A comparison of specs, key information, reviews, and best pricing from top retailers
Last updated -- hours ago | Report incorrect information
Company ProductName Specs
Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec laptop team Learn more
Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is generally more expensive but offers a higher resolution Mini LED display, better build quality, and longer battery life, making it well-suited for intensive work and professional use such as video editing or software development. The MacBook is also lighter and slimmer, enhancing portability. On the other hand, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is a budget-friendlier option with strong performance capabilities, particularly for gaming, due to its dedicated graphics card. It's more configurable with additional ports but is heavier and has a shorter battery life, which might suit those who prioritize gaming or need a machine with a high refresh rate display that can also manage demanding tasks but mostly from a desk rather than on the go. 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 (2021)
- Excellent for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS TUF Dash 15
- The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0
7.6
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
272.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in general use due to its superior processor, double the RAM, and a more vivid and higher-resolution Mini LED screen, along with an impressive battery life that enables extended use without frequent charging, at the expense of greater weight and size which slightly reduces its portability compared to the Asus.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.8
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 is good.
The MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design due to its high-quality screen, powerful CPU and GPU, and substantial amount of RAM, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15, while still good for these tasks, has less RAM and a lower quality screen but offers a more portable design with quieter operating noise.
Content Creation
8.8
7.6
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS TUF Dash 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
8.9
7.4
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 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.
Screen Quality
9.4
7.0
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
272.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS TUF Dash 15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's display excels in general use and engineering due to its high resolution and brightness, along with wide color gamuts that ensure precise color representation for detailed work. For 3D applications, however, its refresh rate is not as high as specialized gaming laptops, which can limit smoothness and responsiveness. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Dash 15, while offering a good display for general use and engineering tasks, does not prioritize the high refresh rates needed for optimal gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS TUF Dash 15 has 9 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
7.4
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS TUF Dash 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,150
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 costs $1,150.
Let Us Help Find Your Perfect Laptop
Find your new laptop
Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.4
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The ASUS TUF Dash 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is equipped with an Apple M1 Pro GPU suited for 3D tasks and has a higher screen resolution Mini LED display with a refresh rate suitable for smooth visuals, though its MacOS may limit gaming options as some popular games aren't compatible. In contrast, the ASUS TUF Dash 15 boasts an Nvidia RTX 3060 GPU and a high refresh rate IPS screen, emphasizing frame rate for a superior gaming experience on Windows, which supports a broader range of games.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
15.6in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.8in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and ASUS TUF Dash 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 (2021) and the ASUS TUF Dash 15 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) | ASUS TUF Dash 15 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,949 | $1,150 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 13.9'' x 9.9'' x 0.81'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 4.41 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 13.94" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | Intel i7-12650H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 1 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 9 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 76 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 15.6" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 144Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 497 nits | 272 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | Yes | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"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."
ASUS TUF Dash 15
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Sascha Mölck | July 2022
"The Asus TUF Dash F15 FX517ZR is a laptop with mobile RTX 3070 and acceptable battery life. The Asus TUF Dash F15 was made for high-performance applications like video editing, rendering, and gaming. The laptop can manage the latter in QHD resolution and at high to maximum settings. However, the focus isn't on maximum performance, but instead, it's about a compromise between performance and portability."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the ASUS TUF Dash 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.
Give feedback
We're constantly perfecting our model
Laptop guides you might be interested in
More comparisons for you
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) vs. HP Omen 17
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) vs. Gigabyte Aorus 15P
VS
Compare Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) vs. Razer Blade 14
VS
Compare ASUS TUF Dash 15 vs. Lenovo LOQ 16
VS
Compare ASUS TUF Dash 15 vs. Acer Predator Triton 300
VS
Compare ASUS TUF Dash 15 vs. Acer Nitro 17
VS
FAQs
FAQs about laptops
Why trust us
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
125,295
Recommendations made
27,148
Consumer hours saved
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.
Featured in
