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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers excellent build quality, a highly responsive backlit keyboard, and a Mini LED display with exceptional color accuracy and brightness, making it ideal for professionals in visual fields. It leverages the Apple M3 Pro chip for performance and has a longer battery life, though it has a higher price point. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X, featuring an OLED touchscreen and hardware ray tracing capabilities, is slightly heavier but offers more storage space and a dedicated graphics card, making it suitable for 3D rendering, gaming, and engineering. It runs Windows and is more affordable, but with reduced battery life compared to the MacBook. If portability and MacOS are important and you can invest more, go for the MacBook Pro; if you prefer Windows, need a touchscreen, and engage in GPU-intensive tasks, the Zenbook Pro 16X is 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)
- 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 16X
- The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.8
8.3
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both very good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) combines a robust CPU and ample RAM with a high-quality Mini LED screen while being lighter and delivering longer battery life, essential for portability and extended use without charging. In comparison, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X also offers a strong CPU and quality OLED touchscreen, more built-in storage space, and a dedicated graphics card but has a heavier build and shorter battery life, which may limit its mobility for some users.
Software Development
8.9
8.2
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
8.3
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
354.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 typically offers a high-resolution Retina display with excellent brightness, making text and images crisp and clear for general use, and wide color gamuts that benefit engineers and designers who require accurate color representation. However, its screen might not refresh as quickly as dedicated gaming laptops, which can be a downside for 3D applications where smooth motion is crucial. In contrast, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X also provides a high-quality display with similar benefits for general use and design work but suffers from the same limitations in refresh rate, affecting gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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.
Build Quality
10.0
7.6
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$1,300
$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 $2,499 and the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X costs $1,300.
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Key similarities
Gaming and AI
7.5
7.5
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-quality screen and capable GPU, excels in 3D design software but lacks the higher screen refresh rate and extensive game compatibility that the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X offers, making the Asus model a better fit for gaming alongside 3D tasks due to its superior GPU performance and refresh rate. While both have strong CPUs and screens, the ASUS's edge in gaming comes from its ability to run a wider range of popular games which are not available on Macs.
Engineering and Design
8.9
8.6
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.6/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is outstanding in engineering and design due to its high-performance CPU and GPU, ample RAM, and superior Mini LED screen quality with impressive brightness and contrast, complemented by long battery life and a quieter operation. On the other hand, the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X also excels with a strong CPU, dedicated Nvidia GPU, and vibrant OLED touchscreen, though it provides more storage and a higher screen resolution but is heavier and has a shorter battery life.
Content Creation
8.9
8.5
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X 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 16X compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) | ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$2,499 | $1,300 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | November 1, 2023 | October 1, 2022 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 14'' x 9.9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 5.29 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 13.98" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.88" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M3 Pro (12C) | Intel i7-12700H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 18 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 7 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 96 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 16" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3840 x 2400 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 487 nits | 354 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 1 | |
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 | |
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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
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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 Zenbook Pro 16X
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Marc Herter, Alex Wätzel | November 2023
"The new Zenbook Pro 16X is more powerful, quieter and doesn't need to shy away from dedicated workstations and gamers. It is also comparatively compact, and our test device is the best Zenbook that we've reviewed so far. It seems equally suitable for content creators and gamers or anyone looking for a very powerful laptop that is still slim."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the ASUS Zenbook Pro 16X
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.
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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