The Slim 9 has simply two configurations as this comparability is being written, all constructed across the Twelfth-generation, 28-watt, 14-core/20-thread Core i7-1280P CPU, 32GB of RAM, and UHD+ OLED show. It’s $1,760 with a 512GB SSD and $1,819 with a 1GB SSD. That’s barely lower than after we reviewed the laptop computer.

The Apple MacBook Pro 14 affords the identical 14.2-inch Liquid Retina show on all configurations, with a selection between numerous Apple M1 Pro and Max CPUs. The entry-level configuration with an eight-core CPU/14-core GPU M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, and a 512GB SSD is $1,999. At the excessive finish, you will get a 10-core CPU/32-core GPU M1 Max CPU, 32GB of RAM, and a 1TB SS for $3,299.

The MacBook Pro 14 begins out at greater than the Slim 9i’s high-end configuration, making it a considerably dearer laptop computer.

The Slim 9i makes use of Intel’s quickest 28-watt, Twelfth-gen CPU, and it gives strong productiveness efficiency and sufficient energy to deal with some low-end inventive duties. It competes nicely towards the MacBook Pro 14 with the entry-level M1 Pro CPU in our ordinary benchmarks, operating sooner in Geekbench 5, our Handbrake check that encodes a 420MB video as H.265, and Cinebench R23. The Slim 9i may be switched between balanced and efficiency modes for quieter and slower or sooner and louder operation, and it’s even sooner than the low-end MacBook Pro 14 in efficiency mode.

These benchmarks don’t inform the entire story, although. The 10-core CPU/16-core GPU M1 Pro is about 25% sooner throughout the board, after which there’s the choice for the even sooner M1 Max that will blow these outcomes out of the water. And within the Pugetbench for Premiere Pro benchmark that runs in a stay model of Adobe’s Premiere Pro, the sooner M1 Pro scored 911. That’s aggressive with the quickest laptops you’ll discover, and though we didn’t check the Slim 9i utilizing this benchmark, comparable Intel machines with built-in Iris Xe graphics scored round 300. The MacBook Pro 14 advantages tremendously from a CPU (and GPU) that’s extremely quick in real-world functions, way more so than is obvious in artificial benchmarks.

For creators, then, the MacBook Pro 14 is a a lot better performer. Both can deal with demanding productiveness duties, though even then, as you ramp up the CPU, the MacBook Pro 14 features a big edge.

The Slim 9i comes with only one show possibility, a 14-inch 16:10 UHD+ OLED panel that’s extremely sharp, vivid, and colourful, providing OLED’s inky blacks. It’s among the many finest Windows shows you should buy. The MacBook Pro 14 additionally comes with a single show possibility, a 14.2-inch 16:10 mini-LED panel at 3024 x 1964, which isn’t as sharp because the Slim 9i’s show however nonetheless greater than sharp sufficient. It’s a lot brighter and affords higher excessive dynamic vary (HDR) assist, with huge colours that fall in need of the Slim 9i whereas being barely much less correct. Its distinction is even larger, nonetheless.

Both shows are wonderful for creators, with the Slim 9i having a bonus in wider and extra correct colours. Both are spectacular shows for everybody else, together with productiveness staff and media shoppers (the place the MacBook Pro 14 shines, actually). You can’t go unsuitable with both show.

The two laptops are remarkably shut in dimension, with the Slim 9i being barely thinner and significantly lighter. Both provide quite a lot of energy and wonderful designs packed into fairly sized chassis and may be carried round with out a lot fuss.

However, even with a barely smaller battery, the MacBook Pro 14 gives spectacular battery life that’s in a totally totally different league. In each our internet searching and video checks, the MacBook Pro 14 doubled the Slim 9i’s internet searching longevity and virtually doubled its video playback time. The Slim 9i is unlikely to final a full day of typical productiveness work on a cost, whereas the MacBook Pro 14 would possibly final two days. That’s a large benefit, significantly given the MacBook’s efficiency.

There’s little question that these are two wonderful laptops. In phrases of their designs, they’re totally different however equally enticing and well-built. But the MacBook Pro 14 is significantly sooner, particularly once you ramp up the CPU, and its battery life is out of this world. It additionally enjoys a greater keyboard and touchpad, with the Slim 9i solely benefiting from its contact show.

At the identical time, the MacBook Pro 14 can also be much more costly. That counts on this comparability, however in case you have the cash, then Apple has the very best 14-inch laptop computer you should buy as we speak.

Editors’ Recommendations