The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) generally offers better performance, especially for 3D rendering and machine learning, has higher screen quality with better colors and brightness, and longer battery life, but its heavier build impacts its portability and it comes with a higher price tag. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is more affordable and lighter, making it more portable, but its performance, particularly for intensive tasks like engineering applications, and screen quality aren't as impressive as the MacBook Pro. Both have similar storage and memory capacities and keyboards are both rated highly for a good typing experience. If your budget allows and you need top-notch performance and screen quality for tasks like video editing or design work, go with the MacBook Pro. If portability and budget are your primary concerns, and you use your laptop for less demanding tasks, the IdeaPad Slim 7i is a sound choice. 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 (2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is rated very good for general use due to its higher-performance CPU and better screen quality, coupled with greater portability and longer battery life, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, while offering similar RAM and storage, has a less powerful processor and lower resolution screen, but excels in heat management and has slightly longer-running battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.2/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is more suitable for 3D work due to its higher-performing GPU and faster screen refresh rate. Additionally, the compatibility of games with macOS should be taken into consideration, as many popular games are not available on the Mac platform.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.1/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) outshines the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i in engineering and design use primarily due to its more powerful CPU, superior GPU performance, and higher screen quality, which includes a better resolution and color coverage crucial for detailed design work. Whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, while still suitable, offers lower graphics capabilities and display quality but gains an edge in portability and has a silent operating noise, making it a good but less specialized choice for engineering tasks.
Content Creation
8.5/10
7.7/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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
8.4/10
7.5/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro typically offers Retina displays that provide high resolution and brightness, benefiting general use with crisp and clear images. For engineering and design, its screens usually cover a wide color spectrum including DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, providing accurate color rendition critical for design work. However, the lower refresh rates on Apple screens can be a limitation for 3D applications, which benefit from higher refresh rates for smoother images during fast-paced tasks.
Battery
13.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has 11.5 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
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$899
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a price of $1,700 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i costs $899.
"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."
"Among Lenovo's multiple laptop brands, the IdeaPad family is decidedly the one designed for consumers: people who want decent performance at a reasonable price. Consider, then, this laptop a paragon for the pickier members of that crowd. With a 14-inch touch-enabled display, a comfortable keyboard, an Evo-certified Intel Core i7 11th Generation CPU, and the latest Windows 11 operating system, the IdeaPad Slim 7i Pro ultraportable ($1,199 as tested) is a slick mainstream machine at a bit of a premium price, and quite capable for everyday tasks."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
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.
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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
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