When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider the MacBook Pro if you prioritize a seamless experience with other Apple devices, robust performance for creative tasks like video editing, and generally longer battery life. On the other hand, the ThinkPad X13 is often praised for its comfortable keyboard, durability, and business-friendly features, making it a practical choice for heavy typing and enterprise use. If budget is a primary concern, and you're looking for a reliable business laptop, the ThinkPad may fit your needs at a lower cost, but for users deeply invested in the Apple ecosystem or those needing higher performance for media tasks, the MacBook Pro is a compelling option despite the higher price. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022)
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 ThinkPad X13
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
8.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
If you prioritize a balance between performance, screen quality, and battery life in a highly portable device, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 offers a high-resolution display and efficient performance with long battery life. However, if maximum performance and excellent keyboard quality for prolonged typing sessions matter more, alongside generous RAM for multitasking, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is a strong contender, with the tradeoff being slightly reduced portability and battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.0/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 offers a high-quality screen and a robust build with dedicated GPU options that can handle graphical tasks in engineering and design smoothly, plus it has a user-friendly ecosystem if you're already using Apple products. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 features strong CPU and RAM configurations suitable for engineering software, along with excellent keyboard quality and durability for users who prioritize typing comfort and a laptop that can withstand the demands of frequent travel.
Screen Quality
7.6/10
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, AI, and engineering and design, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has a better screen for content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 13's high-resolution and bright display delivers crisp and vibrant visuals, while for engineering and design, its wide color gamut covers a broad spectrum, ensuring color accuracy for detailed work. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offers a good resolution and brightness which is suitable for general tasks and decent for design work, but it may not represent colors as accurately due to a narrower color gamut. Neither laptop excels in 3D applications since high refresh rates are crucial for smooth visuals and fast-paced editing, where both the MacBook Pro and ThinkPad lack, focusing mainly on resolution and panel quality which are secondary for this use case.
Battery
20.0 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13's GPU may handle lighter 3D work well, but its screen refresh rate and limited game compatibility restrict its gaming potential. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while also modest in GPU strength and screen refresh rate, runs on a platform with broader game support, potentially offering a more satisfactory gaming and 3D experience within similar constraints.
Content Creation
7.9/10
8.2/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 to be very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
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
8.1/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Lenovo ThinkPad X13 to be very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good.
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
13.3in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,299
$1,241
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
$1,800
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,299 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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