When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15, consider your needs and preferences. The MacBook Pro is generally less expensive, making it a budget-friendlier option. It's also lighter, increasing its portability, which is ideal if you're on the go frequently. However, if you prioritize performance for tasks like 3D applications, machine learning, or gaming, the ASUS offers superior processing power and a high-end graphics unit, better suiting these intensive demands. Both have high-resolution displays, but the ASUS features an OLED screen which usually provides better color and contrast. The MacBook Pro runs MacOS, providing seamless integration with other Apple products, while the ASUS operates on Windows, which might be preferred for compatibility with a wider range of software. Consider these points to find the best fit for your computing needs and lifestyle. 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 Duo 15
Very good for general use
Excellent for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
332.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.1/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 from late 2019 offers a balance of performance, exemplary screen quality, and superior keyboard quality, complemented by a long battery life, making it apt for general use. On the other hand, the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 provides a significant boost in performance with its more advanced CPU and double the RAM, a higher resolution OLED touchscreen, but this comes at the cost of reduced battery life and increased weight, which impacts portability.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.7/10
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15's Nvidia RTX 3070 Ti graphics card excels in gaming and 3D tasks, offering higher performance compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 16's AMD Radeon Pro 5300M. Additionally, the MacBook Pro falls short for popular gaming since many games are incompatible with macOS, whereas the ZenBook's Windows operating system supports a broader range of gaming titles.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
9.0/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 is excellent for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 outperforms the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) for engineering and design due to its superior Intel i9 processor, double the RAM, and more powerful RTX 3070 Ti GPU, providing faster processing, better multitasking, and superior graphics handling which are crucial for demanding software used in these fields. However, although the MacBook Pro 16 offers a lesser Intel i7 processor, half the RAM, and a less powerful AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU, it may be favored for its potentially better portability and build quality, factors that are significant for users who prioritize a balance between performance and ease of use.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both very good for content creation, though the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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
8.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2160
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
332.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display with bright, accurate colors, making it ideal for general use and engineering tasks which require precise color representation, but its standard refresh rate is less suited for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 also offers crisp images and a wide color range, catering to professionals in engineering and design, but gamers and 3D enthusiasts may find its screen less optimal due to similar refresh rate constraints. For both, while the visuals are sharp and vibrant for most tasks, the lack of a high refresh rate can detract from the experience when it comes to fast-paced 3D content.
Battery
12.0 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro Duo 15 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
5.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 both have good portability, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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 Duo 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$2,000
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 costs $2,000.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 15 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 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."
"Benchmarks aside, the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo is hard to compare with other PCs. Its closest competition may be a multi-monitor desktop, or a laptop with an attached travel monitor. The Pro Duo is more portable and versatile than either of those options, especially with the software tools Asus has thrown on top. For a certain niche of artists, media creators, and gamers, all that might add up to something special, even if it’s unattainable for the rest of us."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the ASUS ZenBook Pro Duo 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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