The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is significantly more expensive and is a strong performer with a high-resolution Mini LED display, making it suitable for creative professionals and power users who require fast processing and high-quality graphics. It is also very portable and has a long battery life, though it is heavier than some ultraportables. On the other hand, the HP 250 G10 is far more affordable with modest internals, suitable for basic tasks like web browsing, word processing, and light media consumption. However, its lower-resolution TN display and lesser performance means it's not ideal for intensive tasks like video editing or gaming. If your work involves 3D, machine learning, gaming, or engineering, the MacBook Pro's higher specs will be beneficial; otherwise, for general tasks, the HP 250 G10 offers significant savings. 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 HP 250 G10
The HP 250 G10 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
6.3/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the HP 250 G10 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines the HP 250 G10 in general use, largely due to its more powerful CPU and GPU, higher quality Mini LED screen with better resolution and color accuracy, and longer battery life. Additionally, the MacBook boasts a more compact and lightweight design, enhancing portability, and its high-quality speakers and keyboard contribute to an overall superior user experience.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
5.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 250 G10 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is suited for 3D due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro graphics and a high screen refresh rate of 120, which delivers smooth visuals; however, its macOS may limit game compatibility. In contrast, the HP 250 G10 falls short for gaming and 3D applications because it has a weaker integrated Intel UHD Graphics GPU and a lower screen refresh rate of 60, which may not provide as fluid an experience in fast-paced games or complex 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
5.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the HP 250 G10 is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a powerful M1 Pro chip and a high-quality Mini LED display, making it excellent for demanding engineering tasks and design work that require robust CPU and GPU performance as well as precise color representation. In contrast, the HP 250 G10's less capable Intel N200 processor, basic UHD graphics, and lower-quality TN screen with a much lower resolution greatly limit its suitability for such professional applications.
Content Creation
8.4/10
6.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the HP 250 G10 is only fair.
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
6.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the HP 250 G10 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
5.3/10
14.2in
SIZE
15.6in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the HP 250 G10 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-resolution, bright display with superior panel technology, offering crisp, clear visuals compared to the lower resolution, less vibrant screen of the HP 250 G10. In engineering and design, the MacBook Pro's excellent color gamut coverage ensures accurate color reproduction vital for detailed work, whereas the HP's display falls short in replicating the wide range of colors. When dealing with 3D tasks, the MacBook Pro’s limitations in refresh rate might hinder smoothness and responsiveness, while the HP's poor resolution and panel type provide an overall subpar experience for such demanding applications.
Battery
13.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The HP 250 G10 has 6 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
3.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the HP 250 G10 has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the HP 250 G10 has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$349
$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 HP 250 G10 costs $349.
"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."
"The HP 250 G10 is a decent budget device that surprises us with its high CPU frequencies under load. Still, our configuration has a Core i5-1335U which doesn’t require significant cooling, if choose a 28W P-series processor, maybe the situation with the clocks could be different. If you want to play some casual game after work, a memory in dual-channel is a must because it increases greatly the iGPU performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the HP 250 G10
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 HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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 is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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