When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, consider that the MacBook Pro typically offers higher performance suitable for intensive tasks such as video editing or 3D design, but comes at a higher cost and is less portable due to its larger size. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while more affordable and lightweight, making it ideal for travel and basic tasks, may struggle with demanding applications. If battery life is crucial and you perform heavy computing, the MacBook Pro is a better fit, but for cost efficiency and easy carrying, the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is more appropriate. 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
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 ThinkBook 13x
Excellent portability
Key differences
General Use
8.5/10
7.9/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
9.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-performing CPU and ample RAM, ensuring smooth multitasking and efficient handling of demanding tasks, with a high-quality screen that's a pleasure to view, but it is heavier and may have shorter battery life compared to the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, which is lighter, making it more portable, although it has slightly lesser performance which may affect running intensive applications but should still perform adequately for general use. Both laptops have sufficient storage, comfortable keyboards, quality speakers, and are designed to operate quietly and manage heat effectively.
Engineering and Design
8.4/10
7.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
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 ThinkBook 13x is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-performance CPU, substantial RAM, and a powerful GPU, which are crucial for demanding engineering applications and provide a vibrant screen for design tasks. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while more lightweight and thus more portable, has slightly lesser CPU, RAM, and GPU capabilities, but still maintains a good screen quality, making it suitable for less intensive engineering and design work.
Content Creation
8.5/10
8.0/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and Lenovo ThinkBook 13x are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is somewhat better.
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
7.9/10
7.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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
8.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
13.5in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
500.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14's display offers high resolution and brightness levels which make it excellent for general use, and its wide color gamut provides accurate colors essential for engineering and design tasks. However, its lower refresh rate may not be ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x also boasts a good quality display with respectable resolution and brightness for general tasks, along with a decent color range for professional design work, but like the MacBook, it's less suited for 3D due to its lower refresh rate.
Battery
13.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has 8 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
13.5in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
2.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has excellent portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has very good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,700
$1,399
$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 ThinkBook 13x costs $1,399.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a powerful GPU and high-quality screen that make it well-suited for 3D tasks, but be aware that its operating system limits the availability of popular games. Lenovo ThinkBook 13x, while decent for gaming due to its fair GPU and refresh rate, may not provide the same level of performance for intensive 3D applications.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) and the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x 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."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023) or the Lenovo ThinkBook 13x
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
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.