The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is known for its high performance, particularly in creative tasks such as photo and video editing, thanks to its optimized software-hardware integration. The Gateway 14.1", while typically more affordable, may offer less robust performance but could still be adequate for general use such as web browsing, office productivity, and media consumption. The MacBook Pro is likely to deliver better build quality and a higher-resolution display, which is a plus for media professionals. However, it's also less upgradable and repairable than many Windows laptops. If portability and battery life are important to you, the MacBook Pro usually offers a lightweight design and long battery life. In contrast, the Gateway might provide more connectivity options like additional ports, which could be more convenient if you connect to multiple peripherals. Consider whether you prefer the macOS ecosystem over Windows, which could sway your decision, and if the premium price of the MacBook Pro aligns with your needs and budget. 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)
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 14.1"
The Gateway 14.1" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
5.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for general use, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is better for general use due to its more powerful CPU, the Apple M1, and higher RAM, making it more responsive and capable of handling multiple tasks more efficiently. Additionally, it offers higher screen quality with better resolution and color accuracy, longer battery life, and higher overall build quality, which justifies its higher price, while the Gateway 14.1" has a less capable Intel Celeron CPU, lower RAM which can limit performance, a lower quality display, and shorter battery life, making it less suitable for demanding tasks despite being more affordable.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
5.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers fair 3D performance due to its integrated Apple M1 GPU, which can handle moderate graphics tasks, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor gaming and 3D capabilities because it is equipped with a less powerful Intel UHD Graphics 600 GPU.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
5.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is equipped with a more powerful CPU, the Apple M1, and better GPU capabilities, which are very important for demanding engineering and design tasks, and also boasts superior 8 GB of RAM and a high-resolution, color-accurate screen.
Content Creation
7.8/10
5.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for content creation, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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.
Software Development
7.8/10
5.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
8.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for software development, while the Gateway 14.1" is poor.
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.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.0/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.1in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
208.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Gateway 14.1" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a high-resolution Retina display that offers vivid colors and excellent brightness, enhancing visual clarity for general tasks and detailed work in engineering and design with its wide color gamut support. In contrast, the Gateway 14.1" laptop's screen may have lower resolution and brightness, providing a less sharp and dimmer display which might be adequate for everyday tasks but not ideal for color-sensitive engineering and design work. For 3D applications, the MacBook's screen falls short due to a standard refresh rate, while the Gateway's screen also lacks in this area, leading to less fluid motion rendering in gaming and 3D environments.
Battery
20.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Gateway 14.1" has 8 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
13.3in
SIZE
14.1in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
3.3 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Gateway 14.1" both have very good portability, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has somewhat better portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Gateway 14.1" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$99
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Gateway 14.1" costs $99.
"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."
"The Gateway Ultra Slim 14" is surprisingly quiet with long battery life. The inexpensive Gateway excels at maximizing performance per dollar with lots of RAM and storage, super-quiet fan, and a long battery life. It can even house up to two M.2 SSDs which we weren't expecting from such a cheap system. However, the iffy reliability of the keyboard and USB-C port on our test unit means users should double-check for these potential issues immediately after purchasing."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Gateway 14.1"
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.
About Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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