The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is designed for high performance with an advanced processor and graphics, a large high-resolution Mini LED screen, and significantly more memory and storage compared to the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, making it well-suited for intensive tasks such as engineering, 3D design, machine learning, or gaming. The MacBook Pro also offers a longer battery life, higher screen refresh rate, and runs MacOS which might be preferable for certain software compatibility.
On the other hand, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is more affordable, significantly lighter, and thus more portable, although it has a smaller screen with lower resolution and a basic processor, suited for general use such as web browsing, document editing, and other light tasks; it runs Windows 11 Home, which might be more familiar to some users. If high performance is not critical and budget and portability are your main considerations, the ASUS might be the better choice. 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 Go 12
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
5.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in performance due to its superior CPU, ample RAM, and high-resolution Mini LED screen, which makes it ideal for more demanding general use tasks, although it's less portable and has a higher price. In contrast, the ASUS Vivobook Go 12, while offering excellent portability and a lower price, falls short with its basic processor, minimal RAM, and lower-quality TN screen, limiting its effectiveness for more intensive tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
5.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is well-suited for 3D tasks with its powerful GPU and high screen refresh rate, however, its MacOS might not support many popular games. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 struggles with gaming and 3D because of its modest CPU and weaker integrated graphics, combined with a lower screen refresh rate and lower quality TN panel.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
5.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is equipped with a high-end Apple M1 Pro processor, abundant RAM, and an advanced GPU, alongside a superior Mini LED screen that provides exceptional display quality, making it well-suited for demanding engineering and design tasks.
Content Creation
8.8/10
5.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.7/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 is poor.
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
5.1/10
16.2in
SIZE
11.6in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display that provides sharp images, better color coverage for precision tasks in engineering and design, and superior brightness, making it ideal for general use and professional work that relies on color accuracy. However, its screen has a standard refresh rate, which isn't optimized for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12, on the other hand, has a lower resolution and reduced brightness, resulting in less crisp visuals for everyday activities and insufficient color gamut for specialized engineering or design projects, while also lacking the high refresh rate crucial for seamless gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has 10 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
Excellent
16.2in
SIZE
11.6in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has excellent 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
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Vivobook Go 12 has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$267
$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 Go 12 costs $267.
"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 Go 12
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,795
Recommendations made
22,273
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.