The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is a high-end option suited for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and running engineering software; its incredible screen, powerful processor, expansive storage, and large amount of memory guarantee smooth performance. On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook 14 is more budget-friendly and provides adequate performance for general use, casual gaming, and day-to-day tasks. It's lighter and offers sufficient battery life for standard usage but may struggle with more demanding software applications due to its basic processor and less memory. If you need premium performance and build, the MacBook Pro is a solid choice, but for casual use and better portability, the Vivobook might be the way to 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
Good for gaming and AI
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 Vivobook 14
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) outperforms the ASUS Vivobook 14 in general use due to its superior CPU, higher RAM capacity, and higher quality Mini LED screen, which translate to more powerful performance, smoother multitasking, and better visual experience.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.0/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is esteemed for 3D tasks due to its powerful GPU and a high screen refresh rate, offering smooth visuals and robust performance, whereas the ASUS Vivobook 14 provides a modest gaming experience with a fair GPU and a standard screen refresh rate. However, the MacBook Pro limits gaming capabilities since many popular games do not run on its operating system, while the Vivobook, running Windows, is compatible with a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
6.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its powerful M1 Pro processor, abundant RAM, and high-performance integrated GPU excels in tasks like engineering and design, also offering superior screen quality with a high pixel density and brightness.
Content Creation
8.8/10
6.9/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
8.9/10
6.8/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 is only fair.
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
9.4/10
6.3/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a high-resolution display with bright, vivid colors, making it excellent for general use and engineering purposes where color accuracy is crucial; however, its standard refresh rate limits its utility for 3D applications that benefit from smoother visuals. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook 14 offers a satisfactory display for everyday tasks and design work within a more budget-friendly price range, but its screen may not deliver the desired experience for gaming or 3D modeling where higher refresh rates and visual fidelity are key. Ultimately, if top-tier screen quality for professional creative work is a priority and budget allows, the MacBook Pro is a superior choice, while the Vivobook 14 serves as a competent option for less demanding use cases, balancing cost and performance.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook 14 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
Very Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Vivobook 14 has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$421
$0
$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 Vivobook 14 costs $421.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the ASUS Vivobook 14
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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