If your priority is performance for tasks like video editing or 3D modeling, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its advanced M1 Pro processor and high-quality Mini LED display could be an excellent choice. However, it is typically more expensive and offers less flexibility with operating systems than the Gateway 15.6" laptop, which runs Windows and costs less. The Gateway, with ample storage and memory, suits general use and some engineering tasks but may not match the MacBook's graphics and display capabilities, which are important for professional creative work. Choose the MacBook Pro for its superior display and performance, or consider the Gateway if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option that still meets most computing needs. 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 14 (2021)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Gateway 15.6"
The Gateway 15.6" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Gateway 15.6" is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) delivers superior general use performance due to its more powerful M1 Pro processor, superior Mini LED display with higher brightness and resolution, and longer battery life, but it is less portable than the Gateway 15.6" which has a larger screen and a higher weight. While the Gateway 15.6" is a viable option with good performance through its Intel i5 processor and sufficient RAM, its screen quality, keyboard quality, and speaker quality aren't as high as the MacBook's, and it may not last as long on a single charge.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Gateway 15.6" are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its Apple M1 Pro GPU and a high screen refresh rate is well-suited for 3D applications, offering better graphics performance and smoother visuals. In contrast, the Gateway 15.6" laptop's Intel Iris Xe graphics and standard screen refresh rate provide merely adequate capability for gaming and 3D tasks, but keep in mind that many popular games are not compatible with the MacOS found on the MacBook.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
6.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines the Gateway 15.6" in engineering and design due to its superior CPU and GPU, higher-quality Mini LED screen, and better overall build evaluated by keyboard, speaker, and heat management; although, the Gateway offers a larger screen that may be beneficial for some types of design work, its lower screen quality and less capable CPU and GPU make it a less optimal choice for intensive engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Gateway 15.6" 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
8.3/10
6.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
5.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Gateway 15.6" is only fair.
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
9.2/10
6.1/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Gateway 15.6" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers high resolution and brightness, along with wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, making the screen vibrant and detailed, which is ideal for engineering and design work. However, its lower refresh rate may not suit the needs of 3D applications, where smoother motion representation is crucial. Conversely, the Gateway 15.6" provides fair screen quality with adequate resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and engineering software, but it falls short in both color reproduction for professional design and refresh rate for gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Gateway 15.6" 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
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Gateway 15.6" has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Gateway 15.6" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the Gateway 15.6" costs $400.
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
"Some concessions have to be made when shopping for a budget laptop. Walmart's Gateway Ultra Slim laptops succeeds on the affordability front and delivers serviceable specs and good battery life, though it's hard to claim it's the best (or even particularly good) at any particular aspect. Its build quality, especially the touchpad, is mediocre, and its performance is decent but doesn't lead the way. The Gateway does undercut the cost of some competitors and offers ample storage with good connectivity, so it's not to be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Gateway 15.6"
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 Gateway
Gateway is a laptop and tablet brand owned by Acer which sells budget-friendly laptops exclusively through Walmart. It was previously an American computer company until its acquisition by Acer in 2007, who then revived the brand in 2020. Gateway laptops are manufactured by Chinese company Shenzhen Bmorn Technology, which also makes EVOO-branded models.
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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