The Apple MacBook Pro 13" offers a high-res screen, powerful hardware tailored for creative and professional applications such as video editing and design, and excellent build quality, but it comes with a higher price tag. Its ecosystem is also ideal for users heavily invested in Apple's software and services. On the other hand, the Gateway 15.6" is more budget-friendly and provides a larger screen, which can be a plus for productivity and entertainment. However, it may have less powerful components and could fall short for demanding tasks. It’s well-suited for casual use, basic office work, and students. Battery life is generally better in MacBooks, and the Pro 13" is also more portable due to its smaller size. Consider what tasks you will be frequently running and whether macOS or Windows aligns better with your workflow and existing devices. 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 engineering and design
Good for software development
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Gateway 15.6" are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its Apple M1 processor, 8GB RAM, and high-resolution screen is highly portable and offers long battery life, making it well-suited for diverse general use needs. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" offers a larger screen, more RAM, and ample storage, but it is heavier and might not match the MacBook's screen quality and battery life, though it still provides sufficient power for everyday tasks.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.2/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020), with its custom Apple M1 CPU and GPU, offers high performance and excellent screen quality for engineering and design, complemented by its portable design and silent operating noise. Whereas the Gateway 15.6" provides more RAM and has a larger screen, but its Intel i5 CPU and Iris Xe GPU deliver fair performance for engineering tasks, and the laptop doesn't match the MacBook's display quality or portability.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Gateway 15.6" are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
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
6.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 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 15.6" is only fair.
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
6.1/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) boasts a high-resolution, bright Retina display and excellent color fidelity, which benefits general usage and engineering/design work that relies on accurate color reproduction. In comparison, the Gateway 15.6" has a lower resolution and less vibrant display, making it sufficient for basic tasks but less ideal for professional creative work where screen clarity and color accuracy are crucial. However, both laptops fall short for 3D applications, as they lack the high refresh rates necessary for smooth rendering of fast-paced visuals, though the MacBook's resolution and panel type give it a slight edge for moderate 3D use.
Battery
20.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" 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
Good
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good 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 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $400.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has fair 3D performance mainly due to its integrated GPU that is decent but not as powerful as discrete GPUs typically required for high-end 3D applications, and while it boasts a high-resolution IPS screen, its GPU limits its capacity for demanding 3D tasks. The Gateway 15.6" also offers fair 3D and gaming performance with its Intel Iris Xe graphics, which are adequate for modest gaming but its standard 60Hz refresh rate isn't ideal for competitive gaming, plus its subpar color space coverage indicates lower screen quality, and being a Windows laptop it supports a broader range of popular games compared to the MacBook Pro.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Gateway 15.6" 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."
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Gateway 15.6"
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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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
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