If portability and battery life are top priorities, then the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) may be the better option as it's lighter and has a higher battery life. However, if your focus is on getting more storage and memory for less cost, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i will give you double the storage and memory for a lower price. The MacBook Pro offers a silent, fanless operation and may have better build quality and higher display resolution, which is excellent for general use and entertainment. The Lenovo, running Windows, might be preferable for compatibility with certain engineering or business software. For tasks like 3D rendering or machine learning, the MacBook Pro's hardware may perform better, but if you need a numeric keypad and the flexibility of additional ports, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i comes out ahead. 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 (2022)
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 IdeaPad Slim 5i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.0in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13's screen offers high resolution and brightness, making it ideal for general tasks like browsing and video streaming, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation necessary for engineering and design. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i provides an adequate display for general use and design tasks but may not match the MacBook's color accuracy and brightness. Neither is optimal for 3D applications due to their screens having lower refresh rates, which are critical for smooth rendering in gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
20.0 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
16.0in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has very good portability, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,219
$828
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
6.5/10
6.3/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) with an Apple M2 GPU and 60Hz display is fair for 3D tasks but lacks game compatibility with many popular titles due to MacOS restrictions. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i also offers fair performance for gaming and 3D with its Intel Iris Xe graphics and 60Hz screen, while running Windows 11 Home which supports a wider range of games.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is equipped with an M2 chip that integrates its CPU and GPU, offering efficient performance in a slim and lightweight design with an exceptional, color-accurate screen, suitable for mobility and creative work, but with less RAM and storage than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i includes more RAM and a larger screen, which can be favorable for multi-tasking in engineering and design software, yet with a less accurate display and heavier weight, it may be less convenient for travel.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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 device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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 Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
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
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