ASUS' ZenBook 3 vs. the updated MacBook: Which packs more punch?
The latest ultraportables from Apple and ASUS are both small with very few ports, but it's what's inside that really counts.
The 12-inch MacBook is attractive and compact, but not without compromises. When the original came out last spring, our reviewer Dana Wollman took issue with its lackluster performance and lack of ports outside of a USB-C connection. Still, the MacBook was good enough to warrant a refresh in 2016 that delivered more battery life and improved performance. Now, ASUS is getting in on the minimalist act with its new ZenBook 3. At a glance, the new MacBook and ZenBook 3 seem quite similar indeed, with small, lightweight designs and, well, not many ports. While we'll certainly put the Zenbook 3 through its paces in a full review, a quick peek at the specs reveals two machines similar in profile, but with the potential for very different performance.
Price | $999 / $1,499 / $1,999 | $1,299 / $1,599 |
Dimensions | 296 x 191.2 x 11.9mm (11.65 x 7.53 x 0.47 inches) | 280 x 196.5 x 13.1mm (11.04 x 7.74 x 0.52 inches) |
Weight | 910g (2 pounds) | 920g (2.03 pounds) |
OS | Windows 10 | OS X El Capitan |
Display | 12.5-inch LED-backlit LCD | 12-inch LED-backlit LCD with IPS |
Resolution | 1,920 x 1,080 | 2,304 x 1,440 |
Processor | Intel Core i5 6200U or Core i7 6500U | Intel Core m3 (1.1GHz) or Core m5 (1.2GHz) |
Memory | 4GB / 16GB | 8GB |
Graphics | Intel HD Graphics 520 | Intel HD Graphics 512 |
Storage | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB SSD | 256GB / 512GB SSD |
Ports | USB-C | USB-C |
WiFi | 802.11ac with WIDI | 802.11ac |
Battery | 40 WHr | 41.4 WHr |
