If you prioritize saving money, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 may suit you since it's less expensive. It's suitable for general use and creative tasks with its high-resolution screen and dedicated graphics but might be less portable. Conversely, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, while pricier, provides an OLED display which is great for contrast and offers a different balance of CPU and GPU performance which might be better for certain engineering and gaming. It's also slightly lighter, newer, and runs Windows, which could influence your software compatibility needs. Consider these aspects related to your typical usage, preferences for Mac or Windows, and budget before making a decision. 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 Pro 15
Excellent battery life
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
346.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 for AI, software development, and content creation.
When considering general use, both the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 deliver with high-resolution displays and brightness, ensuring clear and vibrant images that enhance everyday tasks like browsing, word processing, and video streaming. For engineering and design professionals, the importance of accurate colors is paramount, and both laptops offer excellent color gamut coverage that allows for precise color work in applications like photo editing and graphic design. However, for activities like gaming and 3D modeling that rely heavily on fluid motion, the lower refresh rates on these screens may not provide the seamless experience desired, whereas laptops designed specifically for gaming or 3D tasks typically feature higher refresh rates for smoother visuals.
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 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$1,109
$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 15 costs $1,109.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) boasts a higher-resolution IPS display with a better color coverage which makes it excellent for tasks requiring screen accuracy, paired with its top-tier keyboard its ideal for writers and professionals who prioritize display and typing experience; Meanwhile, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15, with its higher operating noise and heat management, offers an OLED touchscreen and a newer processor that could be more appealing for multimedia enthusiasts and users who prefer Windows operating system.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a decent GPU for 3D work, but its standard screen refresh rate and the limitation in game compatibility due to MacOS restricts its gaming potential. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 offers a more suitable GPU for gaming and a vibrant OLED screen, but also adheres to the standard screen refresh rate, which can limit high-level gaming experiences.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its Intel i7 processor and AMD Radeon Pro GPU, offers high performance for engineering and design applications, plus excellent screen quality due to its higher resolution and IPS panel that covers a vast range of colors.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
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 Pro 15 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
7.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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.
Battery
12.0 Hours
12.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 has 12.5 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
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 15 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 Zenbook Pro 15 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 Pro 15 offers a strong CPU, chassis, and display. One of the most popular 15.6-inch prosumer or multimedia laptops out there is the Dell XPS 15. Thus, comparisons between it and the Asus Zenbook Pro 15 are inevitable. Asus has a couple of tricks up its sleeve that XPS users are still missing out on including 1080p OLED and an AMD Ryzen CPU which help separate the Zenbook Pro 15 from the XPS 15. It also integrates a numpad and a few more port options albeit at the cost of a larger chassis size."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 15
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.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.