The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) generally excels in performance due to its powerful processor and dedicated graphics card, ideal for intensive tasks like video editing or 3D work. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 offers versatility as a 2-in-1 convertible that can be used as a tablet, with a more recent, but less powerful integrated graphics setup. The MacBook Pro will likely have better build quality and a higher-resolution screen, contributing to its heftier build and less portability when compared to the Lenovo, which may suit those who prioritize a lighter, more flexible device for general use and mobility. The MacBook Pro might also have longer battery life providing more time away from the charger, but the Lenovo could be more cost-effective for those who need a touchscreen and tablet functionality. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019)
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo Flex 5 16
The Lenovo Flex 5 16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019).
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo Flex 5 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's high-resolution and bright display with a wide color gamut ensures crisp and vibrant visuals, making it well-suited for general use and engineering tasks that require color accuracy. The Lenovo Flex 5 16's screen, while offering good resolution and brightness, might not match the MacBook's color fidelity, but still provides a solid viewing experience for general use and design work. However, both laptops' screens lack high refresh rates, reducing their appeal for 3D rendering and gaming, where smooth motion is essential.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$779
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $779.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is well-respected for general use because it has a strong CPU, plentiful RAM, an excellent Retina display with high resolution, and long battery life which is complemented by its lightweight design, making it portable despite its larger screen. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 also delivers suitable performance for general use with a comparable CPU and RAM, a quality IPS touchscreen display, and a flexible 2-in-1 design, although it falls slightly short in battery life and screen brightness compared to the MacBook Pro.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.2/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.5/10
7.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is well-suited for engineering and design due to its powerful CPU and dedicated GPU, which are essential for demanding tasks, and the high-quality IPS screen supports a wide color gamut, making it ideal for detailed visual work.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) to be very good for content creation, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
7.9/10
7.5/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Lenovo Flex 5 16 are both 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.
Battery
12.0 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The Lenovo Flex 5 16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
16.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and Lenovo Flex 5 16 both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 compare to other laptops
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
"The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 is a solidly equipped, 2-in-1 in the lower price segment. Performance is definitely sufficient for everyday tasks and in tests the battery proved itself to be very economical. That aside, there is a lot of standard fare on show and a search for real highlights ends in vain. The low color coverage and reflective display can be avoided by going for an optional 2.5K display but this also presumably results in poorer battery life. The cooling uses only one fan and leads to a raised temperature on one side of the device under load. Additionally, there is very loud fan noise, also under load or when gaming. On top of that, we also occasionally noticed electronic noises."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the Lenovo Flex 5 16
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
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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.