The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is generally more expensive and offers superior performance, especially for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering work, thanks to its higher RAM and powerful Apple M1 Pro processor and GPU. It also boasts a higher-quality display, excellent build, and longer battery life. If you prioritize mobility, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is lighter and also less expensive but comes with a less powerful AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 3050 GPU, and the display and performance may not match the MacBook Pro's standards, especially for demanding applications. The Lenovo, however, supports applications exclusive to Windows, and it might be more suitable for gaming due to its hardware ray tracing support. 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 IdeaPad 5 Pro
The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in general use with its robust CPU and larger RAM, complemented by superior screen quality, contributing to longer battery life and an immersive visual experience; however, it's heavier and less portable than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.5/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its high-quality GPU and Mini LED screen is better suited for 3D work that leverages its color accuracy and processing power, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has a capable Nvidia GPU for gaming and is compatible with a wider range of games due to its Windows operating system.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
7.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.3/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is better suited for engineering and design thanks to its more powerful CPU, double the RAM, a superior GPU, and an exceptional Mini LED screen, contributing to top tier screen quality and accurate colors, making intensive tasks and image representation more precise. However, the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, while offering good performance for engineering with a decent CPU, a capable GPU, and satisfactory screen quality, excels in gaming capabilities and is more portable due to its lower weight.
Content Creation
8.8/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
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 IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.4/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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
7.8/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
409.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high resolution, bright display, and wide color gamut, ensuring sharp, vibrant, and accurate colors essential for detail-oriented work. However, for 3D applications, its refresh rate is lower than what's typically preferred, leading to less smooth motion which is more critical in gaming or 3D modeling environments. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro, with its good resolution and brightness, performs well for general use and engineering design but falls short for gaming and 3D because its refresh rate isn't as high as specialized gaming models, impacting fluidity during rapid movements.
Battery
17.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,162
$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 IdeaPad 5 Pro costs $1,162.
"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 5 Pro turns out a successful all-rounder that, aside from 3D applications, always strikes a good or very good figure. This begins with the elegant metal case that isn't particularly light but fairly robust, giving a high-quality impression. The input devices are also better than those of many competitors. Both the keyboard and the touchpad are attractive and comfortable. In addition, the performance of the Ryzen 5 6600HS is easily able to keep up with the Intel competitors."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro
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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