Windows-based system at a higher cost. 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 keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.6/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
357.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is preferred for general use due to its higher RAM capacity, which enables smoother multitasking, and an OLED touchscreen that offers vibrant colors and deeper blacks. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a larger display and longer battery life, which may be advantageous for users who prioritize screen real estate and less frequent charging over portability and the latest CPU performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) with its dedicated AMD Radeon Pro GPU and Retina display excels in screen quality and graphic performance for engineering and design, whereas the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo, equipped with a more powerful CPU, double the RAM and an innovative dual-screen, provides superior multitasking capabilities and real-time design previews which are highly beneficial for complex engineering tasks. Despite the MacBook's advantage of a quieter operating system and a slightly more portable design, the ASUS stands out for its formidable hardware specifications that cater very well to demanding engineering software and workflows.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both very good for content creation, though the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is somewhat better.
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.
Screen Quality
7.8/10
8.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.5in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
357.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 provides a high-resolution and bright display, offering clear and sharp visuals that are easy on the eyes during everyday tasks like browsing and video streaming. However, engineers and designers will appreciate its wide color gamut, ensuring accurate color representation crucial for their precise work. Yet, for 3D applications and gaming, where smooth motion is key, the lower refresh rate of both laptops might not deliver the fluid visuals desired by enthusiasts and professionals in those fields.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo has 6 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
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$1,299
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo costs $1,299.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) with its AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU and 60Hz screen refresh rate is less suited for 3D applications and gaming compared to the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo, which has an Intel i7-12700H Iris Xe GPU and a higher 120Hz refresh rate. Furthermore, the ASUS laptop runs on Windows, known for broader gaming compatibility, whereas many games don't run on the MacBook Pro's macOS.
Software Development
7.9/10
8.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.5in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo 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 Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a well-tuned instrument for content creators, excelling at a range of general office tasks as well as tasks that require a little more grunt like encoding and 3D rendering. The big attraction is the laptop’s dual displays. They’re the best ones we’ve used in an Asus Zenbook Duo laptop to date with a spate of year-on-year improvements that make the visuals more striking and the cross-screen integration easier than ever before."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
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
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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