5-minute assessment
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is Apple’s flagship skilled laptop computer, launched alongside the MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) in October 2021. As a follow-up to 2019’s 16-inch MacBook Pro, this new mannequin brings some implausible new options and an overhauled design. It additionally provides a degree of efficiency that's little question extremely spectacular, however which not everybody will want. Aside from the display measurement, decision and battery life, the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is extremely much like the smaller MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021), providing the identical {hardware} (a selection of Apple’s new M1 Pro or M1 Max chips) which leads to fairly comparable efficiency.Due to this, ensure to take a look at our complete MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) assessment for a full rundown of what these new MacBook Pros convey. Being the bigger of the 2, and Apple’s flagship MacBook, it’ll come as little shock to be taught that the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is a dear laptop computer, beginning at $2,499 (£2,399, AU$3,749) for the mannequin with an M1 Pro chip with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, with 16GB unified reminiscence and 512GB SSD storage. If you wish to improve to the more highly effective M1 Max chip, which has a 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 32GB of quicker reminiscence and 1TB SSD, that’ll price you $3,499 (£3,299, AU$5,249).
Spec Sheet
Here is the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) configuration despatched to TechRadar for assessment:
CPU: Apple M1 Pro (10-core)
Graphics: Built-in 16-core GPU
RAM: 32GB Unified reminiscence
Display screen: 16.2-inch, 3,456 x 2,234 Liquid Retina XDR show (mini-LED, 1,000 nits sustained brightness, large shade P3 gamut, ProMovement expertise)
Storage: 512GB SSD
Ports: 3x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C), HDMI, SDXC card slot, 3.5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Digital camera: 1080p FaceTime HD webcam
Weight: 4.7 kilos (2.1kg)
Dimension: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches (35.57 x 24.81 x 1.68cm); W x D x H)
The MacBook Pro 14-inch is much more inexpensive, then, because it begins at $1,999 / £1,899 / AU$2,999 for a mannequin with the M1 Pro chip. Nevertheless, this M1 Pro is barely much less highly effective, because it has an 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU. The more highly effective 14-inch mannequin with a 10-Core CPU, 16-Core GPU M1 Pro chip, 16GB Unified Reminiscence and 1TB SSD storage will set you again a hefty $2,499 / £2,399 / AU$3,749.
Each sizes may be configured, so you will get a 14-inch with an M1 Max if you want. If you happen to wished a 14-inch with the 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, 32GB of reminiscence and 1TB SSD, it should price you $3,299/ £3,199/AU$4,949, which is round $200/£100/AU$300 cheaper than the equally specced 16-inch mannequin. That’s not a foul value contemplating you get a a lot larger display.
In the meantime, the 2019 mannequin with Intel {hardware} and an AMD Radeon Pro graphics card began at $2,399 (£2,399, AU$3,799) for a 6-core Intel Core i7 processor, AMD Radeon Pro 5300M 4GB GPU, 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD. So, it’s a bit costlier than the earlier mannequin, however the enhancements Apple has made to the design and efficiency of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) has made this leap in value justified for many individuals. It’s doubtless that there can even be folks upgrading from the 16-inch 2019 mannequin who're eying up the 14-inch MacBook Pro as an alternative.
Relating to design, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)’s largest change is with the display. It’s now a Liquid Retina XDR show that includes mini-LED expertise that delivers as much as 1,000 nits of sustained, full-screen brightness. Higher nonetheless, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is able to as much as 1,600 nits of peak brightness and a 1,000,000:1 distinction ratio.
The show provides P3 large shade gamut protection and helps one billion colours for smoother gradients. Better of all, the show additionally comes with the anticipated 120Hz refresh charge, making it the quickest MacBook Pro 16-inch show but.
As a result of the bezels across the display have been slimmed down for a more fashionable look, it is allowed Apple to extend the display measurement to 16.2-inches from the 16-inches of the earlier mannequin. It additionally provides 7.7 million pixels due to its 3,546 x 2,234 decision - which Apple says is essentially the most ever in a MacBook.
This can be a first rate improve over the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019)’s display, which was a 16-inch, 3,072 x 1,920 Retina show with backlit LED for as much as 1,000 nits sustained brightness, and 1,600 nits peak brightness, masking a large shade P3 gamut.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro’s display is clearly smaller at 14.2-inches, with a decrease decision of 3024x1964. Nevertheless, this truly leads to each screens within the new MacBook Pros having similar pixel densities of 254 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), so each provide the identical picture high quality. It then boils right down to which display measurement you like.
Whereas the 16-inch mannequin provides a bigger display that many will really feel more snug engaged on, it additionally signifies that the general dimensions of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) are a lot bigger than the MacBook Prom 14-inch (2021). With dimensions of 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 inches (1.68 x 35.57 x 24.81cm), which is roughly the identical because the 0.64 x 14.09 x 9.68 inches (1.62 x: 35.79 x 24.59cm) dimensions of the earlier mannequin, make no mistake: the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is a giant and hulking laptop computer, weighing 2.2 kg (4.8 kilos) for the M1 Max mannequin (the M1 Pro model is barely lighter at 2.1kg (4.7 kilos).
If you happen to’re after a slim and light-weight laptop computer, then this ain’t it. After all, Apple has you lined with the superb MacBook Air (M1, 2020), which might’t compete with the MacBook Pro 16-inch in terms of efficiency, nevertheless it’s thinner, lighter and less expensive. For many individuals, that might be a wiser funding.
Due to the big measurement of the MacBook Pro 16-inch, what Apple has achieved with it doesn’t really feel fairly as exceptional as with the 14-inch mannequin, which packs an enormous quantity of energy right into a a lot smaller, and more transportable, physique. Which may be a bit unfair to the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021), which stays an extremely highly effective workstation laptop computer, however there’s one thing about having that energy in a smaller laptop computer that simply feels a lot more spectacular.
Nevertheless, being a chunky laptop computer does have its benefits. Some of the welcome additions to the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is the addition of additional ports, one thing many people have been bugging Apple to incorporate in its skilled laptops for some time now.
So, as with the 14-inch mannequin, the brand new MacBook Pro 16-inch comes with three Thunderbolt 4 ports, one HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and a MagSafe 3 port, together with a Magic Keyboard with Contact ID, Pressure Contact trackpad, and a 140W USB-C energy adapter (you'll be able to nonetheless cost by way of USB-C in case you'd want). There's additionally a 3.5mm headphone jack, too.
With earlier MacBook Pros, Apple restricted ports to a few USB-C slots, and whereas that made the laptops look modern and slim, it wasn’t a lot use to professionals who have to plug in peripherals reminiscent of cameras, screens and reminiscence playing cards. As an alternative, they must put money into a USB adapter for these units.
We’re very happy, then, with the added ports within the new MacBook Pros. For photographers, it means you'll be able to plug your digicam’s reminiscence card straight into the laptop computer with out worrying about bringing a dongle or adapter with you. For anybody utilizing the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) for shows, they'll now hook it up on to a projector or TV by way of the HDMI port.
It’s nice that Apple is listening to buyer suggestions and included these, regardless of its inclination to place kind over perform for a lot of of its merchandise. It leads to a bigger and bulkier laptop computer, however for professionals which are after a strong workstation laptop computer they'll use wherever with out having to plug in further {hardware}, it’s a value price paying.
One design choice that has proved controversial, nonetheless, has been the addition of a noticeable notch across the webcam that comes down into the menu bar. Many individuals have complained about how this seems, and there at the moment are a number of apps on the market designed to assist conceal the notch.
As we talked about in our 14-inch MacBook Pro assessment, whereas the notch is noticeable, and it’s not essentially the most elegant resolution, after a when you genuinely gained’t discover that it’s there. The notch is required, in keeping with Apple, due to the boosted webcam (it’s now 1080p, up from earlier fashions’ 720p cameras), and the slimmed-down bezels surrounding the display.
And, whereas the notch does intrude within the menu bar, the menu bar itself has truly been moved up and now takes up an space that was taken up by the thicker bezels of older MacBook Pros. This implies you get much more display house to work with, and if the notch is a value price paying for that, then we’ll gladly settle for that – and we’re positive many individuals will really feel the identical after solely a short time with the brand new MacBook Pro 16-inch.
It’s why we’re a bit baffled by these notch hiding apps, as all they do is transfer the menu bar additional down the display once more, and blacks out the display across the notch. This successfully reduces your display actual property, and makes it appear like the MacBook Pro 16-inch has an unsightly and old school bezel once more. It’s actually not price doing all of that, simply since you don’t just like the notch.
Nonetheless, the notch and enormous measurement of the 16-inch mannequin will imply this gained’t be a laptop computer that may enchantment to everybody, particularly because the 14-inch mannequin provides comparable ranges of efficiency however in a smaller physique.
Benchmarks
Here’s how the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) carried out in our suite of benchmark checks:
Cinebench R23 CPU: Single-Core: 1,519; Multi-Core: 12,084
Geekbench 5 Single-Core: 1,738; Multi-Core: 11,838
Battery Life (TechRadar film take a look at): 18 hours and 48 minutes
Talking of efficiency, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is a pleasure to make use of. The macOS Monterey working that comes pre-installed is quick and responsive, and the M1 Pro chip contained in the MacBook Pro 16-inch does a wonderful job with all of the inventive duties we threw at it.
This concerned modifying quite a few 8K video recordsdata in Ultimate Minimize Pro, taking part in round with complicated musical tasks in Logic Pro, and doing real-time 3D modeling and animation. The truth that the MacBook Pro 16-inch dealt with all this with ease – even when on battery – was extremely spectacular.
The mannequin we had been despatched to assessment comes with the identical M1 Pro chip that was within the MacBook Pro 14-inch we additionally reviewed, so efficiency was extraordinarily comparable. Once more, it signifies that the selection of whether or not to purchase the 14-inch or the 16-inch MacBook Pro primarily boils right down to price range and whether or not or not you need a bigger display.
We’ve not had an opportunity to check out the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) with the M1 Max chip, however we are going to hopefully try this quickly, and can update this assessment. That guarantees to supply even higher efficiency, particularly in terms of graphical duties, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Max chip additionally advantages from an unique Excessive Energy Mode which boosts efficiency even additional, and is designed for essentially the most intensive of duties, reminiscent of modifying uncooked 8K footage.
This gained’t be wanted by everybody, nevertheless it’s price mentioning that it’s solely accessible with the 16-inch M1 Max MacBook Pro. Homeowners of the 14-inch mannequin, or any of the fashions with the M1 Pro, won't be able to utilize this function.
For many inventive duties, nonetheless, we discovered the 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro to be greater than as much as the duty. It truly is spectacular to have desktop-class efficiency in a laptop computer, and whereas it’s not as transportable because the 14-inch mannequin, it’s nonetheless a laptop computer which you could carry round with you in affordable consolation.
As with the 14-inch, the display of the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) is totally gorgeous, and the bigger measurement actually does make it more snug to work on. Photos are crisp and vivid, and colours and brightness ranges are unimaginable. That is by far the very best display you will get on knowledgeable laptop computer proper now. Whereas it’s not the very best decision, the expertise behind it, significantly the mini LED show and adaptive refresh charge of Pro Movement, means the who package deal ensures your work, be it 3D fashions, movies or pictures, look their easiest. Once more, it eliminates the necessity to plug in an exterior monitor.
The webcam was additionally wonderful, providing clear and clear visuals. Lately it’s necessary to have the ability to discuss to prospects, purchasers, co-workers and household over the web, and the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021)’s mixture of improved webcam and studio-quality built-in microphones does a terrific job here.
Battery life has additionally been drastically improved. Apple claims the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) can obtain as much as 21 hours of video playback, which is 10 hours longer than the last-gen MacBook Pro 16-inch (2019). The corporate additionally guarantees that the laptop computer will last as long as 14 hours when wirelessly searching the online, which we interpret as informal to average use.
In our battery benchmark take a look at, which performs a looped 1080p video, the MacBook Pro 16-inch (2021) lasted an enormous 18 hours and 48 minutes. That’s an unimaginable quantity, and beats the MacBook Pro 14-inch’s outcomes by virtually three hours. The bigger measurement of the 16-inch has allowed Apple to incorporate an even bigger battery, and that has paid off with among the finest battery lives in a laptop computer – particularly in a tool this highly effective. Throughout our time with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, we fortunately labored a full workday without having to plug it in, and the truth that efficiency wasn’t restricted when on the battery was once more, very spectacular. That is the primary time you could possibly use a workstation laptop computer for significantly demanding duties with out worrying about plugging it in. The bigger measurement of the MacBook Pro 16-inch is a tradeoff for this longer battery life, however many individuals will discover that’s price it. Total, Apple has completed a wonderful job creating a contemporary workstation laptop computer for inventive professionals that gives sensible efficiency, even when engaged on battery, together with the very best display you will get on a laptop computer proper now.
It’s not as transportable because the 14-inch MacBook Pro, however if you would like a bigger display and even longer battery, then the MacBook Pro 16-inch is the mannequin to go for.
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