When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14, consider that the MacBook Pro generally offers a higher performance, better display, and a more robust build quality, but at a higher price and within an ecosystem that works best with other Apple products. The ThinkPad T14, on the other hand, is more budget-friendly, offers solid performance adequate for general business use, has a variety of ports for connectivity, and is typically favored for its keyboard and durability. If portability and battery life are crucial, the MacBook Pro excels, whereas if expandability and a Windows operating system are priorities, the ThinkPad T14 is the better choice. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
Good for gaming and AI
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 T14
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
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
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers high resolution and brightness, along with a wide color gamut, which makes it sharp, vivid, and color-rich for everyday and professional design tasks. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while having a good display, may not match the MacBook's color fidelity or brightness, but still provides a clear and accurate visual performance for day-to-day tasks and engineering software. Neither of these laptops have high refresh rate screens, which makes them less ideal for 3D applications where smoother movement and quicker refreshes are crucial for the best experience.
Battery
13.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has 9 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
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,241
$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 ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 provides top-tier CPU performance and high-quality RAM suited for demanding applications, alongside a sharp screen and long battery life, making it excellent for mobility while handling intensive tasks; its premium build also ensures it remains quiet and cool. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers robust CPU and RAM performance as well, with a focus on a durable keyboard and sufficient portability and battery life, making it a reliable choice for everyday productivity and business use.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.7/10
5.2/10
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
8.3/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a dedicated GPU that excels in 3D tasks and a high-quality display, but its limited game compatibility can be restrictive. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 offers decent gaming performance with its GPU, but its lower screen refresh rate may not deliver as fluid an experience as some dedicated gaming laptops.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
8.0/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers high-performance CPU, ample RAM, and superior GPU capabilities, coupled with exceptional screen quality, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks, though it may come with a premium price and less portability. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while providing satisfactory performance for engineering uses, emphasizes durability and an excellent keyboard, potentially trading off some screen brilliance and speaker quality for a more budget-friendly option and greater portability.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.3/10
7.8/10
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 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
8.4/10
8.3/10
7.8/10
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 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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
14.0in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 both have very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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."
"We like a lot about this laptop. It has many ports, with the inclusion of RJ45-Ethernet as a defining feature. WWAN is upgradable for maximum flexibility and the ThinkPad has many security functions. Working with the ThinkPad input devices is a lot of fun, and Lenovo puts in a serviceable Low Power panel. The AMD Ryzen 7 Pro 7840U delivers a great performance and does not drain the battery fast. Fan noise and temperatures are nothing special, but also far away from bad. With the user replaceable keyboard, the ThinkPad T14 Gen 4 has a special feature rarely present on most modern laptops."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Lenovo ThinkPad T14
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 Golden, Ph.D
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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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