The Asus Zenbook NX500 looks a lot like the MacBook Pro. They both have the same colors, and both are ultra portable. But are they really the same machine?
Let's look at the specs of each model and see!
Screen: The Zenbook offers a vivid 15.6-inch screen with a resolution of 3840x2160. The company refers to this screen as the 4K. This screen is also a touchscreen, which means you can take advantage of the touchable features in Windows 8 and 8.1.
The MacBook Pro has a 15-inch model as well. Depending on the price you wish to pay, you can opt for the Retina screen or the non-Retina screen. The Retina screen offers a resolution of 2880x1800. The non-Retina scoots all the way down to 1440x990 resolution. Clearly, the Zenbook has the advantage here.
Weight: The Zenbook weighs 2.2 kilograms. The MacBook Pro is slightly lighter, at 2.02 kilograms.
Speed/Processor: The Zenbook and the MacBook Pro both carry the Intel i7 processor. While the MacBook Pro boasts a 2.3 GHz processor that can be boosted up to 3.5 GHz, the speed of the Zenbook is unclear. Don't expect the Zenbook to have the overclocking and boosting capabilities of the MacBook Pro, though. The MacBook Pro wins this category.
Battery Life: This is almost a tie. The Zenbook will likely get between seven and eight hours, while the MacBook Pro advertises "up to eight hours" of battery life. It will depend on your usage habits, but with the Zenbook's advanced display and extra resolution, it might not get the battery life the MacBook Pro can offer.
Storage: Both laptops feature solid state drives. These drives feature flash storage and make the laptops much lighter and less prone to crash. Both the Zenbook and the MacBook Pro can accommodate up to a 512 gigabyte (GB) solid state drive (SSD).
Memory: Both laptops can be configured to accommodate 16 GB of RAM. The MacBook Pro starts off with 8 GB by default, and it has to be upgraded if the buyer wants 16 GB. The Zenbook will likely be the same.
Graphics: The entry-level 15-inch MacBook Pro comes with Intel Iris Pro Graphics. It may be worth stepping up to the next model and getting the NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M graphics card. The Zenbook has the NVIDIA GTX 850M graphics card. The Zenbook wins this one, and you don't even have to upgrade to get the good graphics card.
Price: The 15-inch MacBook Pro with no upgrading will cost $1,999. Expect the Zenbook to cost $1,700 or more. With its screen so vibrant and advanced and with that solid state hard drive, the Zenbook won't be cheap. Make sure to get an extended warranty if you purchase either machine.
Conclusion: Both laptops are excellent. You'll have to decide if you want the Mac or the PC. The features are nearly identical. The MacBook Pro is a little lighter and likely faster, but photographers and video editors might fall in love with the Zenbook's 4K screen.
