The decision between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 hinges on your preferences for operating systems, design, and specific use cases. The MacBook Pro is known for its sleek design, high-quality Retina display, and seamless integration with other Apple devices, catering well to creative professionals and those investing in the Apple ecosystem. On the other hand, the ThinkPad P16, while potentially bulkier, offers extensive customization options, a reputable keyboard experience, and features aimed at enterprise users. It tends to excel in performance-heavy tasks such as engineering simulations and may offer better connectivity options. Bear in mind that if you're accustomed to Windows-based software for engineering or other specialized fields, the ThinkPad could be more compatible with your workflow. However, if you highly value battery life and display quality for tasks like video editing or graphic design, the MacBook Pro may be more suited to your needs, despite the higher cost. 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
Good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Good portability
Best in class 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 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
8.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
10.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
5.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is considered very good for general use due to its powerful CPU and GPU within the Apple M1 Pro chipset, ample RAM, high-quality Mini LED screen, and long battery life while maintaining portability with a lighter weight. The Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while still good for general use, offers a robust Intel CPU and dedicated Nvidia GPU, a high-resolution IPS display, and excellent keyboard quality but at the expense of shorter battery life and less portability due to its heavier weight.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
8.4/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
8.2/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
569.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display with exceptional brightness and color accuracy, making it excellent for general use and engineering where detail and color precision are vital. However, its standard refresh rate isn't ideal for 3D tasks that benefit from higher refresh rates, which could make movements seem more fluid. On the other hand, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16, while also providing a sharp, bright display with accurate colors suited to general use and engineering, lacks in areas crucial for gaming and 3D applications, such as a high refresh rate that enhances smoothness and responsiveness during fast-paced activities.
Battery
17.5 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 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
Good
Poor
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
6.5 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
1.2in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has 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 16 (2021) 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
$1,949
$1,449
$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 ThinkPad P16 costs $1,449.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) stands out for 3D tasks with its robust graphics, high screen refresh rate, and superior screen quality, but keep in mind that it runs macOS, which limits game compatibility; contrastingly, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 offers a potent GPU suited for gaming and 3D, runs Windows for broad game support, but has a lower screen refresh rate.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
8.3/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.6/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad P16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its M1 Pro processor, integrated GPU, and high-quality Mini LED screen excels in performance and screen quality for engineering and design. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad P16's strength lies in its Intel processor and dedicated Nvidia GPU, providing robust performance, especially for tasks requiring advanced graphics processing, although it is heavier and less portable than the MacBook Pro.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad P16 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."
"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 16 (2021) 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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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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