When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo, consider the following: The MacBook Pro 16 stands out for its longer battery life and high-quality build, making it ideal for those who need a device for extended use without frequent charging. It also has a larger screen and higher storage capacity, which could be beneficial for professionals in fields like video editing or graphic design. On the other hand, the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is typically less expensive, offers a touch screen with a smaller form factor for increased portability, and has more RAM, which can be advantageous when multitasking or running numerous applications simultaneously. It is also equipped with Windows 11, which might be preferable for users more comfortable with the Windows ecosystem or requiring specific Windows-based software. The MacBook Pro's MacOS could be a deciding factor for those integrated into Apple's ecosystem and looking for seamless compatibility with other Apple devices. If you're looking for a premium device with a focus on durability and battery life, go for the MacBook Pro. In contrast, if cost and a Windows-based system with touch capabilities are priorities, the ZenBook Pro 14 Duo could be your 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 (Late 2023)
Good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with a high-quality GPU and a brilliant screen suitable for 3D rendering and professional creative work, but it may not support many popular games. The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo, on the other hand, boasts a high refresh rate screen and a powerful GPU that makes it ideal for gaming and 3D tasks, provided the games are compatible with its operating system.
Software Development
8.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
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
9.3/10
8.6/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.5in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
357.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's display offers high resolution and brightness, complemented by a wide color spectrum, making texts sharp and colors vibrant for tasks like document editing and graphic design, but it has a standard refresh rate, which limits the smoothness needed for 3D applications. In contrast, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo's screen also provides excellent resolution and color accuracy essential for detail-oriented engineering and design work, while maintaining good general use quality, but similar to the MacBook, lacks the high refresh rate preferred for gaming and 3D rendering. The importance of a high refresh rate in 3D contexts makes both laptops less optimal for those specific tasks, in contrast to their strong performance in areas reliant on color accuracy and image clarity.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 14 Duo has 6 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
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$3,099
$1,299
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $3,099 and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo costs $1,299.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 is lauded for general use due to its powerful CPU and GPU, ample RAM, high-quality Mini LED screen, and long battery life, all packaged in a form that's slim but a bit heavier, making it less portable than some alternatives. On the other hand, the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo offers a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, superior RAM, and double the storage, along with a good balance between portability and battery life, ideal for those who need powerful multitasking and vibrant display on-the-go.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
8.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo are both very good for engineering and design.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
8.9/10
8.6/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo are both very good for content creation.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.5in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo 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 Zenbook Pro 14 Duo OLED is a well-tuned instrument for content creators, excelling at a range of general office tasks as well as tasks that require a little more grunt like encoding and 3D rendering. The big attraction is the laptop’s dual displays. They’re the best ones we’ve used in an Asus Zenbook Duo laptop to date with a spate of year-on-year improvements that make the visuals more striking and the cross-screen integration easier than ever before."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the ASUS ZenBook Pro 14 Duo
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
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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.