Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Comparison

Laptop to replace

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Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

14.5 inches | January 2023

Speed 5

Size 8.5

Display 8

Gaming 3

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Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

15.4 inches | July 2018

Speed 3

Size 8

Display 5.5

Gaming 1.5

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Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and MacBook Pro 15 2018, two laptops from Asus and Apple. Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 was introduced to market in January 2023 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 was launched in July 2018. As you can see, MacBook Pro 15 2018 is 5 years older than Zenbook 14X OLED Q420. Let's see if this age difference between two laptops makes a big difference.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

Here is a brief look at the main features of Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 Key Specs

Launched in January 2023
14.5" TouchScreen - OLED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i5 13500H
GPU: Intel Iris Xe Graphics G7 (80EU)
8GB Ram
321.8 x 225.6 x 16.9 mm (12.67 x 8.88 x 0.67 inches)
Weight: 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Key Specs

Launched in July 2018
15.4" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Intel Core i7 8750H
GPU: Intel UHD Graphics 630
16GB Ram
349.3 x 240.7 x 15.5 mm (13.75 x 9.48 x 0.61 inches)
Weight: 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 over Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Weight	1.56 kg vs 1.83 kg	0.27 kg lighter
Screen-to-Body Ratio	~84% vs ~81.8%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	4.8 mm vs 8.8 mm	4 mm thinner bezels
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Screen PPI	234 ppi vs 221 ppi	More pixels per inch
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Interact with your fingers
sRGB Color Space	100% vs 99.9%	Wider sRGB Color Space Coverage
Adobe RGB Profile	99% vs 86.6%	Wider Adobe RGB Coverage
Max Brightness	550 nits vs 500 nits	Brighter Screen
Response Time	1 ms vs 35 ms	Faster Response screen
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation CPU
GPU Fabrication Process	10 nm vs 14 nm	Newer Generation GPU
GPU FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS vs 0.38 TFLOPS	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5 vs DDR4	Easily increase the Storage when needed
Upgradable Storage	Yes vs No	More advanced Wi-fi connectivity
WiFi Standard	v6E vs v5	More advanced Bluetooth connectivity
Bluetooth	v5.3 vs v5	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Faster USB-C connection
USB-C Port Type	v4.0 vs v3.1	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.1 vs No	Better typing feel
Key Travel	1.4 mm vs 0.7 mm

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 over Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Display Size	15.4 inches vs 14.5 inches	Larger Screen Estate
DCI-P3 Color Gamut	98.7% vs 98%	Wider DCI-P3 Color Gamut
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Right	Flexible cable positions
Number of Microphones	3 vs 2	Better Sound capture
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs No	Easy login with fingerprint
Number of USB-C Ports	4x USB 3.1 vs 2x USB 4.0	Connect more device at the same time

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

HDR Support	Yes, HDR10 vs Yes, HDR10	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Thunderbolt Port	v4 vs v3	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 and Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.56 kg (3.44 lbs)	1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Surface Area	726 cm2 (112.5 inches2)	841 cm2 (130.4 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~84%	~81.8%
Side Bezel Thickness	~4.8 mm	~8.8 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.11 kg/inch	0.12 kg/inch
	0.242 lbs/inch	0.264 lbs/inch
Colors	Gray	Silver, Gray

Comparison of the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 External Dimensions

Weight

Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 weighs 1.56 kg (3.44 lbs), whereas the MacBook Pro 15 2018 weighs 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Thickness Comparison

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 is 0.11 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 is 0.12 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Microsoft Surface Pro 12: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ14 HT7407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Internals Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Intel Core i5 13500H Intel Core i7 13700H	Intel Core i7 8750H Intel Core i7 8850H Intel Core i9 8950HK
Base Frequency	2.6 GHz	2.2 GHz
Turbo Frequency	4.7 GHz	4.1 GHz
Number of Cores	12	6
Number of Threads	16	12
L3 Cache	18 MB	9 MB
Integrated GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 630
CPU Fabrication Process	10 nm	14 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1730	1144
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	11090	5587
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1816	1095
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	14071	6402

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPU ( Intel Core i5 13500H ) and compare them:

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Base Clock Frequency	300 MHz	350 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1100 MHz	1200 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	15 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	1.41 TFLOPS	0.38 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR5	DDR4
Memory Bus	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Speed	4.8 Gbps	2.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	640	192
TMUs	40	24
ROPs	20	3

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 has a FLOPS value of 1.41 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 ' has a FLOPS value of 0.38 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	16GB 32GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB
RAM Clock	4800 MHz	2400 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR5	DDR4
Upgradable	No	No

The MacBook Pro 15 2018 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)	Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2018)
CPU	Intel Core i5 13500H	Intel Core i7 8750H
GPU	Intel Iris Xe Graphics (80EU)	Intel UHD Graphics 630
Memory	8 GB	16 GB
Available for LLM total	~3.5 GB (3.5 GB RAM)	~10.5 GB (10.5 GB RAM)
Small Models (1-3B): Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B Requires ~2 GB memory	✔ Modest Speed fits in your 3.5 GB RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
Medium Models (7-8B): Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B Requires ~5 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
Large Models
13-15B Models (e.g., Llama 3 14B, Qwen1.5 14B) Requires ~9 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	! Not Practical fits in your 10.5 GB RAM
16-24B Models (e.g., Dense 20B Q4 ~15.5GB) Requires ~14 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
24-30B Models (e.g., Dense 30B Q4) Requires ~18 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
MoE Models (Mixture-of-Experts) (e.g., Mixtral 8x7B - total ~47B, active ~12-13B) Requires ~24 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM
Extra-Large Models (65B+): Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B Requires ~42 GB memory	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM	✖ Not Supported exceeds available RAM

For more detailed LLM evaluation (subcategories, performance ranges, memory breakdown)

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED (Q420)|Apple MacBook Pro 15 (2018)

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 Model Types: Dense 30B Q4 models typically require around 19–22 GB of total VRAM, so they run best on systems with ≥24 GB VRAM. MoE models like Mixtral 8x7B (≈47B total parameters, usually ≈23–26 GB in 4-bit) also need high memory because all experts must be loaded, even though only a few are active per token. They reduce compute cost per token (similar to a ~12–13B dense model), but not memory usage, so they are not practical on 14–16 GB systems.

🚀 Modern NPU (Neural Processing Unit): Modern processors like AMD Ryzen AI and Intel Core Ultra feature NPU and unified memory architecture. NPUs provide modest performance gains (0-30% faster) with better power efficiency compared to iGPU-only execution. Real-world tests show ~3-10 tok/s range on 13B models with 32GB RAM (varies by runtime, quantization, and context), comparable to iGPU but more power-efficient. Note: These figures are examples from various NPU systems; actual performance depends on your specific hardware configuration.

Understanding Performance Categories

The performance descriptions use general categories because actual speed varies greatly based on your specific hardware, model optimization, context length, and runtime software.

Performance Level	Typical Range	User Experience
Runs Smoothly (High-end dGPU)	50+ tok/s	Real-time response. Feels instant, like ChatGPT.
Runs Well (Mid-range dGPU)	20-50 tok/s	Good interactive performance. Slight delay, but usable.
Modest Speed (iGPU/NPU/CPU)	5-20 tok/s	Usable for tasks that don't need instant responses. Noticeable typing delay.
Borderline / Slow (Limited hardware)	2-5 tok/s	Slow-Very slow. Patience required. Better for batch processing.
Not Practical	<2 tok/s	Too slow for regular use. May cause system hangs or instability.

💡 Tip: Your actual results may be higher or lower than these ranges. Test with your specific hardware to know for sure!

⚠️ Note: Performance categorization is based on VRAM capacity and RAM fallback status. GPU type (memory bandwidth, compute power) can also affect actual performance. Currently, we prioritize whether the model fits in VRAM or requires RAM fallback for classification. We may refine this categorization in future updates based on more detailed benchmarks.

BATTERY

BATTERY	70 Wh	83 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Ion	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Right	Left, Right
Charge Power	90 W	87 W
Full Charging Time	1:10 hr	2:00 hr

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 15 2018 features a higher battery capacity of 83 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's 70 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

STORAGE
The MacBook Pro 15 2018 offers a larger max storage capacity of 4 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420's storage capacity of 1 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB
Upgradable	Yes	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes
Memory Bus	PCI-E Gen 4.0 (4x)	Custom

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 has a display size of 14.5".On the other hand, MacBook Pro 15 2018 has a larger15.4" display.The total usable screen area of the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 is 610cm² / 94inch² whereas the MacBook Pro 15 2018's total usable screen area is 688cm² / 107inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 features a higher pixel density with 234 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Refresh Rate
The Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 boasts a faster response time of 1.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
The Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 offers a higher maximum brightness of 550 nits, delivering a brighter screen.

Brightness Comparison

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420

Avg: 14.0-14.9"

Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018

Avg: 15.0-15.9"

Asus Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 vs Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 features a more advanced Wi-Fi standard v6E, providing faster and more reliable wireless connections compared to MacBook Pro 15 2018 (v5).

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 is equipped with 1x USB 3.2 USB-A ports. MacBook Pro 15 2018 does not have USB-A ports.
Both Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 have USB Type-C ports. Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while MacBook Pro 15 2018 has 4x USB 3.1 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 feature Thunderbolt ports. Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 has Thunderbolt 4, while MacBook Pro 15 2018 has Thunderbolt 3.

HDMI
Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.1) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Pro 15 2018 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
Neither Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 nor MacBook Pro 15 2018 has an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both Zenbook 14X OLED Q420 and MacBook Pro 15 2018 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6E	v5
Bluetooth (latest: v6.2)	v5.3	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	1x USB 3.2	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	4x USB 3.1
Thunderbolt (latest: 5)	Thunderbolt 4	Thunderbolt 3
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	1x HDMI 2.1	No
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	No	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	No
Proprietary Charging Port	No	No