Choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro depends on your priorities. The MacBook Pro offers superior build quality, display quality, speaker and webcam performance, and has better battery life. It excels in general use, 3D/machine learning, and engineering tasks, due to the powerful Apple M1 Pro chip. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad is significantly less expensive while still offering good portability, a high-quality keyboard, and satisfactory performance for general use and engineering. Its screen supports touch, which the MacBook Pro's does not. The Lenovo is a strong choice for budget-conscious users who need solid performance for everyday tasks and some professional work. If budget is less of a concern and you prefer a laptop with higher performance capabilities and better multimedia features, the MacBook Pro is the better option. 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
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.3/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in general use due to its superior screen quality, longer battery life, and better build quality, all of which are very important factors for daily tasks. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro, while still good for general use, offers a more modest performance in these key areas but is slightly more portable and still maintains quality features such as a good keyboard and sufficient storage.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
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 7i Pro are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its superior GPU and high screen refresh rate makes it well-suited for 3D applications, but its operating system limits the number of popular games that can be played. Conversely, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is equipped with a fair GPU and an adequate screen refresh rate for gaming, but its overall capabilities for gaming and 3D tasks are less impressive compared to the MacBook Pro.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
7.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
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 7i Pro is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its potent Apple M1 Pro CPU and GPU, ample RAM, superior screen quality with high brightness and color coverage, and robust build quality, although it is heavier and thicker than the Lenovo, impacting its portability. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro is also well-suited for engineering and design with a capable Intel CPU and integrated GPU, high-resolution IPS display, and lighter build, but it trails in screen quality, speaker and keyboard quality, and operating noise.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
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 7i Pro 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
7.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
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 7i Pro 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
7.7/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
90Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
395.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
In general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 stands out with a high-resolution display that offers exceptional brightness and clarity, which enhances everyday tasks like browsing and watching videos. For engineering and design, its screen covers a wide range of color spectrums, ensuring that designers and engineers see precise, vibrant colors. However, when it comes to 3D tasks, which demand a high refresh rate for smooth motion, the MacBook Pro falls short, unlike specialized gaming laptops that prioritize this feature for an optimal 3D experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro 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
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$799
$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 7i Pro costs $799.
"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 main selling point of the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro versus a regular IdeaPad Slim 7 is its faster Core H-series CPU. In reality, the Core i7-11370H is only marginally faster than the U-series Core i7-1165G7 to the point where most users are not likely to notice the benefits. The slight performance uptick comes at the cost of slightly higher power consumption as well meaning owners will have to deal with potentially warmer temperatures or louder fans to compensate. Unless if you happen to be a power user, then the regular non-Pro model will be more than enough. Once you go 90 Hz, you can't go back."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro
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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