When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, here are some considerations. The MacBook Pro offers a higher refresh rate display, longer battery life, and a lighter, more portable design, making it suitable for users who prioritize mobility and long periods away from a power source. It is also generally better for media creation due to its color-accurate display. On the other hand, the ThinkPad P16 has a more powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, is better equipped for engineering software, and offers a higher resolution screen. It is better suited for users who require a laptop for intensive processing tasks like 3D rendering or simulations but is heavier and comes with a shorter battery life. Both have similar storage and are priced comparably, with the MacBook Pro having less RAM than the ThinkPad. The ThinkPad also boasts more ports and upgradeability with available RAM and storage slots, which could be essential for users looking to expand their laptop's capabilities over time. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023).
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.2/10
8.2/10
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
489.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 for general use, AI, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-resolution display with bright, accurate colors thanks to its wide color gamut coverage, making it excellent for general use and precision tasks in engineering and design. However, its standard refresh rate limits its appeal for 3D applications where smoother motion is key. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 also offers a high-resolution, bright display with color accuracy beneficial for general use and engineering, but like the MacBook, it lacks the higher refresh rate desired for high-performance gaming and 3D rendering.
Battery
17.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has 10 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
Poor
14.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has poor portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,649
$1,449
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has a price of $1,649 and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for general use.
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
6.7/10
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, with a more powerful Intel processor and Nvidia GPU, more RAM, and a higher-resolution display, offers superior performance for engineering and design work compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 14 with its Apple M3 processor and integrated GPU, although the MacBook's Mini LED screen may have better contrast and color quality. However, the MacBook Pro offers a more portable and quieter design, which might be beneficial for users who frequently work on the go and prefer a less noisy working environment.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.2/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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
8.2/10
8.4/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad P16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) 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.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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."
"It's only a few months since we gave the MSI CreatorPro X17 one of our rare 4.5-star ratings and our top mobile workstation honor, but the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 Gen 1 matches that achievement in a more premium overall build. Ultimately, its build quality, screen, and keyboard give our latest Editors' Choice nod to the Lenovo—it's enough of a monster on almost all fronts that it simply cannot be ignored."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) or the Lenovo ThinkPad P16
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
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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.
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.