The MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers high performance, a stunning display, and is favored for its design and build quality, making it an excellent choice for professionals in creative fields or those heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem. However, it's usually more expensive, and its ports are limited to USB-C, which might require additional adapters. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, on the other hand, is generally more affordable and includes a wider variety of ports for better connectivity. It's also very portable, but its performance may not match that of the MacBook Pro, especially for demanding tasks. If you need a laptop with long battery life and you do tasks like video editing or 3D work, consider investing more in the MacBook Pro. Conversely, if you prioritize value and a wider range of ports for everyday use or business tasks, the Lenovo could be the better choice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
14.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i for general use, AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13's screen boasts high resolution and brightness, as well as a wide color gamut, making it excellent for general tasks and precise color work in engineering and design. However, its standard refresh rate limits its effectiveness for 3D applications where smoother visuals are crucial. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i also offers good resolution and brightness for everyday use and sufficient color representation for design tasks but falls short for gaming and 3D due to a similar refresh rate limitation.
Battery
20.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$899
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i costs $899.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for general use.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.2/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
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
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its integrated M1 GPU is fair for 3D applications but may not run many popular games efficiently due to macOS compatibility issues and a GPU that's not specialized for gaming. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i's Intel Iris Xe graphics can handle 3D and gaming tasks moderately well on Windows, but its performance is constrained by the capabilities of its integrated GPU, which is less powerful compared to dedicated gaming GPUs, and it has a standard screen refresh rate which is not optimal for high-end gaming.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) meets engineering and design needs with its efficient Apple M1 CPU and GPU, high-resolution display, and boasts a long battery life and silent operation, but is limited by lower RAM compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, which offers double the RAM and a more powerful Intel CPU, catering to intensive applications, alongside a larger screen and more storage, though with less impressive screen quality and shorter battery life. Portability is very good for both, with high-quality keyboards and speakers, but the Apple's higher screen and build quality may appeal to design professionals, while the IdeaPad's additional storage slot provides flexibility for future upgrades.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for content creation.
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
7.5/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both good for software development.
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
14.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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."
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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 Lenovo
Lenovo is a Chinese technology company, and one of the largest personal computer vendor. They are well known for a variety of technology products, including laptops. Their consumer series include their entry level IdeaPad and LOQ series and mid-to-high-end Yoga and Legion series. On the business-oriented side, their series include their entry-level ThinkBook series and mid-to-high-end ThinkPad series. Lenovo laptops offer strong performance for reasonable prices, and are often on sale.
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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About the laptop team
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.