Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 vs ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite)
The Verdict
Both laptops deliver excellent performance at premium price points, but with distinct strengths. Apple's MacBook Pro 14" M3 excels with its stunning 3024x1964 Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED display (1600 nits), superior build quality, and exceptional software integration for creative professionals. Its 17-hour battery life and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity provide professional-grade capabilities, though 8GB RAM and 512GB storage feel limiting at $1599. ASUS VivoBook S 15 counters with a larger 15.6" OLED screen, double the RAM (16GB), and quadruple the storage (1TB), running Windows 11 ARM with promising Snapdragon X Elite performance. It's $300 cheaper and lighter (1.42kg vs 1.55kg), offering exceptional value. However, the OLED display's 600-nit brightness doesn't match MacBook's professional-grade panel. For creative work and longevity, MacBook Pro wins; for general computing and storage needs, the ASUS offers superior value.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 if…
- →Full ProMotion mini-LED XDR display at the $1599 entry tier
- →Excellent 17-hour battery life for a 14-inch machine
- →Compact and portable at 1.55 kg
Buy the ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite) if…
- →Excellent 3K 120Hz OLED display
- →All-day battery life thanks to ARM efficiency
- →Powerful 45 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ AI features
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3
Pros
- Full ProMotion mini-LED XDR display at the $1599 entry tier
- Excellent 17-hour battery life for a 14-inch machine
- Compact and portable at 1.55 kg
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI and SD card
- Silent under light-to-moderate workloads
Cons
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for demanding tasks
- Storage upgrades carry a steep Apple premium
- M3 GPU struggles with heavy 3D workloads compared to Pro/Max
- Notch in display polarises opinions
ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite)
Pros
- Excellent 3K 120Hz OLED display
- All-day battery life thanks to ARM efficiency
- Powerful 45 TOPS NPU for Copilot+ AI features
- Lightweight for a 15.6-inch laptop
- Fanless-quiet operation under typical loads
Cons
- ARM compatibility issues with some x86 apps
- No Thunderbolt support
- Soldered RAM not upgradeable
- No SD card reader
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 | ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sonoma | Windows 11 Home (ARM) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 1.42 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 352.6 x 225.9 x 14.7 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 0 |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours wireless web | Up to 18 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 70 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 15.6 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | OLED, 16:9 |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2880 x 1620 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 600 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 1 TB PCIe 4.0 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 12 cores |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-78-100 |
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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.
Explore more in laptops, see all Apple products or all ASUS products. View full details for the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 or the ASUS VivoBook S 15 (S5507, Snapdragon X Elite).