The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is a high-end option with a premium build, exceptional performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or heavy engineering software, and superior display quality, thanks to its Mini LED screen with high resolution. In contrast, the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 is an affordable alternative suitable for general use, with modest performance that might struggle with anything beyond basic tasks. The MacBook Pro also offers a significantly longer battery life, but it's heavier and less portable. The Cloudbook is more portable due to its lower weight but has a shorter battery life. If budget is a concern and your needs are centered around everyday tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, the Cloudbook is a cost-effective choice. However, for longevity, higher-quality display, and demanding applications, the MacBook Pro is a better choice, albeit at a higher cost. 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 Packard Bell Cloudbook 14"
The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
5.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
5.5/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
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
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is good for 3D as it features a strong GPU and a high refresh rate screen which are very important for such tasks, despite some games not running on macOS. In contrast, the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has a weaker GPU and lower refresh rate display which makes it poor for gaming and 3D, and it also lacks in CPU and screen quality which are somewhat important for these activities.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
5.5/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
5.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has a powerful Apple M2 Pro processor, plenty of RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen that excel in engineering and design tasks, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is equipped with a less capable Intel Celeron processor, has significantly less RAM, and an IPS screen with lower color and contrast metrics making it less suitable for such demanding work. Despite the MacBook Pro's heavier weight and lower portability, its superior keyboard and speaker quality provide a more pleasant working experience compared to the Cloudbook's poorer keyboard and affordable build, which may increase operating noise during intensive use.
Content Creation
8.5/10
5.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for content creation, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
5.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
4.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" is poor.
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
5.8/10
14.2in
SIZE
14.1in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
200.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) boasts a high-resolution display with bright and vibrant colors, making it excellent for general tasks and engineering design work where color accuracy and detail are critical. However, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is crucial for smooth visuals in 3D applications and games. The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14", on the other hand, falls behind with a lower-quality display across all scenarios, compromising brightness, resolution, and color accuracy, and also lacking the fast refresh rate required for optimal 3D performance.
Battery
13.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Packard Bell Cloudbook 14 has 7 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
5.1/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" has poor build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$350
$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 Packard Bell Cloudbook 14" costs $350.
"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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Packard Bell Cloudbook 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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Laptops Expert
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