Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max vs Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop (2026)
Which is better? We compared both on score, owner ratings, pros and cons.
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max
M3 Max chip, 128GB unified RAM, 22hr battery, 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR, 16-core GPU. The creative workstation.
Check Price ↗ Full ReviewLenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop
OLED 2.8K, Core Ultra 7, Bose speakers, 360° hinge, stylus, 1.3kg. Premium 2-in-1 with Bose audio.
Check Price ↗ Full ReviewAt a Glance
| Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max | Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop | |
|---|---|---|
| 247Verdict Score | 9.6/10 | 9.0/10 |
| Owner Rating | 4.8★ (2,400) | 4.4★ (2,800) |
| Verdict | Outstanding | Excellent |
| Display | 16.2" ProMotion 120Hz XDR | OLED 2.8K 120Hz |
| Weight | 2.15kg | 1.3kg |
Quick Verdict
Both are strong choices, but the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max edges ahead with a 9.6/10 vs 9.0/10. M3 Max chip, 128GB unified RAM, 22hr battery, 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR, 16-core GPU. The creative workstation. That said, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop is worth considering if OLED 2.8K, Core Ultra 7, Bose speakers, 360° hinge, stylus, 1.3kg. Premium 2-in-1 with Bose audio..
Pros & Cons Side by Side
Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max
- M3 Max with 128GB unified RAM handles simultaneous 4K video exports, ML training and Xcode compilation without throttling
- 22-hour battery while running M3 Max tasks — no power cable on international flights
- 16.2-inch ProMotion 120Hz Liquid Retina XDR display is the finest laptop display available
- Hardware-accelerated ML processing for ProRes video and Neural Engine workloads outperforms x86 competitors at 3x the power consumption
- The laptop that Apple sells to production studios, research labs and professional developers worldwide
- £4,500+ requires absolute professional justification — MacBook Pro 14 covers 90% of workflows
- 16-inch at 2.15kg is heavier than 14-inch M3 Pro for daily carry
Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop
- Bose integrated speaker system — the only laptop with genuine Bose audio engineering
- OLED 2.8K 120Hz display at 1.3kg — best display-to-weight ratio of any 2-in-1 reviewed
- 360° hinge with integrated stylus silo — pen always present, never separately stored
- 1.3kg lighter than HP Spectre x360 at comparable OLED specification
- Sound quality for a laptop speaker is class-leading — relevant for media consumption
- Core Ultra 7 battery trails Apple M3 efficiency significantly
- Integrated stylus silo means a thinner, lighter stylus than HP's full-size pen
- Premium pricing for a 2-in-1 segment where MacBook Air provides superior performance per pound
FAQ
Which is better, Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 or Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1?
Both are strong choices, but the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max edges ahead with a 9.6/10 vs 9.0/10. M3 Max chip, 128GB unified RAM, 22hr battery, 16.2" Liquid Retina XDR, 16-core GPU. The creative workstation. That said, the Lenovo Yoga 9i (Gen 8) 2-in-1 Laptop is worth considering if OLED 2.8K, Core Ultra 7, Bose speakers, 360° hinge, stylus, 1.3kg. Premium 2-in-1 with Bose audio..
Is the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 worth the extra cost?
Yes — Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch M3 Max scores higher at 9.6/10 vs 9.0/10.
Also Worth Considering
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 Pro
M3 Pro chip, 18GB unified RAM, ProMotion 120Hz OLED, 18hr, 1.55kg. The pro creative laptop.
Check Price ↗ Full ReviewApple MacBook Air 13-inch M3
M3 chip, 18hr battery, 13.6" Liquid Retina, fanless, 1.24kg. The best laptop for most people.
Check Price ↗ Full ReviewKindle Paperwhite (2023, 16GB)
300 ppi, IPX8 waterproof, 12-week battery. The best e-reader for most people.
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