In shootout, Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro destroys Lenovo ThinkPad T440s

12 years ago

“Apple’s MacBook and Lenovo’s ThinkPad T-Series are two of the strongest dynasties in the computing space. Both have been built continually for at least seven years, both come in several different varieties, and both have repeatedly received high marks,” Matt Smith reports for Digital Trends. “Each line offers its own take on the small, ultra-portable notebook form factor. Apple’s entry is the MacBook Pro 13 with Retina, while Lenovo’s alternative is the 14-inch ThinkPad T440s. These systems are roughly the same size, have similar hardware, and are almost identically priced when equipped with identical specs. Either will serve a traveling professional well – but which is the best?”

“When put up against the Lenovo, it’s clear that Apple wins on curb appeal… The T440s is thicker, heavier and less attractive than its rival. The carbon fiber and magnesium body boasted by the ThinkPad may be durable, but it feels and looks a bit cheap, a problem most buyers will notice at first touch,” Smith reports. “You might expect the ThinkPad to make up for its aesthetic issues with improved functionality, but you’d be wrong.”

“Display: There’s not much room for argument here; the MacBook Pro 13 with Retina wins, end of story. The Mac’s 2560 x 1600 display offers more pixels, brilliant color and excellent contrast. While the T440s also has a quality screen, it simply can’t match the MacBook,” Smith reports. “An entry-level T440s sells for $950, which is $350 less than the MacBook Pro 13 with Retina. The base model lacks a 1080p display or a solid state drive, however, and has a slower processor. Upgrading the ThinkPad to parity with the Mac increases its price to over $1,400; a $100 premium over the entry level MacBook Pro 13 with Retina.”

“And that’s really the final nail in the ThinkPad’s coffin. Though it’s certainly not a bad laptop, it clearly falls short of the MacBook in design, display quality and overall performance,” Smith reports. “Apple’s current MacBook Pro lineup is surprising because there no longer seems to be an “Apple tax” applied to the price. Instead, the company is offering laptops that are not only well built, but also less expensive than the alternatives. Even the best PC laptops struggle to keep up with this latest Pro, and the merely good ThinkPad T440s can’t hope to compete.”

Read more in the full article here.

MacDailyNews Take: And Smith didn’t even mention that only Apple Macs can run all the world’s software while crappy Windows PCs are limited to a mere subset.