MacBook Pro M5 Max vs Lenovo Legion Pro 7i: Which Is Better?

Specifications

MacBook Pro M5 Max uses an 18-core CPU, up to a 40-core GPU with Neural Accelerators in every core, and up to 128GB of unified memory at 614GB/s of bandwidth. Lenovo Legion Pro 7i uses an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, with 24 cores (8 performance plus 16 efficiency) and 24 threads, up to 5.4GHz turbo, an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory at up to 175W TGP, and up to 64GB of DDR5 memory at 6400MHz, with up to 2TB of storage across dual M.2 slots.

For everyday work, both laptops are fast. For multitasking, Legion's 24 cores should help more in heavily threaded tasks, while MacBook's 18 cores should handle most pro work well. For memory, MacBook's 128GB is the bigger advantage, because larger AI models and video projects fit on it. For storage, Legion offers dual M.2 slots, while MacBook offers up to 8TB in higher configurations, per retailer listings.

Performance

No controlled side-by-side test between MacBook Pro M5 Max and Legion Pro 7i was reviewed for every workload, so this article uses published benchmark summaries with their sources named. MacBook Pro M5 Max scored about 3,769 single-core and 35,656 multi-core in Geekbench 7, per Cult of Mac, with a Metal score of about 239,593 for the 16-inch model, per Onur Ilgaz's ladder. Legion Pro 7i's Core Ultra 9 275HX, with 24 cores, should lead in heavily threaded work, while its RTX 5090 Laptop GPU should lead in GPU-accelerated rendering, per Technetbooks' review of the 2026 Legion Pro 7i.

For students, both laptops should handle notes, browsing, documents and light coding easily. For creators, MacBook should help more in Final Cut Pro and macOS apps, while Legion should help more in GPU rendering and Windows apps. For developers, Legion's core count should help more in parallel builds, while MacBook's portability should help more on the go. For heavy rendering, Legion wins on GPU; for portable work, MacBook wins on battery.

Gaming

For gaming, Legion Pro 7i wins clearly, because it has a dedicated RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory, DLSS 4 and ray tracing, while MacBook Pro uses an integrated Apple GPU. No controlled side-by-side gaming test between these exact two laptops was reviewed, so no FPS winner is claimed beyond the GPU gap, but Legion's RTX 5090 Laptop should play AAA games at high settings far better than MacBook's integrated GPU. MacBook should play casual and indie games well, but Windows gaming laptops remain the stronger gaming choice.

For gamers, Legion is the clear choice, with a 240Hz OLED display and RTX 5090 Laptop. For creators who also game, Legion's GPU should help more, but MacBook's display is excellent for colour work. For students who do not game, gaming should not decide the purchase.

AI performance

MacBook Pro M5 Max has up to 128GB of unified memory at 614GB/s, with dual video encode and dual ProRes engines, and Neural Accelerators in every GPU core. Legion Pro 7i has an RTX 5090 Laptop GPU with 24GB of GDDR7 memory, 328 Tensor cores, and Lenovo's LA3 plus LA1 AI chips that adjust performance by workload. For local AI models, MacBook's 128GB is the bigger advantage, because larger models fit on it than on Legion's 64GB of system memory plus 24GB of VRAM. For gaming AI features, such as DLSS 4, Legion benefits, with its RTX 5090 Laptop GPU.

For local LLM research, MacBook is the better choice, because 128GB fits larger models. For photo and video AI features, both laptops should handle them, with Legion helping more in GPU-accelerated tasks. For Apple Intelligence tasks, MacBook supports them, because it is an Apple Silicon Mac.

Display

MacBook Pro 16 M5 Max PROLED offers a 16.3-inch display at 3472 x 2266, with 254ppi, 2,000 nits HDR and SDR brightness, 10,000,000:1 contrast, P3 plus Adobe RGB colour, and 10Hz to 120Hz ProMotion, plus a Dynamic Island. Legion Pro 7i offers a 16-inch WQXGA OLED display at 2560 x 1600, with 100% DCI-P3 colour, 240Hz refresh rate, up to 1,100 nits peak brightness and 500 nits typical, Dolby Vision and G-SYNC support, per Technetbooks.

For colour work, MacBook's PROLED display is excellent, with higher brightness and resolution. For gaming, Legion's 240Hz OLED display is better, with faster refresh. For portability, MacBook's display is built-in and excellent, while Legion's display is also excellent for gaming.

Battery

MacBook Pro M5 Max has a battery, with Apple video-streaming ratings of 20 hours for the 14-inch model and 22 hours for the 16-inch model, per the Lap 2 research. Legion Pro 7i has an 80Wh battery, but gaming laptops with RTX 5090 Laptop GPUs do not last long on battery for gaming, because the GPU draws up to 175W, so battery life depends on the laptop's power limits, not just the GPU. No controlled side-by-side battery test between these exact two laptops was reviewed, so no battery winner is claimed beyond the ratings and TGP ranges. For travel, MacBook wins clearly; for desk gaming, battery matters less.

Thermals

Legion Pro 7i uses Lenovo's ColdFront Vapor HyperChamber cooling, which can handle up to 250W of power, with up to 275W total power draw in extreme mode, per Gizbot. MacBook Pro M5 Max uses Apple's laptop cooling, with a thinner chassis and quieter fans for light work. No controlled thermal or fan-noise test between these exact two laptops was reviewed, so no temperature or noise winner is claimed beyond the cooling designs. For sustained rendering, Legion's larger cooling should help more. For silent work, MacBook should be quieter for light work, while Legion's fans should be louder under load.

Price

Lenovo Legion Pro 7i starts at ₹2,49,990 in India, per Gizbot's Gen 10 launch report, with the specific 64GB, 1TB, RTX 5090 configuration listed at ₹4,82,490 to ₹4,89,490 in India, per Smartprix and Findprix, and out of stock at some retailers. MacBook Pro M5 Max PROLED models start at $4,499 in the US and ₹5,49,900 in India for the 14-inch model, and $4,799 in the US and ₹5,89,900 in India for the 16-inch model, per the Lap 2 research. US prices for Legion Pro 7i in this configuration were not confirmed in this article, so check current retailer listings before buying. US prices exclude sales tax, while India prices include GST, so headline numbers are not directly comparable.

For a like-for-like desk setup, Legion's price plus a display may still be lower than MacBook's price, but MacBook includes a PROLED display and battery. For gaming, Legion's lower starting price is justified by its RTX 5090 Laptop GPU; for portable creator work, MacBook's higher price is justified by its display and battery.

Verdict

Buy Lenovo Legion Pro 7i if you need the strongest gaming GPU and Windows performance, from ₹2,49,990 in India. Buy MacBook Pro M5 Max if you need a portable creator laptop with a PROLED display and long battery, from $4,499 in the US or ₹5,49,900 in India for the 14-inch PROLED model. For most gamers, Legion wins; for most portable creators, MacBook wins.