When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, consider that the MacBook Pro generally offers higher performance suitable for demanding tasks like video editing or graphic design, along with a longer battery life and a better screen. However, it comes at a higher price. The ThinkPad X13, while more affordable, is a durable and business-oriented machine with good keyboard and ample connectivity options, but it might not handle intensive tasks as smoothly and its battery life could be shorter. If budget is a concern and you primarily need a laptop for general office tasks, go with the ThinkPad. If you frequently work with heavy applications and the cost isn't a barrier, the MacBook Pro would serve you better. 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)
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 ThinkPad X13
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
6.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is renowned for its exceptional display, offering crisp images with its high resolution and brightness, and wide color gamut coverage, ensuring accurate colors for engineering and design tasks; however, its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother motion depiction is crucial. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 provides a balance of good resolution and brightness for everyday tasks, along with adequate color reproduction for professional work, but falls short for gaming and 3D due to its standard refresh rate not being designed for the high frame rates desired in those areas. Therefore, the MacBook Pro 14 excels in screen-intensive tasks requiring color accuracy, while the ThinkPad X13 is sufficient for general and professional use but not for refresh-rate-sensitive activities.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
$1,241
$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 X13 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-quality screen, powerful CPU, and ample RAM, making it excellent for demanding applications and multimedia tasks; plus, its portability and long battery life complement its premium build. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 delivers great performance with a solid CPU and enough RAM for everyday tasks, in a highly portable form factor, with a robust keyboard and durability that business users appreciate, albeit with generally less screen quality and battery life compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.7/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
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 ThinkPad X13 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Pro 14, while it has a high-quality GPU and screen, is limited in gaming due to the lesser availability of games for macOS and its refresh rate, which is suitable for professional creative work but not optimized for high-frame-rate gaming. The ThinkPad X13 has decent graphics capabilities and a good enough refresh rate for casual gaming, but it may not handle intensive 3D tasks or newer gaming titles as smoothly as laptops specifically designed with gaming-focused GPUs and faster screens.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.0/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 provides excellent CPU and GPU performance suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks, with high-quality RAM and a vivid screen that professionals favor for their color accuracy and clarity. Meanwhile, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 offers a robust CPU and sufficient RAM for engineering applications, and its renowned keyboard is comfortable for extended typing sessions, though its portability and quieter operation make it a strong candidate for on-the-go professionals.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.1/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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 ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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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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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