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Updated January 10, 2024·
When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the MacBook Pro 16 (2023), consider that the 2023 model has a more powerful GPU and twice the storage, while the 2021 version has more RAM. Both offer similar size, weight, battery life, and display quality, with excellent build quality and high user satisfaction on keyboard, speakers, and webcam. The older model typically comes at a lower price, making it a cost-effective option if high RAM is important. Conversely, the newer MacBook boasts updated internals, likely delivering better future-proof performance, especially for 3D, machine learning tasks, and general use, albeit at a higher cost. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
- The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023).
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
- Excellent for content creation
Key differences
Screen Quality
9.4
9.3
16.2in
SIZE
16.2in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 models offer high-resolution displays with bright panels, making them excellent for general use where text clarity and image sharpness are appreciated. For engineering and design, their screens cover a wide color spectrum, rendering accurate and vivid colors crucial for detailed design work. However, they lack high refresh rates, which are essential for smooth rendering in 3D applications, leading to less optimal performance in that area.
Cost
$1,949
$2,423
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) costs $2,423.
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Key similarities
General Use
9.0
9.1
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both excellent for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is acclaimed for general use due to its powerful M1 Pro processor, plentiful 32GB of RAM, and superior screen quality with Mini LED technology, offering a balance between performance and portability with a long battery life. Meanwhile, the most recent Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) upholds this reputation with a more advanced M2 Pro processor and twice the storage, though it has reduced RAM at 16GB, it still provides a high-quality screen and maintains the line's exceptional battery life, continuing the series' suitability for a variety of general tasks.
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.4
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts a powerful GPU suitable for 3D applications and a high refresh rate display, though its CPU and screen quality, while still good, are outperformed by the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023), which offers a more advanced GPU and similar screen features, delivering better overall performance for 3D tasks.
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.8
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and MacBook Pro 16 (2023) are excellent for engineering and design due to their high-performance CPUs, ample RAM for complex tasks, and powerful GPUs suitable for rendering and simulations. Both models feature Mini LED displays that offer exceptional screen quality, but the newer 2023 model offers an increased GPU core count, which could provide a slight edge in graphics-intensive workloads, while maintaining the same high-quality build and design aspects such as portability, keyboard, and speaker quality, with minimal operating noise.
Content Creation
8.8
9.1
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) to be excellent for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
8.9
8.9
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both very good for software development.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Battery
17.5 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
16.2in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) both have best in class build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 | | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,949 | $2,423 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | January 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | Apple M2 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 497 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 7.6/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | Yes | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 8.8/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | Yes | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 0 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 3 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | February 2023
"The Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023: M2 Max challenges GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. The new MacBook Pro 16 2023 with the M2 Max SoC is the most powerful laptop Apple has on sale right now. While we do not get the expected performance and efficiency improvements from completely new 3 nm chips, which we expected ahead of the launch, the 2023 model is still a solid update. The CPU of the M2 Max can be up to 20 % faster than the old model and we also see an advantage of 25-30 % for the GPU with 38 cores. However, both components also consume more power, so the efficiency did not change that much under maximum load."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
About Apple
Apple, an American technology company, is one of the world’s largest company in terms of market capitalization. Their MacBook laptops feature a slim, minimalistic design, class-leading battery life, and premium display and speaker quality. In 2020 Apple switched from using Intel processors to their own silicon chips which have excellent performance and efficiency. The macOS operating system is the second most widely used OS, after Windows.
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Why trust us
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
By the numbers
380
Laptops evaluated
48,640
Laptops stats compiled
13
Proprietary Laptops ratings developed
101,895
Recommendations made
22,078
Consumer hours saved
About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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