Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro vs Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024)
The Verdict
Apple's MacBook Pro 16 M2 Pro dominates creative workflows with its stunning 1600-nit Liquid Retina XDR display, exceptional build quality, and remarkable 22-hour battery life, making it ideal for video editing and design work. Lenovo's Legion Pro 5i 16 targets gaming and content creators on a tighter budget, delivering superior raw processing power via the 24-core Intel i9-14900HX, 32GB DDR5 RAM, and a blazingly fast 240Hz gaming display. However, the Legion struggles with gaming battery life at just 5 hours and feels less premium with its plastic base. For professionals prioritizing display quality, battery endurance, and overall refinement, the MacBook Pro justifies its $900 premium. Gaming enthusiasts and budget-conscious power users seeking maximum CPU cores and RAM will find better value in the Lenovo, though its shorter lifespan between charges limits portability.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro if…
- →Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- →Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- →M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
Buy the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024) if…
- →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
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro
Pros
- Outstanding 22-hour battery life for a 16-inch professional laptop
- Stunning Liquid Retina XDR display with 1600-nit HDR peak brightness
- M2 Pro handles demanding creative workloads like 4K video editing
- Excellent port selection including HDMI, SD card, and MagSafe
- Fantastic six-speaker sound system with spatial audio
Cons
- Heavy at 2.14 kg — not ideal for frequent travel
- 16 GB base RAM should be 32 GB at $2499
- M3 Pro lineup arrived months later making this a short-lived generation
- macOS limits gaming compared to Windows alternatives
- No Face ID — relies on Touch ID in the keyboard
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
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 16" M2 Pro | Lenovo Legion Pro 5i 16 (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Software | macOS Ventura | Windows 11 Home |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 2.14 kg | 2.49 kg |
| Material | Aluminum unibody | Aluminum lid with plastic base |
| Dimensions | 355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 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 22 hours wireless web | Up to 5 hours gaming |
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 99.9 Wh |
| Display | ||
| Size | 16.2 inches | 16.0 inches |
| Type | Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED | IPS QHD+ 240Hz |
| Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2560 x 1600 |
| Refresh rate | 120Hz ProMotion | 240Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 1600 | 500 |
| Storage | ||
| SSD | 512 GB NVMe (configurable to 8 TB) | 1 TB NVMe |
| Expandable storage | ||
| Keyboard | ||
| Backlit | ||
| Touch Bar | ||
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 16 GB unified | 32 GB DDR5 |
| Cores | 12-core CPU, 19-core GPU | 24-core (8P+16E) |
| Chipset | Apple M2 Pro | Intel Core i9-14900HX |
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This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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