Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405)
Laptops comparison: specs, VersusAnything Score, key differences and a clear recommendation.
Choosing between Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4) and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) comes up constantly, so we ran both through the same 12-row comparison and our category scoring. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M4 chip adds a 120 Hz mini-LED display, active cooling, an HDMI port and SD card slot over the Air. The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED delivers a 3K 120 Hz OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra at a price well below most premium rivals.
Quick verdict
On the VersusAnything Score, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) finishes ahead, 66 to 44. It is the better buy for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality; for creators who need a brighter, faster display and sustained performance, MacBook Pro 14 M4 still makes more sense.
VersusAnything Score
Scores are calculated from measurable specifications normalised within the laptops category and weighted by the factors above. Text-only rows (such as chipset or operating system) are explained but not scored. How the score works.
Side-by-side overview
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4)
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M4 chip adds a 120 Hz mini-LED display, active cooling, an HDMI port and SD card slot over the Air.
Best for creators who need a brighter, faster display and sustained performance
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405)
The ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED delivers a 3K 120 Hz OLED panel and Intel Core Ultra at a price well below most premium rivals.
Best for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality
Key differences
- Screen size: MacBook Pro 14 M4 14.2" vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 14" — a preference, not a scored win
- Resolution: MacBook Pro 14 M4 3024 x 1964 Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 2880 x 1800 OLED — a preference, not a scored win
- Processor: MacBook Pro 14 M4 Apple M4 (10-core) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Intel Core Ultra 7 155H — a preference, not a scored win
- Graphics: MacBook Pro 14 M4 Integrated 10-core (M4) vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Intel Arc (integrated) — a preference, not a scored win
- Ports: MacBook Pro 14 M4 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm — a preference, not a scored win
Specification comparison table
| Specification | MacBook Pro 14 M4 | ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED |
|---|---|---|
| Screen size | 14.2" | 14" |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED) | 2880 x 1800 OLED |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 1.2 kg |
| Processor | Apple M4 (10-core) | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H |
| RAM | 16 GB | 16 GB |
| Base SSD | 512 GB | 1,024 GB |
| Graphics | Integrated 10-core (M4) | Intel Arc (integrated) |
| Rated battery life | 24 h | 15 h |
| Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm | 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm |
| Operating system | macOS | Windows 11 |
| Launch price (USD) | $1,599 | $1,099 |
Display: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Pro 14 M4 59 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 59
For screen size, MacBook Pro 14 M4 uses 14.2" whereas ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED goes with 14". This is a preference rather than a scored win: a bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag. MacBook Pro 14 M4: 3024 x 1964 Liquid Retina XDR (mini-LED). ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: 2880 x 1800 OLED. Neither is scored, but resolution and panel type decide how sharp text looks and how good the colours are for creative work.
On refresh rate the two match exactly (120 Hz).
Portability: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Pro 14 M4 24 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 85
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is better on weight at 1.2 kg against 1.55 kg, a 0.35 kg difference; lower is better because every hundred grams matters if the laptop lives in a backpack.
Performance: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Pro 14 M4 38 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 57
For processor, MacBook Pro 14 M4 uses Apple M4 (10-core) whereas ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED goes with Intel Core Ultra 7 155H. This is a preference rather than a scored win: the processor sets single-core snappiness and multi-core rendering speed. Both list 16 GB for RAM, so nothing separates them here.
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED offers 1,024 GB of base SSD while MacBook Pro 14 M4 stops at 512 GB; the 512 GB gap matters because a larger base SSD saves you from paying for an upgrade or carrying an external drive. The two differ on graphics (Integrated 10-core (M4) against Intel Arc (integrated)), and graphics decide whether the laptop can handle gaming and GPU-accelerated video editing.
Battery: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Pro 14 M4 85 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 32
MacBook Pro 14 M4 leads on rated battery life with 24 h versus 15 h, a margin of 9 h. In practice the manufacturer's rating is optimistic, but it is still useful for relative comparison.
Ports: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
The two differ on ports (3x Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC, MagSafe 3, 3.5 mm against 2x Thunderbolt 4, USB-A, HDMI 2.1, 3.5 mm), and port selection decides how many dongles you carry.
Value: MacBook Pro 14 M4 vs ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED Score: MacBook Pro 14 M4 26 · ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED 94
The two differ on operating system (macOS against Windows 11), and the OS determines software compatibility and how the laptop fits with your phone.
On launch price (USD), ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED keeps it to $1,099 while MacBook Pro 14 M4 lists $1,599. That $500 edge counts since launch price is the cleanest baseline for value.
Pros and cons
MacBook Pro 14 M4
Pros
- 120 Hz Liquid Retina XDR display
- HDMI and SD card slot
- Up to 24 hours of battery
- Better rated battery life (24 h)
Cons
- Weaker weight (1.55 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (512 GB)
- Weaker launch price (USD) ($1,599)
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED
Pros
- 3K 120 Hz OLED for the money
- 1.2 kg aluminium chassis
- 75 Wh battery
- Better rated battery life (15 h)
Cons
- Weaker weight (1.2 kg)
- Weaker base SSD (1,024 GB)
- Weaker launch price (USD) ($1,099)
Which one should you buy?
Choose Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4) for…
Creators who need a brighter, faster display and sustained performance. It stands out for 120 hz liquid retina xdr display, hdmi and sd card slot, up to 24 hours of battery.
Choose ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED (UX3405) for…
Value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality. It stands out for 3k 120 hz oled for the money, 1.2 kg aluminium chassis, 75 wh battery.
Final verdict
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED scores 66 to MacBook Pro 14 M4's 44 on our category weighting, making it the stronger overall pick for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality. MacBook Pro 14 M4 remains the right call for creators who need a brighter, faster display and sustained performance. The VersusAnything Score is a transparent starting point, not a command; weight the rows you care about and the right answer for you may differ.
Compare with another laptop
Frequently asked questions
Is MacBook Pro 14 M4 better than ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
On the VersusAnything Score, ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED finishes ahead 66 to 44. That makes ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED the better overall pick for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality, while MacBook Pro 14 M4 is still the right choice for creators who need a brighter, faster display and sustained performance.
What is the biggest difference between MacBook Pro 14 M4 and ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
The largest gap is screen size: MacBook Pro 14 M4 lists 14.2" while ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED lists 14". A bigger screen helps multitasking but adds bulk to your bag.
Which is cheaper, MacBook Pro 14 M4 or ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED?
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is cheaper on launch price (USD): $1,099 against $1,599 for MacBook Pro 14 M4. Street prices vary by country and retailer, so check current offers.
Who should choose ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED over MacBook Pro 14 M4?
ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED is the better fit for value buyers who refuse to compromise on display quality. Its strongest points are 3k 120 hz oled for the money, 1.2 kg aluminium chassis, 75 wh battery.
Sources
- MacBook Pro 14 M4: Apple product page (manufacturer)
- ASUS Zenbook 14 OLED: ASUS product page (manufacturer)
Specifications last verified: 2026-10-01. Prices are launch or official list prices in US dollars unless stated. See our sources and data policy.