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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerApple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the premium choice for power users, boasting a stunning 3024x1964 Liquid Retina XDR display that shines at 1,600 nits peak brightness. In contrast, if you want to save money, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 offers a decent 1920x1200 resolution but only reaches 300 nits, making it a less vibrant option. In real-world use, the MacBook Pro's battery lasts up to 18 hours, a game-changer for professionals on the go.
📱 Display: 14.2" vs 14"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 60 Hz⚖️ Weight: 56.79 oz vs 54.67 oz
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
★4.9
(3,372)•Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core)
Graphics:Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Active (Dual fan cooling system)
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
★4.2
(21)•Amazon
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (Barcelo-R, 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz)
Graphics:AMD Radeon Graphics (Integrated)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Air (Single fan)
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Key spec differences
Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.
Winner= clear advantage
Spec
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
14.2"Winner
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
14"
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
120 Hz (ProMotion)Winner
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
60 Hz
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified MemoryWinner
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
16 GB LPDDR4x-4266
Storage
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
512 GB or 1 TB SSD
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 2242 SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
52.5 Wh (Polymer)
Design1 specs
Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs)
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
1,550 g (3.42 lbs)Winner
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
macOS (Sonoma or later)
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
Windows 11 Home
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1
+Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Expand
Full specs, pros, and cons
Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.
Comparison: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
★4.9(3,372)Best Buy
Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
★4.2(21)Amazon
| Criterion | Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch | Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.9(3,372)Best Buy | ★4.2(21)Amazon |
Processor | Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core) | AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (Barcelo-R, 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz) |
Graphics | Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core) | AMD Radeon Graphics (Integrated) |
AI Engine | 16-core Neural Engine | No (Not supported) |
Cooling | Active (Dual fan cooling system) | Air (Single fan) |
RAM | 18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified Memory | 16 GB LPDDR4x-4266 |
RAM Upgrade | No (Unified Memory architecture; configurable up to 128GB at purchase) | No (Soldered) |
Storage | 512 GB or 1 TB SSD | 512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 2242 SSD |
Storage Upgrade | No (Soldered; configurable up to 8TB at purchase) | Yes (1x M.2 2242 slot; supports up to 1TB) |
Display Size | 14.2" | 14" |
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 (Native) | 1920 x 1200 (WUXGA) |
Aspect Ratio | 16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch) | 16:10 |
Screen Type | Liquid Retina XDR (Mini-LED; 10,000+ local dimming zones) | IPS (Glossy; Touchscreen) |
Refresh Rate | 120 Hz (ProMotion) | 60 Hz |
Brightness | 1,000 nits (Sustained XDR) / 1,600 nits (Peak HDR) / 600 nits (SDR) | 300 nits |
Color Gamut | Wide color (P3); True Tone | 45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB) |
Keyboard Layout | US English (Magic Keyboard) | US English (ANSI) without NumPad |
Keyboard Backlight | Yes (Ambient light sensor) | Yes |
Biometrics | Touch ID (Fingerprint reader) | Fingerprint reader (Palm rest) |
Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 1080p FHD camera with Privacy Shutter |
USB Ports | 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (Charging; DisplayPort; up to 40Gb/s) | 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Power Delivery 3.0 / DisplayPort 1.4); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (One Always On); 1x SD card reader |
Video Ports | 1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz) | 1x HDMI 1.4b (Supports up to 4K@30Hz) |
Audio Ports | 1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones) | 1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack |
Connectivity | Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3 | Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1 |
Battery | 72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer) | 52.5 Wh (Polymer) |
Charger | 70W (11-core M3 Pro) or 96W (12-core M3 Pro & M3 Max) USB-C Adapter | 65 W Round Tip (Barrel connector) adapter |
Weight | 1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs) | 1,550 g (3.42 lbs) |
Build Material | 100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure | PC-ABS + 40% GF (Plastic chassis) |
Operating System | macOS (Sonoma or later) | Windows 11 Home |
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Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Rating:★4.9(3,372)Best Buy
Processor:Apple M3 Pro (11 or 12-core) OR Apple M3 Max (14 or 16-core)
Graphics:Apple M3 Pro (14 or 18-core) OR Apple M3 Max (30 or 40-core)
AI Engine:16-core Neural Engine
Cooling:Active (Dual fan cooling system)
RAM:18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified Memory
RAM Upgrade:No (Unified Memory architecture; configurable up to 128GB at purchase)
Storage:512 GB or 1 TB SSD
Storage Upgrade:No (Soldered; configurable up to 8TB at purchase)
Display Size:14.2"
Resolution:3024 x 1964 (Native)
Aspect Ratio:16:10 (plus additional height for menu bar/notch)
Screen Type:Liquid Retina XDR (Mini-LED; 10,000+ local dimming zones)
Refresh Rate:120 Hz (ProMotion)
Brightness:1,000 nits (Sustained XDR) / 1,600 nits (Peak HDR) / 600 nits (SDR)
Color Gamut:Wide color (P3); True Tone
Keyboard Layout:US English (Magic Keyboard)
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (Ambient light sensor)
Biometrics:Touch ID (Fingerprint reader)
Webcam:1080p FaceTime HD camera
USB Ports:3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) (Charging; DisplayPort; up to 40Gb/s)
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz or 4K@240Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone jack (Advanced support for high-impedance headphones)
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Battery:72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Charger:70W (11-core M3 Pro) or 96W (12-core M3 Pro & M3 Max) USB-C Adapter
Weight:1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs)
Build Material:100% Recycled Aluminum enclosure
Operating System:macOS (Sonoma or later)
✓ Pros:
- • Class-leading Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,600 nits peak brightness
- • M3 Max configuration rivals high-end desktop performance in a portable chassis
- • Generous port selection including HDMI 2.1, SDXC, and three Thunderbolt 4 ports
- • Excellent build quality available in the new 'Space Black' finish (reduces fingerprints)
- • Battery life remains impressive despite high performance (up to 18 hours video playback)
✗ Cons:
- • Expensive starting price with expensive upgrades for RAM and SSD
- • No user-upgradeable components (RAM and SSD are soldered)
- • The notch at the top of the display cuts into the menu bar area
- • Under maximum load, the fans can become audible (though quieter than most PC laptops)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1
Rating:★4.2(21)Amazon
Processor:AMD Ryzen 7 7730U (Barcelo-R, 8 cores, up to 4.5 GHz)
Graphics:AMD Radeon Graphics (Integrated)
AI Engine:No (Not supported)
Cooling:Air (Single fan)
RAM:16 GB LPDDR4x-4266
RAM Upgrade:No (Soldered)
Storage:512 GB PCIe NVMe M.2 2242 SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (1x M.2 2242 slot; supports up to 1TB)
Display Size:14"
Resolution:1920 x 1200 (WUXGA)
Aspect Ratio:16:10
Screen Type:IPS (Glossy; Touchscreen)
Refresh Rate:60 Hz
Brightness:300 nits
Color Gamut:45% NTSC (approx. 60% sRGB)
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) without NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes
Biometrics:Fingerprint reader (Palm rest)
Webcam:1080p FHD camera with Privacy Shutter
USB Ports:1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (Power Delivery 3.0 / DisplayPort 1.4); 2x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (One Always On); 1x SD card reader
Video Ports:1x HDMI 1.4b (Supports up to 4K@30Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1
Battery:52.5 Wh (Polymer)
Charger:65 W Round Tip (Barrel connector) adapter
Weight:1,550 g (3.42 lbs)
Build Material:PC-ABS + 40% GF (Plastic chassis)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home
✓ Pros:
- • Versatile 360-degree hinge allows for laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes
- • Modern 16:10 WUXGA (1920x1200) resolution provides more vertical screen real estate
- • Includes USB-C with Power Delivery and DisplayPort 1.4 support
- • Physical privacy shutter on the 1080p webcam
- • Fingerprint reader included for secure login
✗ Cons:
- • Display color gamut is limited to 45% NTSC, resulting in less vibrant colors
- • HDMI 1.4b port is limited to 4K output at only 30Hz
- • RAM is soldered and cannot be upgraded
- • M.2 slot is limited to the physically shorter 2242 form factor
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Which one is better?
The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the better buy for most people - its 3024x1964 display crushes the Lenovo's 1920x1200.
Who should buy each?
Choose the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch if: you need top-notch performance for video editing, you value a stunning display for design work, or you want a long-lasting battery for all-day use. (14.2" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 if: you want a budget-friendly 2-in-1 for casual browsing, you appreciate touchscreen versatility for note-taking, or you prefer a lighter device for travel.
Conclusion
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch and Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 are both solid choices. Match the strengths above to your budget and workflow to make the best call.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch excels if you value class-leading liquid retina xdr display with 1,600 nits peak brightness. Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 5 14" 2-in-1 is better if you prioritize versatile 360-degree hinge allows for laptop, tent, stand, and tablet modes. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
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