If you need high performance for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) with its powerful Apple M2 Pro processor and better GPU will outperform the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i. The MacBook also boasts a higher resolution Mini LED display, superior battery life, and a build quality suited for premium business use. However, it is significantly more expensive and heavier, which may affect portability. The IdeaPad Slim 5i offers a more affordable price with decent performance for general use and lighter engineering tasks, an IPS display, and is lighter in weight, making it easier to carry around. If your tasks are not heavily reliant on graphics or intensive processing, and you favor a balance of cost and portability, the Lenovo could be a suitable choice. However, if your budget allows and your work demands the best performance and screen quality, the MacBook Pro might be the better investment. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent 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 Slim 5i
The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
8.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) boasts a more potent CPU and superior graphics hardware, resulting in better performance, especially with demanding tasks; it also features a higher-resolution, brighter screen with better color accuracy, which, along with a significantly longer battery life, justifies its higher cost for those prioritizing performance and display quality in general use. In comparison, the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers commendable general use capabilities with a sufficient CPU, quality keyboard, and lightweight design that increases portability, making it a more budget-friendly choice for everyday tasks despite its lower battery capacity and less impressive display.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.3/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023), with its Apple M2 Pro GPU and a high 120Hz screen refresh rate, offers superior graphics capability for 3D applications, whereas the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i's Intel Iris Xe and a standard 60Hz refresh rate provide decent but less powerful performance, making it suitable for less demanding gaming and 3D tasks. Since many popular games are not compatible with macOS, the Lenovo IdeaPad with Windows has wider gaming availability despite its fair graphic performance.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.0/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i is good.
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design and 3D rendering work.
Content Creation
9.1/10
7.4/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
6.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i 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
9.3/10
6.4/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
315.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts a high-resolution display, exceptional brightness, and a wide color gamut, which renders vibrant and precise visuals crucial for general use and engineering/design tasks. However, its typical refresh rate limits its capability for 3D applications, where smoother motion is needed for optimal viewing. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i offers decent resolution and brightness for everyday tasks and some professional work, but its narrower color gamut and average refresh rate are less suitable for high-end design work and gaming that demand better color reproduction and fluid motion.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has 8 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 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,423
$828
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 and the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i costs $828.
"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 device is made for average work loads and if your work has a lot to do with online browsing, using apps that are not power-hungry and streaming videos. The looks are really good and the device in itself is not a heavy one. And with Intel 11th-gen Core processor, you might sail through most of your work without complaints."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad Slim 5i
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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