The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers higher performance with its Apple M1 Pro chip, which is well-suited for intensive engineering tasks, 3D work, machine learning, and gaming. Its Mini LED display provides excellent image quality for professional creative work. However, it comes at a higher price and less portability compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i.
On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is more portable and budget-friendly, with an Intel i5 processor that caters well to general use and can handle light engineering tasks. Its battery life might be less impressive compared to the MacBook Pro and the screen is of lower resolution, but it still offers a decent experience for everyday tasks and some professional applications.
If your priority is peak performance for demanding applications and you are willing to pay for it, go with the MacBook Pro. If you're focused on value, portability, and primarily general use, the IdeaPad Slim 5i is a reasonable choice. 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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a superior screen, better battery life, and a higher-quality build which includes a backlit keyboard and exceptional speaker quality, making it very good for general use. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers commendable general use with a solid keyboard and good portability, but has a lower screen resolution and doesn't match the MacBook's premium build or battery longevity.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.3/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a more powerful GPU and a higher screen refresh rate, which are both highly advantageous for 3D applications and certain games; however, it runs on macOS, limiting its compatibility with many popular games that are designed for Windows. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while featuring a fair integrated GPU and a standard refresh rate suitable for moderate gaming and 3D tasks, runs on Windows, offering wider game compatibility.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) outshines the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for engineering and design work chiefly because of its superior CPU and GPU, specifically the Apple M1 Pro with 8 cores and a 14-core GPU, which leads to better performance in tasks that require high computational power and graphics handling compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i's Intel i5 processor with an integrated Iris Xe graphics.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
6.4/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness, which, combined with an advanced panel type, provides excellent image clarity and color accuracy for general use and demanding engineering tasks that require a broad color spectrum. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i, while offering decent resolution and brightness, has a fair screen that meets the needs for day-to-day tasks and some engineering work without the superior color range of the MacBook. For 3D work, the MacBook's screen falls short due to a lower refresh rate, while the IdeaPad also lacks in this area, neither being optimal for 3D applications that benefit from high refresh rates alongside resolution and panel quality.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.1 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) 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 14 (2021) 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
$1,905
$828
$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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
"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 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 14 (2021) 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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