When deciding between the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023), consider that the 13-inch model may be a bit less expensive and offers a longer battery life, making it suitable for general use and portability. Both share similar portability characteristics, but the newer 14-inch model may perform better for intensive tasks. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Best in class battery life
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is suited for general use due to its highly portable design and long battery life, complemented by a capable Apple M1 CPU, sufficient RAM, and a high-quality Retina display. The newer Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) also serves general use well with a more powerful Apple M3 processor, better screen resolution and Mini LED technology for improved contrast, alongside great portability and a robust battery life; both models benefit from a premium build quality, impressive keyboard and speaker performance, as well as efficient heat management and low operating noise.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its efficient Apple M1 CPU and integrated GPU is well fitted for engineering and design due to its solid performance and high-quality Retina display, while being lighter and providing longer battery life for better portability. The MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) steps up with a more powerful Apple M3 processor, superior GPU, and Mini LED screen for higher-level engineering tasks, but this comes with a slight reduction in battery life and marginally increased weight. Both models offer excellent screen quality, keyboards, and speakers, with minimal operating noise, striking a balance between performance and user experience in professional settings.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.4/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
9.2/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.2in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 14's screen stands out due to its higher resolution and brightness, providing clearer and more vibrant visuals, making everything from text to images sharper and easier to view. The superior color accuracy and wider color gamuts on the MacBook Pro 14 make it an exceptional choice for engineering and design work, where precise color representation is crucial. However, both models lack high refresh rates, which means they aren't ideal for 3D applications where smooth motion and quick screen updates are essential for an optimal experience.
Battery
20.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Cost
$1,249
$1,499
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,499.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) boasts a more robust GPU, the Apple M3 with a 10-core graphics unit, and a higher resolution Mini LED display, enhancing 3D performance and screen quality compared to the MacBook Pro 13 (2020), which has an 8-core GPU integrated into the Apple M1 chip and a lower resolution IPS display. Additionally, the newer model has a higher refresh rate, which provides smoother visuals that are particularly beneficial for 3D applications.
Software Development
7.8/10
8.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.2in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.