← Back to Laptops
2026 comparison
Updated Jan 6, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, Manufacturer

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the flagship option here, boasting a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with a peak brightness of 1,600 nits. This is a game-changer for photographers and designers who rely on color accuracy. In contrast, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX offers impressive gaming performance with its RTX 4060, but it lacks the striking display quality of the MacBook. After testing both, the differences are clear. The MacBook's 72.4Wh battery provides up to 18 hours of video playback,. If you're into gaming, the Legion's 165Hz refresh rate screen offers a smooth experience, but the MacBook's display shines brighter, making it ideal for creative work in 2026.

📱 Display: 14.2" vs 16"⚡ Refresh: 120 Hz vs 165 Hz⚖️ Weight: 56.79 oz vs 89.95 oz

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

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)
Check Amazon Price
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Processor:Intel Core i7-13700HX (Raptor Lake, 16 cores, up to 5.0 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No dedicated NPU (Uses Lenovo LA1 AI chip for system optimization)
Cooling:Legion Coldfront 5.0 (Dual fans, hybrid heat pipes, massive intake/exhaust)
Check Amazon Price
Key spec differences

Only the specs that differ are shown here. Winners are highlighted when the data is clear.

Display2 specs
Display SizeKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
14.2"
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
16"Winner
Refresh Rate
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
120 Hz (ProMotion)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)Winner
Performance2 specs
RAMKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
18 GB (M3 Pro) / 36 GB (M3 Max) Unified MemoryWinner
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
Storage
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
512 GB or 1 TB SSD
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Battery1 specs
Battery CapacityKey
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
72.4 Wh (Lithium-polymer)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
80 Wh (Li-Polymer)
Design1 specs
Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
1,610 g (M3 Pro) / 1,620 g (M3 Max) (3.55 - 3.57 lbs)Winner
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
2,550 g (5.6 lbs)
Software1 specs
Operating System
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
macOS (Sonoma or later)
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Windows 11 Home
Connectivity1 specs
Connectivity
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax); Bluetooth 5.3
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX
Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
+

Full specs, pros, and cons

Everything side-by-side with ratings and the full spec list.

Comparison: Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

4.9(3,372)Best Buy
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

4.5(18)Amazon
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch

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.

Check Price on Amazon
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX

Rating:4.5(18)Amazon
Processor:Intel Core i7-13700HX (Raptor Lake, 16 cores, up to 5.0 GHz)
Graphics:NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (8GB GDDR6, 140W TGP max)
AI Engine:No dedicated NPU (Uses Lenovo LA1 AI chip for system optimization)
Cooling:Legion Coldfront 5.0 (Dual fans, hybrid heat pipes, massive intake/exhaust)
RAM:16 GB DDR5-4800 (2x 8GB SO-DIMM)
RAM Upgrade:Yes (2x DDR5 SO-DIMM slots, up to 32 GB officially)
Storage:512 GB PCIe Gen4 NVMe SSD
Storage Upgrade:Yes (2x M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 slots)
Display Size:16"
Resolution:2560 x 1600 (WQXGA)
Aspect Ratio:16:10
Screen Type:IPS (Anti-glare)
Refresh Rate:165 Hz (G-SYNC supported)
Brightness:300 nits (Typical)
Color Gamut:100% sRGB
Keyboard Layout:US English (ANSI) with NumPad
Keyboard Backlight:Yes (4-Zone RGB)
Biometrics:No (Not supported)
Webcam:1080p FHD camera with E-shutter
USB Ports:1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4, 140W Power Delivery); 1x USB-C 3.2 Gen 2 (DisplayPort 1.4); 4x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1 (1x Always On)
Video Ports:1x HDMI 2.1 (Supports up to 8K@60Hz)
Audio Ports:1x 3.5mm Headphone/Mic combo jack
Connectivity:Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax 2x2); Bluetooth 5.1; Gigabit Ethernet (RJ45)
Battery:80 Wh (Li-Polymer)
Charger:300 W Slim Tip adapter
Weight:2,550 g (5.6 lbs)
Build Material:Aluminum (Top) / PC-ABS (Bottom)
Operating System:Windows 11 Home

✓ Pros:

  • High-wattage RTX 4060 (140W) delivers top-tier performance for its class
  • Sharp 16:10 WQXGA display with 100% sRGB coverage and G-SYNC
  • Excellent thermal management with the Coldfront 5.0 cooling system
  • Wide port selection including 4x USB-A and 140W USB-C charging support
  • Sturdy build with an aluminum lid and 180-degree hinge

✗ Cons:

  • Battery life is average despite the 80Wh capacity due to high-power HX CPU
  • Bulky and heavy power brick (300W)
  • No biometric security (fingerprint or IR face unlock)
  • The 165Hz panel is 300 nits (the brighter 500-nit panel is reserved for the 240Hz SKU)

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Check Price on Amazon

Which one is better?

The Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch is the better buy for most people - its Liquid Retina XDR display with 1,600 nits crushes the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i's 300 nits.

Who should buy each?

Choose the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch if: you need exceptional display quality for photography, require a longer battery life for travel, or prefer a premium build. (14.2" display, 120 Hz refresh)
Choose the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX if: you want high gaming performance, need a customizable RAM option, or prefer a larger screen for immersive gameplay. (16" display, 165 Hz refresh)

Conclusion

There is no wrong answer here. Focus on the features you will use daily and pick the model that aligns with them.

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 Legion Pro 5i 16 Core i7-13700HX is better if you prioritize high-wattage rtx 4060 (140w) delivers top-tier performance for its class. 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.

Affiliate disclosure

PageBen uses Amazon affiliate links. If you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports independent content for US shoppers.