For superior portability and display quality, consider the ASUS Zenbook 13, which has an OLED screen and is lighter, making it easier to carry around. However, if you need more RAM for multitasking or intensive engineering tasks, the Gateway 15.6" comes with more RAM and has a larger screen which could be beneficial for such activities but is heavier. The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a significantly long battery life. Both have a midrange price, but the Gateway may be less expensive and could deliver better performance for engineering, 3D, and machine learning tasks, while the ASUS has a high display quality that benefits general use. Both are not recommended for intensive gaming despite their suitability for less demanding games. 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 ASUS Zenbook 13
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Excellent portability
Good speakers
Good keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the ASUS Zenbook 13.
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.1/10
6.2/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 with its OLED screen, lighter weight, and overall excellent build and heat management is more suitable for portability and longer use, yet it has less RAM compared to the Gateway 15.6", which may limit performance for complex engineering tasks. The Gateway 15.6", although it has more RAM and a larger screen which can be beneficial for design work, has lower screen quality and heavier weight, making it less ideal for frequent travel and extended on-the-go use.
Content Creation
7.6/10
7.0/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the ASUS Zenbook 13 is somewhat better.
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
7.3/10
6.7/10
5.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 is good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" 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
7.8/10
6.1/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
OLED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
378.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 offers a high-resolution display with premium brightness levels and panel type ideal for clarity and comfort during everyday tasks, while its superior color gamut coverage ensures accurate color reproduction essential for engineering and design work. However, it lacks a high refresh rate which is crucial for smooth visuals in 3D applications and gaming. On the other hand, the Gateway 15.6" provides a satisfactory display for casual use and design tasks with acceptable resolution and brightness, but falls short for gaming and 3D content due to its lower refresh rate and less precise color range.
Portability
Excellent
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.5in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has excellent portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
5.1/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has good build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$890
$380
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has a price of $890 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $380.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use.
The ASUS Zenbook 13, with its AMD Ryzen processor and 8 GB of RAM, delivers smooth performance suitable for a variety of general use tasks, and its OLED screen promises better color coverage and illumination; it is highly portable and has a good battery life, making it ideal for on-the-go use. Conversely, the Gateway 15.6" offers more RAM which enhances multitasking and has a larger screen which benefits users needing more screen space, but its less vibrant IPS display, significantly heavier build, and poorer heat management makes it less suited for mobile use.
Gaming and AI
6.2/10
6.0/10
3.6/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.3/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Gateway 15.6" laptops are both equipped with integrated GPUs, which provide moderate graphical power suitable for some gaming and 3D applications, but they will struggle with more demanding tasks due to their lower performance compared to dedicated gaming GPUs. Furthermore, both have screen refresh rates of 60Hz which are standard for regular use but may not provide the most fluid experience for high-paced games that benefit from higher refresh rates.
Battery
9.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The ASUS Zenbook 13 has 9 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" has 8 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.
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How the ASUS Zenbook 13 and the Gateway 15.6" compare to other laptops
"The Asus ZenBook 13 is a compact 13-inch laptop with a fast Ryzen 7 5800U and OLED display. The subnotebook is also light and the modern design is convincing. The selection of high-quality materials make the device not only light, but also very stable. In addition, the visuals and haptics of the device offers a high-quality impression. The AMD Ryzen 7 5800U is a very good fit for the ZenBook 13, ensuring a high performance in the test. However, in terms of the 3D performance, we also notice that the Vega architecture is beginning to hit its limits."
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the ASUS Zenbook 13 or the Gateway 15.6"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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