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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you prioritize a sleek design and ecosystem integration, and are willing to invest in a premium brand with a reputation for build quality and customer service, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) may suit your needs. It typically provides strong performance for general use and creative tasks like photo and video editing, with a long battery life and high-resolution display. However, it is generally more expensive than alternatives and may have fewer ports, necessitating adapters for certain peripherals. On the other hand, if you prefer a more budget-friendly option that still offers good performance, the LG Ultra 13 can be a smart pick. This laptop is likely to be more suitable for those who need a lightweight and portable device with a decent battery life. It may have more ports for connectivity, but the tradeoff might be in a less robust build quality or a less vibrant display compared to the MacBook Pro. Keep in mind that performance for heavy tasks may be less optimal on the LG Ultra 13 compared to the MacBook Pro, and if you are into extensive 3D work, machine learning, or gaming, this could be a significant consideration. 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 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 LG Ultra 13
- Excellent portability
Key differences
Engineering and Design
7.3
6.6
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
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 LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with its Apple M1 processor and integrated 8-core GPU excels in engineering and design due to higher screen resolution, wider color coverage, and excellent heat and noise management, making it a great choice for tasks requiring high graphical fidelity and processor efficiency.
Content Creation
7.8
7.2
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
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 LG Ultra 13 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
7.2
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and LG Ultra 13 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
6.9
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the LG Ultra 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro offers a high-resolution and bright display with wide color gamut coverage, making it excellent for general use and engineering tasks where color accuracy is crucial, but its standard refresh rate limits the experience for 3D applications. The LG Ultra's display also offers good resolution and brightness, appealing for everyday tasks and sufficiently rich colors for design work, though it may not be as color-accurate as the MacBook Pro. Both laptops' screens lack high refresh rates, which are key for smooth visuals in gaming and 3D modeling, and therefore aren't ideal for those specific purposes.
Battery
20.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The LG Ultra 13 has 10 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
7.4
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has best in class build quality, while the LG Ultra 13 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,249
$529
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
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Key similarities
General Use
7.7
7.2
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
300.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is favored for general use because it offers a powerful Apple M1 processor, excellent build and keyboard quality, and long battery life, along with a high-resolution screen that excels in color accuracy, making it ideal for a variety of tasks. The LG Ultra 13 also stands out for general use with its ample RAM, good battery life, and solid build, and it boasts a Ryzen 7 processor that can handle demanding applications while remaining lightweight for easy portability.
Gaming and AI
6.3
6.1
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
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 with its M1 chip offers good GPU performance needed for 3D work, but its operating system doesn't support many popular games which compromises its gaming capability. In contrast, while the LG Ultra 13 featuring an AMD Ryzen CPU with integrated graphics is fair for gaming and 3D, it falls short on GPU power compared to dedicated gaming machines and might struggle with higher-end games or complex 3D tasks.
Portability
Very Good
Excellent
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers LG Ultra 13 to have excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) and the LG Ultra 13 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) | LG Ultra 13 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,249 | $529 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2020 | January 1, 2021 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12'' x 8.4'' x 0.61'' | 12.1'' x 8.1'' x 0.6'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3 lbs | 2.16 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 11.97" | 12.08" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.36" | 8.14" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 | AMD Ryzen 7 4700U | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 8 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 4 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 256 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 20 Hours | 10 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 58.2 Wh | 51 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 13.3" | 13.3" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | IPS | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1600 | 1920 x 1080 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 60Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 491 nits | 300 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.4/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.9/10 | 9.3/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | No | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 720p | 720p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 2 | 1 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | No | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 1 | 1 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 3 | N/A | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | June 2022
"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."
LG Ultra 13
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Dig into reviews and images
CNET
Joshua Goldman | April 2017
"The 13.3-inch LG Gram is a fine fit if you need to travel as light as possible for as long as possible without spending a fortune to do it. It might not be particularly sturdy or have an eye-catching design and its webcam is less than ideal, but with its sharp touch display, comfortable backlit keyboard, responsive touchpad and a fingerprint reader for extra security, the Gram makes a respectible everyday laptop for business or school work."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) or the LG Ultra 13
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 LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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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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