If you prioritize a balance between performance and portability for tasks like photo and video editing or software development, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 might be a better choice, providing a high-quality build and excellent screen. However, if you're focused on high-end gaming or using very resource-intensive applications, you might want to go for the Lenovo Legion 9i, despite the higher cost, for its superior gaming performance and cooling system. Both these laptops will have good battery life, but the MacBook might edge out with a longer battery life for general use cases. Keep in mind, the Legion 9i will be heavier and less portable than the MacBook Pro, which might be a consideration if you travel frequently or carry your laptop around daily. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Legion 9i
Best in class for engineering and design
Excellent for gaming and AI
Best in class overall display quality
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
9.2/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i is excellent for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its Apple M1 Pro GPU and a screen refresh rate of 120 Hz is well-suited for 3D applications, but the Lenovo Legion 9i leads with a high-end Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU and a higher 165 Hz screen refresh rate, hence providing smoother visuals and potentially better performance especially in gaming, an area where the MacBook may fall short as many popular games are not compatible with MacOS.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
9.6/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
9.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion 9i is best in class for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design due to its high-quality Mini LED screen, efficient M1 Pro CPU, and ample RAM—which balances performance and portability—while the Lenovo Legion 9i ranks excellent for the same purposes with its more powerful Intel i9 CPU, superior Nvidia RTX 4080 GPU, and double the RAM, enhancing its capability for more demanding engineering tasks and design work, albeit at the expense of greater weight and reduced portability. Additionally, the Legion 9i's screen is brighter and the laptop has a higher battery capacity, but it is significantly heavier and less portable than the MacBook Pro.
Screen Quality
9.2/10
9.7/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
682.0 nits
The Lenovo Legion 9i has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts an exceptional display with high resolution and brightness, coupled with a wide color gamut, providing vivid and accurate colors ideal for engineering and design, but its lower refresh rate limits its suitability for 3D applications. Conversely, the Lenovo Legion 9i also delivers an impressive display quality for general use and disciplines requiring precise color representation, but it may not provide the best gaming or 3D experience due to a less optimal refresh rate. Both laptops excel in visual clarity and color accuracy for general and professional applications but may not be the first choice for those prioritizing 3D performance, where a high refresh rate is crucial.
Battery
13.5 Hours
3.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion 9i has 3 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
Fair
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
5.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.0in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo Legion 9i has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$3,420
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the Lenovo Legion 9i costs $3,420.
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is excellent for general use because of its powerful M1 Pro processor, high RAM and screen quality, all packed in a highly portable form with long battery life. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion 9i excels in general use due to its top-tier Intel i9 processor and superior RAM, coupled with an exceptional screen, but it's less portable and has a shorter battery life than the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.7/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for content creation.
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
8.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3200 x 2000
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo Legion 9i and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for software development.
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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Lenovo Legion 9i compare to other laptops
"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 Lenovo Legion 9i is meant as a top-end flagship showcase for enthusiasts, and on that, it delivers. You'll find flashier designs in this price tier—Razer’s all-metal build in a similarly sized laptop like the Blade 16, or monstrous 18-inch machines—but this is a well-thought-out laptop. The chassis is trim for a 16-inch powerhouse, the lid is unique, and bespoke liquid cooling takes performance to the next level."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Lenovo Legion 9i
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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