If you need a laptop with high performance for tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or other intensive applications, and you value a larger, high-quality display while accepting a higher price, the MacBook Pro 16 may suit you well. On the other hand, if portability and budget are your main concerns, and your tasks are more in line with general business use or lighter workloads, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 should be sufficient. The ThinkPad X13 is also known for its durable build and keyboard comfort, which could be a plus for heavy typing and on-the-go use. However, you'll compromise on screen size and possibly battery life compared to the MacBook Pro. 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)
Good for gaming and AI
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 ThinkPad X13
Very good portability
Key differences
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.7/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
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 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 is only fair.
The MacBook Pro 16, with its advanced GPU, excels in 3D rendering and has a high-quality screen, but it has limitations for gaming due to the incompatibility of many popular games with its operating system. The ThinkPad X13, while having a capable CPU and decent screen quality, offers a less powerful GPU and lower screen refresh rate, making it less optimal for both gaming and 3D tasks when compared to the MacBook.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its powerful CPU, abundant RAM, and high-quality GPU, excels in handling demanding engineering and design tasks, while offering a superior screen for detailed visuals. In contrast, the Lenovo ThinkPad X13, though competent for engineering applications, trades some performance for greater portability and has a well-regarded keyboard, making it a suitable choice for those who prioritize mobility and typing experience.
Content Creation
8.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) 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
8.1/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
18.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) 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
9.3/10
6.9/10
16.2in
SIZE
13.3in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
321.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 provides a high-resolution display offering vivid colors and high brightness levels, which is great for general use and for professionals in engineering and design who require accurate color representation. However, its screen doesn't prioritize high refresh rates, which is crucial for 3D work and gaming where smooth motion is key. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, while offering a respectable resolution and color accuracy for day-to-day tasks and design work, falls short for gaming and 3D due to its screen's modest refresh rate.
Battery
17.5 Hours
8.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has 8.5 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
13.3in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$1,241
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $2,499 and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 costs $1,241.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Lenovo ThinkPad X13 are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a high-performance CPU and ample RAM, making it powerful for demanding tasks and multitasking, with excellent screen quality for vivid visuals; however, its size makes it less portable compared to smaller laptops. The Lenovo ThinkPad X13, on the other hand, also has a robust CPU and enough RAM for general use, and it is more portable with reliable battery life, though its screen might not be as superior as the MacBook's, it balances trade-offs well for users on-the-go.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X13 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."
"The Lenovo ThinkPad X13 G4 has very good input devices, a wide array of security features and ports as well as 5G in the tested configuration. It is more compact and lightweight compared with its predecessor, and it has improved speakers and a slightly better webcam. On the other hand, the fan is more annoying and the performance is barely improved. The battery is worse as well, but this is primarily attributable to the OLED screen - if this aspect is important, buyers should choose the IPS Low Power LCD."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the Lenovo ThinkPad X13
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 Golden, Ph.D
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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
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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