That was expected for the UX303, which offers a touchscreen with protective glass on top, but Apple’s screen lacks touch, so perhaps they could have went with a better anti-glare finishing. But OS X is not perfect when it comes to scaling either.Īt the same time, both panels are bright (above 350 nits) and have decent measured contrast (above 750:1 for the Mac, about 500:1 for the Asus) and both are glossy.
In fact, if we consider that plenty of older third party apps still don’t scale well on Windows 8.1, the higher resolution can be seen as a disadvantage, for now. Asus’s option packs even more pixels, but you’ll hardly see the difference in everyday use. On paper, both sides look great, with sharp IPS displays. Air is blown out through the hinge on both, partially towards the rear and partially upwards, into the screen and back to the user. Taking a quick look at the bellies, you’ll find some cooling cuts on the UX303LN and none of the Retina Pro, which anticipates the more powerful hardware inside the first.
The latter still sports a more complex design, with a ripple effect on the lid cover and different shares of metal used around the body, while the Macbook remains simpler, with its silver aluminum unibody, but gets the lit Apple logo on the hood.īut the more compact Macbook Pro 13 is absolutely stunning as well I can’t say one of these looks better or feels sturdier than the other, that’s mostly a matter of personal taste, but I can say this: both are some of the most well made laptops out there.Īpple’s Macbooks have been a reference for years when it comes to build quality, but Asus actually managed to come close with their latest Zenbook. While Asus did announce several configs for the UX303LN, only the top one is now available in SELECT countries, with no word on when the others will get in stores or if they will be available worldwide (I’d reckon they won’t Asus tends to offer only several configurations on the bigger markets, and more in smaller countries).The TOP Asus config (Core i7-4510U, Nvidia 840M, 12 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD, 3200 x 1800 px IGZO touchscreen) sells for $1300, while Apple asks just as much for the base-version of the Macbook Pro 13 (Core i5-4278U, 8 GB RAM, 128 GB SSD).But there are two things to keep in mind: Top version ~ $1300 starts at $849 ( latest discounts)īoth devices are available in a few different configurations. Top version ~ $1800 starts at $1299 ( latest discounts) Intel Core i5-4278U, Core i5-4308U, Core i7-4578UĢxUSB 3.0, SD card reader, HDMI, 2 x ThunderboltģxUSB 3.0, SD card reader, HDMI, miniDP, VGA and RJ45 (with adapters) What makes it even better is that there are other options for these specs if the aforementioned ones do not suit your needs.MacBook Pro with Retina Display (Mid 2014)ġ3.3 inch, IPS 2560 x 1600 px glossy non-touchġ3.3 inch, either IPS 1920 x 1080 px non-glare or IGZO IPS 3200 x 1800 PX touchscreen The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 has 8GB RAM, Intel Core i5-1035G4, and 256 SSD.
According to PC Guide, "The compact, lightweight design of the Surface laptop and laptop/tablet orientations suit professionals always on the move that need a reliable device." The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is one of the laptops under $1,000 ideal for those working. The ultrathin MacBook Air M1 also has an 8GB memory as well as a 256 GB SSD. Digital Trends describes the M1 chip as very powerful, making it ideal for anyone in need of a long-lasting laptop, such as college students. Those looking for power-efficient laptops under $1,000 should consider the MacBook Air M1. Other specs of the Asus ZenBook 14 include a 14-inch display, 1920×1080 resolution, backlit keyboard, WiFi 6, and 512 GB SSD. However, the lack of the audio jack is made up for by the presence of a USB-C port. PC Guide lists the laptop's lightweight battery life, an Intel Core i7 processor -1165G7 CPU as some of its pros, while the lack of an audio jack is its only con. If the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED is Digital Trends' best laptop under $1,000, the Asus ZenBook 14 is the pick of PC Guide. Related Article: Asus Zenbook 13 UM325S Features Amazing Performance, OLED Display and Long Battery Life Asus ZenBook 14 These include Asus ZenBook 13 UM325S and Asus ZenBook 13UX325EA. If the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED doesn't quite fit your tastes, Asus has other ZenBook 13 laptops under $1,000.
The rather ordinary design of the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED might be a turn-off for those who are rather picky when it comes to laptop design, but those who are looking for a thin and light laptop should consider this as one of their options. An article by Digital Trends describes the first laptop on our list as "the best overall laptop you can buy for less than $1,000." Digital Trends cites the Asus ZenBook 13 OLED's screen, 15-hour long battery life, and the Ryzen 7 5700U as the reasons behind the high praise for the laptop.