A laptop has become a trusted productivity accessory for life and work. I know this because I’ve been using them since 2001 when I started writing for a living. I am constantly typing, clicking, and swiping on the trackpad as I work like a caffeinated gerbil all day. I tend to like the keyboard on the MacBook Pro 14-inch the most these days, including the older models from a few years ago. (Stay tuned for a new review of the latest model coming up soon.)
Recently, I decided to test three competitors to the MacBook Pro 14-inch to see if I could type as fast, work as hard, and stay productive all day. No gerbils were deployed for these reviews, but I did find that all three models have their advantages.
Now, the Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch starts at $1,599 but that is with 16GB of RAM. It’s better to compare pricing with the higher-end MacBook Pro model with 36GB of combined memory (shared between the GPU and computer) that costs $3,199. As with all laptop tests, your mileage will vary depending on the exact config, but I tried to come as close as possible with the notebook models below, starting with a Lenovo that was priced quite a bit lower.
1. Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition
At 14-inches, the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition is a good option for those who like the slim size of the MacBook Pro 14-inch. I’m one of those people, by the way. Even though I have larger hands, I don’t like the extra space of a massive 16-inch or 17-inch laptop, so the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition fits me perfectly.
As a writer, I always start with the keyboard, and this model helped me type just as fast as the MacBook Pro 14-inch. I like the larger left and right arrow keys which I could use without looking. That’s similar to the Dell 14 Premium model.
The Core Ultra 7 256V / 258V Lunar Lake chip architecture from Intel means you can use some serious AI processing for your daily work.. The neural-processing unit (NPU) is capable of around 46 TOPS in terms of AI performance for those who, say, build their own large language models on the local machine.
This is the lowest priced MacBook Pro competitor, priced at just $1,379.99 for the model with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD for storage. That’s also with an Integrated Intel Arc Graphics 140V card and an Intel Core Ultra 7 258V processor.
2. Dell 14 Premium
Dell has decided to move away from the XPS name for their slim notebooks, and the name Premium is what we have now. For this test, I was given the choice between two different Intel configs and chose the cheaper one with longer battery life.
The reason? Times are changing and life is hard. I wanted to test a more realistic machine for my tastes that is not priced out of my league for something I’d actually buy. The model I tested is the U7 255H which has 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, the Intel IGP chip, and a 3200×2000 OLED-T display. Premium, indeed. This laptop was a powerful, long-lasting option. The main reason it’s a bit cheaper than the U7 255H config is that it doesn’t have the RTX 4050 GPU.
I’m here for the productivity, though, and — similar to the Lenovo Slim 7i Aura Edition — I feel the keyboard allowed me to type just as fast as the MacBook. Again, that’s where it all starts for me as a writer and reviewer. If the keyboard is too small, too cumbersome, or just not quite right, I’ll balk. I liked the touch sensitive buttons for controlling things like screen brightness as well.
Little things mean a lot. The left and right arrow keys are bigger than many laptops so they are easy to use without looking. Some laptops have such small arrow keys and you’re constantly fumbling over them. The 3.2K OLED touch screen running at 3200×2000 ppixels is a powerhouse. Netflix never looked so bright and crisp to me. The entire laptop is solidly built and made of aluminum.
The starting price for the Dell Premium is $1,249.99 but my test system with the specs above is priced at $2,049. That’s well below the MacBook Pro that is similarly equipped.
3. Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407
My last test was the ASUS Zenbook A14 UX3407, another MacBook Pro competitor with a keyboard that is meant for fast typing. The big selling point on this one is the lightweight design, which is rare for 14-inch laptops that are this fast and nimble. Especially compared to the latest MacBook Pro 14-inch, this laptop is light and portable at just over two pounds.
The 14-inch display running at 1920×1200 can’t quite compete with the Dell 14 Premium and I wasn’t a fan of the small arrow keys. However, I did seem to type just as fast as the MacBook Pro 14-inch in all of my testing thanks to the well-designed keyboard.
The non-touch screen is not an issue for me — after all, it makes it seem more like a MacBook. But most of the Zenbook models do not come in a touchscreen model. If you really like touch, there are other Asus models you might want to consider.
The Asus Zenbook A14 costs $1,199.99 without any extra frills or add-ons. That is with 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage and a Snapdragon X1 26 100 processor.