Key Differences

• CPU performance is not even close: the M4 Max scores 43,903 in multi-core benchmarks vs the ThinkBook's 18,296. That's a 2.4x gap, which means rendering a video or compiling code takes less than half the time on the Mac.
• RAM and storage are wildly different: 64GB and 4TB on the MacBook Pro vs 16GB and 256GB on the ThinkBook. The Mac can hold entire media libraries in memory; the ThinkBook will choke on a big Lightroom catalog.
• The display is a different class entirely: 3024p Mini-LED at 120Hz with 1600 nits brightness on the Mac vs 1920p IPS at 60Hz with 400 nits on the ThinkBook. One is a color-accurate HDR panel for creative work, the other is a perfectly fine office screen.
• Price is the real story here. The MacBook Pro M4 Max starts around $3,099 with these specs, while the ThinkBook 14 Gen 9 sits closer to $600-700. You could buy four ThinkBooks for the price of one Mac.
• Customer sentiment backs up the specs: Mac owners give it 5.0/5 with zero significant complaints, while ThinkBook owners rate it 4.2/5. The Mac is praised as a workhorse for photo and video editing; the ThinkBook is just... fine.