The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is generally more expensive and positions itself as a premium device with strong build quality, a brilliant display with high brightness and color accuracy, and efficient thermal management. Its Apple M1 Pro chip provides excellent performance for general use as well as creative tasks that rely on the CPU and integrated GPU. It also offers longer battery life and a higher portability score due to its lower weight.
In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i offers better price, more storage space, and a high-performance Intel processor coupled with an Nvidia RTX graphics card, which is better suited for 3D rendering, machine learning, gaming, and other graphics-intensive engineering tasks. However, it has a shorter battery life, heavier build, and its screen, while good, isn't as color accurate or bright as the MacBook's.
If portability, display quality, and battery life are your main concerns, and you're focused on general use and creative tasks, the MacBook Pro might be the better choice. If you prioritize gaming, graphics-intensive work, and want more storage at a lower price, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i could be more suitable, but consider its lower portability and battery life. 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 software development
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 Legion Slim 5i
Very good for gaming and AI
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
8.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
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 Slim 5i is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
The MacBook Pro 14, with its high-quality screen and capable GPU, shines for 3D tasks and appeals to those in creative fields, but gaming is limited by compatibility with fewer popular titles. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, with a GPU that's optimized for gaming and a screen with a higher refresh rate, offers a superior experience for gamers and an edge in gaming graphics.
Software Development
8.3/10
7.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Legion 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
8.0/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
343.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i for general use, consider that the MacBook Pro offers a higher resolution and superior brightness, resulting in a sharper and more vibrant display. For engineering and design tasks, the MacBook Pro's display covers a wider range of colors, which means it can produce more accurate and vivid images, a critical factor for precise design work. However, if 3D applications are your focus, the Lenovo Legion Slim may fall short due to a lower refresh rate, so the MacBook Pro would not be ideal for this use despite its high resolution and panel type, as 3D work benefits from smoother motion that a higher refresh rate provides.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has 7 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
5.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.9in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo Legion 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
$1,055
$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 Legion Slim 5i costs $1,055.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) to be very good for general use, while the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers a balance between performance and portability, with its efficient Apple M1 Pro CPU, vibrant Mini LED screen, and long battery life, making it very good for general use despite a higher price. The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, while also providing powerful performance with an Intel i7 processor and ample storage, is heftier and has a shorter battery life, but it compensates with superior gaming capabilities, making it a worthier choice for those prioritizing gaming alongside general use.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo Legion Slim 5i and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) excels in engineering and design use due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro processor and efficient GPU that are well-suited for demanding tasks, complemented by a high-quality Mini LED display offering exceptional color accuracy and contrast. On the other hand, the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i, with its Intel i7 processor and Nvidia RTX GPU, caters well to the same audience, offering a good balance between gaming and professional needs, while the IPS display with a high refresh rate is beneficial for both detailed design work and smoother visual performance in games.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Lenovo Legion Slim 5i 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 Slim 5 Gen 8 acknowledges that a gaming laptop doesn’t have to be as thick as possible and can still ensure adequate cooling when the muscles need flexing. To this end, in the Slim 5 Gen 8, it finds a neat balance of refined, trimmed-down design that still lets its internals cruise (even above their max power ratings). Lenovo then added in some high-end build quality with an altogether excellent keyboard that’s useful for both work and play."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Lenovo Legion 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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