Apple MacBook Pro 13" Intel (Late 2020) vs ASUS ROG Ally X
The Verdict
Comparing these devices requires understanding their fundamentally different purposes. Apple's MacBook Pro 13" is a traditional laptop designed for productivity, featuring a larger 13.3-inch Retina display, Intel Core i5 processor, and 10-hour battery life ideal for work and creative tasks. ASUS ROG Ally X is a handheld gaming device with a compact 7-inch 120Hz display, AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme processor, and superior gaming performance in a portable form factor. For professional work, content creation, or general computing, the MacBook Pro excels with its superior display quality, build materials, and ecosystem integration. However, the Ally X dominates portable gaming and emulation at half the price. Choose MacBook Pro for traditional laptop needs; select Ally X if gaming portability matters most. These aren't comparable products in the traditional sense.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 13" Intel (Late 2020) if…
- →4 Thunderbolt 3 ports — double the lower-end 13-inch models
- →16 GB RAM standard in the 4-port configuration
- →Supports multiple external displays unlike M1 models
Buy the ASUS ROG Ally X if…
- →Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- →24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- →1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 13" Intel (Late 2020)
Pros
- 4 Thunderbolt 3 ports — double the lower-end 13-inch models
- 16 GB RAM standard in the 4-port configuration
- Supports multiple external displays unlike M1 models
- Excellent Retina display with P3 wide color and True Tone
- Reliable Intel ecosystem with broad software compatibility
Cons
- Dramatically outperformed by the M1 chip in both speed and efficiency
- 10-hour battery life is nearly half the M1 MacBook Pro
- Fans spin up frequently and loudly under moderate loads
- Touch Bar is widely disliked and was later discontinued
- Thermal throttling limits sustained performance
ASUS ROG Ally X
Pros
- Massive 80 Wh battery doubles the Ally's endurance to 3-10 hours
- 24 GB LPDDR5x RAM is generous for gaming and multitasking
- 1 TB SSD is double the original — more room for games
- Two USB-C ports allow charging while connecting accessories
- Improved ergonomic grips and button layout over original Ally
Cons
- Heavier at 678 g due to the larger battery
- Same Z1 Extreme chip — no generational performance leap
- Removed microSD slot compared to original ROG Ally
- IPS LCD still lacks OLED contrast and HDR capability
- $799 puts it close to full laptop pricing territory
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 13" Intel (Late 2020) | ASUS ROG Ally X |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Big Sur | Windows 11 |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 3.1 lbs (1.4 kg) | 678 g |
| Material | Aluminum | Plastic chassis with improved ergonomics |
| Dimensions | 12.0 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches | 280.0 x 114.0 x 36.9 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | — | |
| USB-C ports | 4 | 2 |
| SD card | — | |
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 4 | — |
| Microsd | — | |
| Headphone Jack | — | |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 10 hours | 3-10 hours (game dependent) |
| Capacity | 58 Wh | 80 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 13.3 inches | 7 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS | IPS LCD |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 500 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB (configurable to 4 TB) | — |
| Expandable storage | — | |
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | — | |
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB | 24 GB LPDDR5x (7500 MT/s) |
| Cores | 4 cores / 8 threads | 8-core CPU, RDNA 3 (12 CUs) integrated GPU |
| Chipset | Intel Core i5-1038NG7 (10th Gen) | AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme (Zen 4, 8-core / 16-thread, up to 5.1 GHz) |
| Memory | ||
| Storage options | — | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe SSD |
| Connectivity | ||
| Wi-Fi | — | Wi-Fi 6E |
| Bluetooth | — | 5.2 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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