The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) offers better portability, higher screen refresh rates for smoother visuals, and is known for strong build quality and speakers, making it a solid choice for general use, creative work and entertainment. However, it tends to be more expensive. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, on the other hand, packs more powerful graphics capabilities suitable for engineering, 3D rendering, machine learning, and even light gaming, along with a larger screen and longer battery life. It's less portable due to its weight, but is generally less expensive and provides a full Windows 11 Pro experience, which might be preferable for certain business applications and compatibility with a wider range of software. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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 ThinkPad P16
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display that offers bright and crisp images, and covers a wide color spectrum, making it ideal for precision tasks that require color accuracy. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 also provides a very good display for these purposes with similar qualities but may not match the color range of the MacBook Pro. However, both laptops fall short for 3D use as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth visuals in fast-paced 3D applications and games.
Battery
13.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 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
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor 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 ThinkPad P16 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
$1,449
$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 ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 provides a balance of high CPU and RAM capabilities with exceptional screen quality and battery life in a portable design, making it excellent for general use and consistent performance on the go. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while offering strong CPU and ample RAM for heavy tasks, trades off some portability and battery life due to its larger size and focus on engineering and professional applications, but remains competent for general use with a robust build and good screen.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.3/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its efficient M1 Pro processor and Mini LED screen excels in tasks that benefit from high color accuracy and energy efficiency, making it highly suitable for engineering and design work. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, equipped with a potent Intel i7 processor and an Nvidia RTX GPU, offers higher raw computational power and a larger screen with higher resolution, which is beneficial for detailed engineering and design applications, despite being heavier and less portable.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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."
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.