The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers superior performance with a better processor and more memory, and it has a higher quality display but at a significantly higher price than the Lenovo Flex 5 16. The MacBook also boasts a longer battery life. In contrast, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is more affordable and includes a touchscreen, catering to those who prefer or require a touch interface for their work or daily activities. If you prioritize performance and display quality and are willing to invest more, the MacBook Pro is a strong choice. Otherwise, for cost savings and touch capability, the Lenovo Flex 5 16 makes a compelling alternative. 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 16 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
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 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.4/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its powerful M1 Pro processor, more RAM, and superior Mini LED screen offers better performance and screen quality, making it very good for general use, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 provides good general use with its respectable Intel CPU and RAM, and the flexibility of a 2-in-1 convertible form factor that can act as a tablet.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.2/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
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 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a high-quality GPU and excellent screen quality, making it well-suited for complex 3D tasks, but its limited game compatibility can be a significant drawback for gamers. On the other hand, the Lenovo Flex 5 16, while capable of fair gaming and 3D performance due to its satisfactory GPU and screen refresh rate, doesn't match the MacBook's screen quality or peak performance, which may impact demanding engineering and design applications.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro featuring the Apple M1 Pro processor, more RAM, and a higher-quality Mini LED screen makes it superior in handling demanding engineering and design applications compared to the Lenovo Flex 5, which offers an Intel processor with integrated graphics and an IPS screen. However, the Flex 5 compensates with its 2-in-1 flexibility and touchscreen feature for those who may benefit from a convertible device for their design work.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.6/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is 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
8.9/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo Flex 5 16 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
9.4/10
7.3/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 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.
Assuming you're comparing the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with the Lenovo Flex 5 16, the MacBook Pro's superior screen resolution, brightness, and panel type make for a vivid and clear display, which is ideal for both general use and tasks that require precise color representation like engineering and design. Additionally, the MacBook Pro generally covers a wide color gamut, providing the essential color accuracy needed by professionals. However, for 3D applications where high refresh rates are crucial, neither model stands out, as they prioritize resolution and color over the refresh rate often sought after in 3D modeling and gaming scenarios.
Battery
17.5 Hours
11.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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
$1,949
$779
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Lenovo Flex 5 16 costs $779.
"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 (2021) 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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