Choosing between the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Lenovo V15, consider that the MacBook Pro typically offers higher build quality, a more vibrant display, and longer battery life, alongside the sleekness of macOS, making it suited for professionals needing reliable performance in design or media work. However, the Lenovo V15, while less costly, provides a larger screen and more storage space out of the box, suitable for everyday tasks and users who prioritize value over high-end features. Keep in mind, the MacBook's Apple M1 chip offers efficient performance for a range of applications but gaming or specialized software might favor the compatibility of the Lenovo's Windows environment. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Good for engineering and design
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 Lenovo V15
The Lenovo V15 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020).
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
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 Lenovo V15 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its high-resolution IPS display and superior color coverage is more suited for engineering and design tasks that require color accuracy and visual detail. In contrast, the Lenovo V15, despite offering more RAM, falls short with a lower quality TN panel and significantly reduced color space coverage, making it less ideal for tasks where precise color representation is crucial.
Software Development
7.8/10
7.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo V15 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is somewhat better.
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
5.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
15.6in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
231.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo V15 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro's high-resolution and bright display produces crisp and vibrant visuals for general tasks, while its extensive color gamut support ensures accurate color representation vital for engineering and design work. The Lenovo V15's lower resolution and brightness levels result in less clarity and vibrancy, which is not ideal for general use or detail-oriented work such as engineering. However, for 3D environments where high refresh rates take precedence, the MacBook Pro falls short as it typically has a standard refresh rate not optimized for such tasks, while the V15 is simply not equipped to handle these due to overall poor screen specifications.
Battery
20.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Lenovo V15 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
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Lenovo V15 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo V15 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$579
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Lenovo V15 costs $579.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo V15 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) excels in general use with its high-quality Retina display, excellent keyboard, and long battery life, making it highly portable with silent operation, while the Lenovo V15 offers more storage and RAM, an AMD Ryzen processor suitable for multitasking, but it compromises on screen quality and battery life, balancing cost with performance features. However, both laptops have sufficient CPU power for everyday tasks, touch on the very important factors, and address some of the somewhat important factors like keyboard and speaker quality, albeit to varying extents.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
6.1/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo V15 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is equipped with its own GPU, which is suitable for several 3D tasks but is limited by its 60Hz refresh rate and the fact that MacOS doesn't support many popular games. In contrast, the Lenovo V15 has an AMD GPU with similar refresh rate limitations and is better suited for gaming due to its compatibility with a wider range of games on Windows, though its screen quality is not as high as the MacBook's.
Content Creation
7.8/10
7.3/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.6/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and Lenovo V15 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the Lenovo V15 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."
"The strengths of the Lenovo V15 G2 AMD lie in its expandability of the RAM and allowing you to use two SSDs, in its performance that goes beyond everyday applications thanks to AMD's hexa-core CPU and Vega-7 iGPU, in its good keyboard, and its relatively robust case. In addition, the battery life of the office laptop is also acceptable, and the device stays cool and relatively quiet."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the Lenovo V15
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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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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