If you prefer a laptop with a higher price but better performance for intensive tasks like video editing, the MacBook Pro could be your choice; however, if cost is a major concern and you need a reliable machine for general business use with good durability and repairability, the ThinkPad T14 may be more suitable. The MacBook Pro usually offers a superior display and longer battery life, which is great for media professionals, while the ThinkPad T14 often has more ports and is favored in corporate environments for its robustness and serviceability. Keep in mind, software compatibility is also a factor: MacOS for the MacBook is necessary for certain applications, while the ThinkPad's Windows is more universally adopted for business software. 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)
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 (Late 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, and engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro's Retina display delivers sharp visuals and vibrant colors due to its high resolution and wide color gamut, which enhance both day-to-day tasks and engineering applications; however, its standard refresh rate is less suitable for 3D work where smoother motion is needed. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 provides good image quality for everyday computing and professional design work with adequate resolution and color accuracy, but it's not optimal for gaming or 3D because it doesn't support the higher refresh rates preferred in those areas. Both laptops excel in visual clarity and color reproduction for general usage and detailed design tasks, but neither is ideal for 3D applications where high frame rates are crucial.
Battery
17.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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 (Late 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
$1,499
$1,241
$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 ThinkPad T14 costs $1,241.
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a high-quality screen, strong CPU performance, and long battery life making it ideal for demanding applications and media consumption, while its high RAM allows for smooth multitasking; however, it is less portable due to its weight and size. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, with its robust keyboard, durability, and lighter design, also provides adequate CPU and RAM for general use, excels in portability, and is typically more affordable, but may fall short in screen and speaker quality compared to the MacBook.
Gaming and AI
6.7/10
6.7/10
4.5/10
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
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14, while equipped with capable graphics and a high-quality display, often lacks compatibility with many popular games due to its operating system, limiting its suitability for gaming despite decent performance in 3D tasks. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, offering a good balance of GPU and CPU power, may handle gaming and 3D applications well, but its screen refresh rate might not be as high as dedicated gaming laptops, affecting the smoothness of fast-paced games.
Engineering and Design
8.1/10
8.0/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad T14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 offers a robust CPU, ample RAM, and a high-quality GPU that excel in engineering tasks, along with an exceptional screen that is beneficial for design work. The Lenovo ThinkPad T14, while also capable in performance aspects, additionally boasts a reputable keyboard and durability for portability, making it a solid choice for on-the-go professionals in engineering and design fields.
Content Creation
8.4/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 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
8.2/10
8.3/10
7.4/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Lenovo ThinkPad T14 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.
Portability
Very Good
Very Good
14.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3.4 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 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 (Late 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 (Late 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 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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