If you prioritize a sleek design, high-quality display, and ecosystem integration with other Apple products, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 is an excellent choice. However, if you're on a budget but still want solid performance and good portability, the XPG Xenia 14 offers good value. For tasks like photo and video editing, the MacBook Pro is likely to provide superior performance due to its optimized hardware and software. Conversely, if gaming is your main focus, the XPG's dedicated graphics may offer a better experience. Consider battery life as well—Apple products are known for long-lasting batteries, which is a bonus for travelers or students. Choose the MacBook Pro if you're invested in the Apple ecosystem and need powerful multimedia capabilities; opt for the XPG Xenia if cost and gaming are your main concerns, keeping in mind that its battery life might not match that of the MacBook. 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 XPG Xenia 14
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.4/10
7.3/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for general use, while the XPG Xenia 14 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a powerful M1 Pro processor, excellent screen quality with Mini LED display, and robust battery life, which contribute to its very good general use performance, but it is heavier and slightly thicker than the XPG Xenia 14, affecting its portability. Meanwhile, the XPG Xenia 14, with decent performance through an Intel i5 processor and adequate battery life, scores well for portability due to its lighter weight, but falls short in screen quality with a lower-resolution IPS panel and lower brightness compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.8/10
6.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
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
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and XPG Xenia 14 are both only fair for gaming and AI, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
6.8/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the XPG Xenia 14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is often preferred for engineering and design because it features a powerful CPU and GPU, ample RAM, a Mini LED screen with high resolution and brightness levels, and expansive color coverage, which are critical for demanding applications and visual accuracy. The XPG Xenia 14, while also suitable for engineering and design with comparable RAM and a capable CPU, has an IPS screen with a lower resolution and color accuracy, and relies on integrated graphics, making it less suitable for intensive graphical tasks but more portable and generally quieter in operation.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.4/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 XPG Xenia 14 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
7.2/10
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is very good for software development, while the XPG Xenia 14 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
6.9/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
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 XPG Xenia 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
When selecting a laptop for general use, the Apple MacBook Pro 14's panel boasts high resolution and brightness, which enhances visibility and clarity. For engineering and design, its wide color gamuts ensure accurate color representation, which is essential for precise work. However, its refresh rate is lower, making it less ideal for 3D applications where smooth movement and quick screen updates are crucial.
Battery
13.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The XPG Xenia 14 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
Excellent
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The XPG Xenia 14 has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.2/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the XPG Xenia 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,905
$800
$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 XPG Xenia 14 costs $800.
"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 Xenia 14 is a top 14-inch laptop under 1 kg. ADATA isn't exactly known for its laptops and so we weren't expecting much from its first 14-inch Ultrabook. With that said, we're pleasantly surprised by how well the Xenia 14 looks and performs. Not only is it incredibly light, but it has a color accurate 16:10 display, high CPU and GPU performance, easy RAM and SSD serviceability, plenty of port options including Thunderbolt 4, and long battery life. It packs a lot of punch and features considering the size and weight to be better than even the LG Gram series."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) or the XPG Xenia 14
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.
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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