If you need a powerful laptop for resource-heavy tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or high-end gaming, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) excels in performance but comes with a higher price tag. On the other hand, if affordability and basic tasks like web browsing, office work, or light multitasking are your main concerns, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" can be a cost-effective choice with adequate performance. Consider that the MacBook Pro likely offers a premium build quality, longer battery life, and a higher-resolution display, while the Lenovo is lighter and more portable due to its smaller size. Choose the MacBook Pro for demanding applications or the Lenovo for everyday use and portability. 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 (Late 2023)
Very good 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 1 14"
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
6.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for general use, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's superior CPU and abundant RAM contribute to smooth and responsive performance ideal for demanding tasks, while its high-resolution Mini LED screen delivers crisp visuals and good color accuracy which enhances the overall user experience; additionally, its long battery life ensures it can be used for extended periods away from a power source. On the other hand, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is hindered by a lower-tier CPU and limited RAM which may struggle with multitasking or resource-intensive programs, and its TN screen with modest resolution may render less vibrant colors and narrower viewing angles, which, along with its shorter battery life, could impede performance and comfort during general use.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
5.5/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023), with its high-end GPU and high screen refresh rate, is well-suited for 3D tasks and applications, although some popular games may not run on its MacOS platform; meanwhile, the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has a lower-tier CPU and GPU, and a screen with a standard refresh rate, which makes it less capable for gaming and 3D applications.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
5.5/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.5/10
18.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is poor.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a more powerful CPU, higher RAM, and a more capable GPU, resulting in superior performance for engineering and design tasks compared to the lower-end CPU, minimal RAM, and basic integrated GPU in the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14". Additionally, the MacBook's high-resolution Mini LED display with wide color gamut support offers exceptional screen quality for detailed work, whereas the IdeaPad's screen has lower resolution and limited color coverage, significantly impacting the visual work involved in such fields.
Content Creation
8.9/10
6.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
18.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
6.4/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
3.3/10
18.0 GB
RAM
4.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" is only fair.
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
5.3/10
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1366 x 768
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
TN
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
239.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers high resolution and brightness, which enhances viewing experience for general uses and engineering tasks. Its superior color gamut coverage appeals to professionals in engineering and design, needing accurate color reproduction. However, its lower refresh rate is less ideal for 3D applications that benefit from smoother visuals on screens with faster refresh rates.
Battery
17.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has 9 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
Very Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$165
$0
$1,000
$2,000
$3,000
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $2,499 and the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14" costs $165.
"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 IdeaPad 1 14 is a simple machine, but it’s well-designed and has nearly everything you’d expect from a no-nonsense laptop that allows you to check emails and get schoolwork or other light tasks done with relative ease. A "true" 128GB SSD (as opposed to an eMMC drive) and a roomy 14-inch full HD display are arguably the star attractions, with the comfortable keyboard and reasonably modern styling playing important backup roles."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the Lenovo IdeaPad 1 14"
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.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
102,495
Recommendations made
22,208
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
Laptops Expert
Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.