The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) offers a high-resolution mini LED display, more vibrant colors, and a longer battery life compared to the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i. It also has a powerful built-in GPU suitable for tasks like 3D work, machine learning, or light gaming. On the other hand, the IdeaPad Slim 7i is lighter and less expensive. It has twice the RAM of the MacBook, which is beneficial for multitasking and engineering tasks, but its screen and battery life don't match the MacBook Pro. If budget is a concern and you prioritize memory and a Windows operating system, then the IdeaPad Slim 7i could be a sensible choice. If you prefer a laptop with better display quality, battery life, and an Apple ecosystem, with less emphasis on upfront cost, go for the MacBook Pro. 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 (Late 2023)
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 Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.2/10
7.7/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
489.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
340.0 nits
17.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
8.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 is ideal for general use with a high-quality Mini LED screen, more than enough battery life to last a typical day, and portability complemented by a lightweight build and manageable size. Whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i also provides an attractive package for general use with a respectable screen, ample memory for multitasking, and greater portability due to its lighter weight, though it offers shorter battery life in comparison.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
7.1/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is equipped with an Apple M3 processor and a 10-core GPU, 8 GB RAM, a high-resolution Mini LED screen which excels in screen quality, making it ideal for demanding engineering and design tasks that require accurate color reproduction and visual detail. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, while having a lower screen resolution and less capable Intel Iris Xe graphics, offers double the RAM at 16 GB, which may benefit multitasking in engineering software, but with a standard IPS panel, its screen quality for design may be less superior compared to the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
8.4/10
7.7/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 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
8.2/10
7.5/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.5/10
8.0 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 (Late 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 MacBook Pro 14 boasts a high-resolution display and exceptional color accuracy, covering wide color gamuts, which makes it perfect for engineering and design tasks where precise color representation is critical. In contrast, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i provides a decent screen for general computing and design work with good resolution and brightness, but with less comprehensive color coverage than the MacBook. However, neither laptop is ideal for 3D applications or gaming, as they lack the high refresh rates required for smooth motion rendering.
Battery
17.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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 (Late 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
$1,499
$899
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,499 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i costs $899.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple M3 graphics and a high-refresh Mini LED display, excels in 3D tasks; however, it runs MacOS, which isn't compatible with many popular games. Meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i, featuring an Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate IPS display, offers fair gaming and 3D performance while supporting a wider range of gaming titles due to its Windows operating system.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.5in
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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 (Late 2023) and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 7i 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."
"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 (Late 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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.
Craig Russell
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.