Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024)
Side-by-side specifications, scores and verdict.
Quick Verdict
Apple's MacBook Pro 14" M3 and Lenovo's Legion Pro 5i 16" serve fundamentally different purposes at identical price points. MacBook excels with its stunning 3024x1964 XDR display, exceptional 17-hour battery life, and M3's efficient performance for creative workflows—though limited to 8GB RAM and 512GB storage feels restrictive. Legion dominates gaming and workstation tasks with a 240Hz QHD+ display, 32GB DDR5 RAM, 1TB storage, and the powerful 24-core i9-14900HX, but sacrifices portability (2.49kg vs 1.55kg) and manages only 5-hour gaming battery. For ultraportable creative work and all-day productivity, choose MacBook Pro. For gaming, video editing, 3D rendering, or demanding Windows software, Legion Pro 5i delivers superior specs and expandability. The decision hinges on ecosystem preference and workload requirements.
Full Specifications
| Specification | Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3 | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Sonoma | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 1.55 kg | 2.49 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum lid with plastic base |
| Dimensions | 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm | 358.0 x 264.9 x 21.5 mm |
| Ports | ||
| HDMI | 1 | 1 |
| SD card | ||
| MagSafe | — | |
| Thunderbolt ports | 3 | 1 |
| USB-A ports | — | 4 |
| USB-C ports | — | 1 |
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 17 hours wireless web | Up to 5 hours gaming |
| Capacity | 72.4 Wh | 99.9 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 14.2 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | IPS QHD+ 240Hz |
| Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 240Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe | 1 TB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 8 GB unified | 32 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 8-core CPU, 10-core GPU | 24-core (8P+16E) |
| Chipset | Apple M3 | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 14" M3
Pros
- Full ProMotion mini-LED XDR display at the $1599 entry tier
- Excellent 17-hour battery life for a 14-inch machine
- Compact and portable at 1.55 kg
- Three Thunderbolt 4 ports plus HDMI and SD card
- Silent under light-to-moderate workloads
Cons
- 8 GB base RAM is restrictive for demanding tasks
- Storage upgrades carry a steep Apple premium
- M3 GPU struggles with heavy 3D workloads compared to Pro/Max
- Notch in display polarises opinions
Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024)
Pros
- RTX 4070 with high TGP delivers excellent 1440p gaming
- 32 GB DDR5 RAM and 1 TB SSD in base config
- 240Hz QHD+ display with 500-nit brightness
- Excellent thermal performance thanks to Legion Coldfront cooling
- Solid port selection with four USB-A ports
Cons
- Heavy at 2.49 kg — not ideal for daily carry
- Battery life plummets under gaming load
- Design is gamer-focused — not discrete in professional settings
- Loud fans at sustained loads
- Requires large power adapter
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