When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, consider your primary uses. The MacBook Pro has longer battery life and is well-suited for video editing and graphic design thanks to its powerful GPU and high-resolution Mini LED display; however, it's heavier and less portable. Alternatively, the ThinkPad Z16 offers a high-resolution OLED touchscreen, is lighter, and is better for tasks that require Windows software or a touchscreen interface. Both have ample storage and memory, but the ThinkPad offers more storage. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize MacOS and battery life over Windows and touchscreen capabilities. 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
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
Software Development
8.9/10
8.2/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 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 Z16 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
8.5/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
393.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a high-resolution display that is bright and sharp, making it excellent for general use where readability and clarity are key, and its wide color gamut ensures accurate color representation essential for engineering and design work. However, its standard refresh rate is less than ideal for 3D applications where smoother motion representation is necessary. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 also provides a sharp and bright display suitable for general tasks and has a color range that satisfies professional engineering and design needs, but like the MacBook, it falls short for gaming and 3D due to a lower refresh rate.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 has 7 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 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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
$1,120
$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 Z16 costs $1,120.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be excellent for general use, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in general use due to its powerful Apple M1 Pro CPU, 32GB RAM, high-quality Mini LED screen, and long battery life, but with a heavier frame potentially affecting portability. Contrastingly, the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 matches in CPU and RAM strength, offers an OLED touchscreen with ample storage space, and includes a quality keyboard, despite having a shorter battery life, making it a versatile option for users who prioritize screen interaction and typing experience.
Gaming and AI
7.0/10
6.7/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 is only fair.
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
8.7/10
8.4/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.6/10
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its Apple M1 Pro CPU and integrated 16-core GPU, along with a high brightness Mini LED screen offers excellent CPU and GPU performance with great screen quality for engineering and design tasks, but it is less portable due to its weight. The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16, with a powerful AMD Ryzen CPU and dedicated AMD RX GPU, coupled with an OLED touchscreen providing rich colors and contrast, is more portable and offers a better keyboard, but its overall battery life is lower compared to the MacBook.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.5/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3840 x 2400
32.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.2 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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 (2021) and the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16 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."
"Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z16 tries has some success in its effort to tweak the ThinkPad formula. The laptop is attractive, yet still tame, and material quality is on par with the best Windows competition. I also like the smooth, responsive haptic touchpad and the wide range of modern connectivity. Yet the Z16 doesn’t fix ThinkPad’s typical weakness: value. Starting around $1,550, and more typically near $1,700, the Z16 finds itself facing alternatives that have better performance or an improved display for the same price, or less."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Lenovo ThinkPad Z16
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
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