Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro vs ASUS TUF Gaming A17
The Verdict
These laptops serve fundamentally different purposes. MacBook Pro 14 M4 Pro targets creative professionals with exceptional display quality (3024 x 1964, 1600 nits brightness, 120Hz ProMotion), superior performance from the M4 Pro chipset with 24GB unified memory, and exceptional portability at 1.6kg with 22-hour battery life. It offers three Thunderbolt ports, MagSafe charging, and an aluminum chassis, though it lacks expandability with only 512GB storage. ASUS TUF Gaming A17 prioritizes value and specifications sheets, featuring a larger 17.3-inch screen (1920 x 1080, 144Hz), double the storage at 1TB expandable, 16GB DDR5 RAM, and dedicated gaming performance through Ryzen 7 7735HS. However, it weighs 2.6kg with only 8-hour battery life, plastic construction, and a significantly dimmer display at 250 nits. Choose the MacBook Pro if you need portability, longevity, and color-accurate work; select the ASUS for budget-conscious gamers and users needing larger screens and storage flexibility. The $800 price gap reflects genuinely different philosophies rather than one outperforming the other universally.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro if…
- →Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- →Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- →Long battery life around 22 hours
Buy the ASUS TUF Gaming A17 if…
- →RTX 4060 Laptop GPU handles 1080p gaming at high settings
- →90 Wh battery is generous for a budget gaming laptop
- →MIL-STD-810H durability testing for everyday abuse resistance
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro
Pros
- Powerful M4 Pro performance in a portable chassis
- Bright mini-LED ProMotion display
- Long battery life around 22 hours
- Three Thunderbolt 5 ports for high-speed I/O
- Excellent build quality and speakers
Cons
- Premium pricing
- Base RAM bumped to 24 GB raises entry cost
- Notch in display divides opinion
- No cellular or touchscreen option
ASUS TUF Gaming A17
Pros
- RTX 4060 Laptop GPU handles 1080p gaming at high settings
- 90 Wh battery is generous for a budget gaming laptop
- MIL-STD-810H durability testing for everyday abuse resistance
- 1 TB SSD included with room for a second M.2 drive
- Large 17.3-inch display is immersive for gaming
Cons
- FHD on a 17.3-inch panel looks pixelated compared to QHD
- 250-nit brightness is dim — struggles in bright rooms
- 5.73 lbs is very heavy for daily carry
- All-plastic construction feels budget-tier
- Speakers are tinny and lack bass
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M4 Pro | ASUS TUF Gaming A17 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sequoia | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.60 kg | 5.73 lbs (2.6 kg) |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Plastic |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 15.56 x 10.77 x 1.02 inches |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | — |
| USB-A ports | — | 2 |
| USB-C ports | — | 2 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 22 hours wireless web | Up to 8 hours |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 90 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 17.3 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | IPS anti-glare |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 144Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 250 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB | 1 TB PCIe Gen 4 NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | — | |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 24 GB unified | 16 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 16-core GPU | 8 cores / 16 threads |
| Chipset | Apple M4 Pro | AMD Ryzen 7 7735HS |
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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.
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