If you prioritize a balance between performance and portability with longer battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is a suitable choice, especially for general use and it operates quietly without fans. On the other hand, if your work requires more computational power, such as 3D rendering or machine learning, and you don't mind a heavier and larger laptop with shorter battery life, the Lenovo LOQ 15, with its higher-end graphics card and double the RAM, would better meet your needs, though it's less suited for frequent travel. Both are similarly priced and have high-quality builds and displays; however, the MacBook leans towards longer use away from power sources and silent operation while the Lenovo provides an edge in gaming and intensive engineering 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 overall build quality
Very good portability
Best in class battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo LOQ 15
Good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Lenovo LOQ 15 is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 with its integrated M1 GPU is better suited for lighter 3D tasks and may be restricted by game compatibility with macOS, while the Lenovo LOQ 15, equipped with a superior Nvidia RTX 4050 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate, offers enhanced performance and smoother visuals for gaming and more demanding 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
7.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo LOQ 15 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) are both good for engineering and design, though the Lenovo LOQ 15 is somewhat better.
The Lenovo LOQ 15 excels in engineering and design use due to its more powerful AMD processor, double the RAM, and a dedicated Nvidia GPU, which surpass the Apple MacBook Pro 13's M1 chip and integrated GPU, delivering better performance for demanding tasks. While the MacBook Pro offers a higher-quality screen and is more portable with a longer battery life and silent operation, the LOQ 15's advantages in core performance specs make it very suitable for engineering and design tasks that require more computational power and graphics capabilities.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
7.1/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
144Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
329.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo LOQ 15 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution Retina display that offers excellent brightness and a wide color gamut, ensuring vivid colors and sharp images highly valued in design tasks. However, for 3D purposes, it falls short as it typically lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth rendering and a responsive experience in 3D applications. Conversely, the Lenovo LOQ 15 provides a good overall visual experience for general use and engineering, with suitable brightness and color coverage, but for gaming and 3D use, its screen may not support the higher refresh rates required for optimal gameplay and motion rendering.
Battery
20.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Lenovo LOQ 15 has 6 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
Fair
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo LOQ 15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) offers good portability, exceptional battery life, and a high-quality screen, which makes it a solid choice for general use, while the Lenovo LOQ 15 provides a larger screen and stronger CPU and GPU, better suited for more demanding tasks but with a tradeoff in battery life and weight. Both laptops have good quality keyboards and screens, but the MacBook is more portable and has a quieter, fanless design, whereas the Lenovo has better heat management and higher RAM and storage, making it more capable for intensive applications at the cost of heavier design.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.6/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
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 LOQ 15 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
9.1/10
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 LOQ 15 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.
Cost
$1,249
$1,179
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Lenovo LOQ 15 costs $1,179.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Lenovo LOQ 15 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."
"Even after a short time with the LOQ 15, you'll find it has a lot going for it, but ultimately it's just "good"—not quite a star. The performance is respectable for the hardware it’s running, but Lenovo had to make some design sacrifices to trim the price. One of the better aspects is the keyboard, making it one of the better low-cost gaming laptops to actually put your hands on."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Lenovo LOQ 15
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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