The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) offers a longer battery life and higher build quality, which may be beneficial if you need to work for extended periods without charging and value a solid, premium feel. However, it comes at a higher price. Its performance is well-suited for general use, and it can handle engineering tasks, but it may not excel in 3D or machine learning applications. On the other hand, the LG Ultra 13 provides better value, with more RAM which can improve multitasking and engineering work, but its battery life is shorter, which might limit mobility. If you require a high-quality display, the MacBook's superior color coverage could be important. Choose the MacBook if you prioritize build quality and display, but consider the LG Ultra 13 for better affordability and RAM capacity. 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 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
General Use
7.7/10
7.2/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 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 (2022) and LG Ultra 13 are both good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) excels in screen quality with a higher resolution and color accuracy, complemented by a robust battery life and silent operation, making it ideal for general use where visual experience and usage duration are prioritized. Conversely, the LG Ultra 13 boasts a larger RAM capacity and manages heat efficiently, contributing to a smooth general usage experience, especially when multitasking or managing multiple applications simultaneously.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.6/10
6.7/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.7/10
4.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) is good for engineering and design, while the LG Ultra 13 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13, with its Apple M2 chip and superior screen quality, delivers better performance and visual fidelity, critical for engineering and design tasks, compared to the LG Ultra 13 with its AMD Ryzen 7 4700U processor and lower resolution screen.
Content Creation
7.9/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
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 (2022) and LG Ultra 13 are both good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
7.8/10
7.2/10
6.7/10
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 (2022) and LG Ultra 13 are both good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
6.9/10
13.3in
SIZE
13.3in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 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.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 13's high resolution and bright, high-quality panel type provide crisp and clear visuals, making it great for browsing and media consumption, whereas the LG Ultra 13 also has a quality display, but the MacBook's superior brightness and resolution deliver a more immersive experience. In the realm of engineering and design, the MacBook Pro's wide color gamut, including DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, ensures precise color accuracy crucial for professional design work, which the LG Ultra 13 supports to a lesser extent. However, for 3D applications and gaming, where high refresh rates are essential for smooth motion, both the MacBook Pro 13 and the LG Ultra 13 may fall short as they typically prioritize resolution and color accuracy over faster screen refresh rates.
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
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) 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
$1,219
$529
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) has a price of $1,219 and the LG Ultra 13 costs $529.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and LG Ultra 13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
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 (2022) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2022) and the LG Ultra 13 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 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 (2022) 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.
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
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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
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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