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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in battery life and display quality, with a high-resolution Mini LED screen and excellent color accuracy, making it ideal for tasks that require a high-fidelity display like photo editing or design work. Its Apple M1 Pro processor can handle general use and complex tasks like video editing, and it offers a longer battery life compared to the Razer Blade 14 (2023). On the other hand, the Razer Blade, equipped with an AMD Ryzen processor and Nvidia RTX 4060 graphics, is better suited for intensive gaming and 3D rendering. It also has a higher refresh rate screen which is beneficial for gaming. Although it is more portable due to its smaller size and lighter weight, it has a shorter battery life. If portability and gaming are priorities, the Razer Blade is the superior choice, whereas if you need longevity and a top-tier display, the MacBook Pro might be preferable. Both are similarly priced, with the Razer Blade offering more storage but less RAM than the MacBook Pro. 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)
- Excellent for general use
- Very good for software development
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Razer Blade 14 (2023)
- Very good for gaming and AI
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0
8.1
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in general use due to its powerful CPU, ample RAM, high-quality Mini LED screen, and long battery life, combined with its top-rated keyboard and speakers; however, while offering portability, it leans more towards substantial build and performance over being lightest-in-class.
Gaming and AI
7.0
8.4
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
Yes
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
6.5/10
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is equipped with Apple's M1 Pro GPU which offers solid performance for 3D applications and benefits from a high-quality Mini LED display, making it good for content creation, but its operating system limits the availability of popular games.
Content Creation
8.8
8.2
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Razer Blade 14 (2023) are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
7.9
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) is good.
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.
Screen Quality
9.4
8.9
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
560.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Razer Blade 14 for general use, engineering and design, software development, and content creation, while the Razer Blade 14 has a better screen for gaming and AI.
The MacBook Pro 16 shines in general use and engineering with its high resolution and bright display, outstanding color accuracy, and extensive color gamut, ensuring detailed and vibrant visuals vital for design tasks. However, its typically lower refresh rate compared to gaming-focused laptops makes it less ideal for 3D applications where smooth motion is key. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 14, while also providing very good resolution and color performance for daily tasks and professional design work, may fall short for gaming and 3D because despite having a good refresh rate, other gaming laptops could offer even higher rates for better fluidity in motion.
Battery
17.5 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Razer Blade 14 has 6 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.
Build Quality
10.0
8.5
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Razer Blade 14 (2023) has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,999
$2,400
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,999 and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) costs $2,400.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.7
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.2/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
8.5/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Razer Blade 14 (2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in engineering and design due to its powerful M1 Pro processor, ample RAM, dedicated GPU, and high-quality Mini LED screen, which collectively enhance performance and visual clarity critical for these tasks; however, it is slightly heavier and less portable. On the other hand, the Razer Blade 14 (2023) also stands out with its capable AMD Ryzen CPU, RTX GPU for demanding graphics work, and sharp IPS display, packed in a more portable and lighter frame, but with less RAM than the MacBook, which may affect multitasking efficiency in complex projects.
Portability
Good
Very Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.0 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Razer Blade 14 (2023) to have very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Razer Blade 14 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) | Razer Blade 14 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,999 | $2,400 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | June 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 12.2'' x 9'' x 0.7'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 4.05 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 12.23" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 8.97" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | AMD Ryzen 9 7940HS | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 6 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 68.1 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2560 x 1600 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 240Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 497 nits | 560 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 6.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 9/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.5/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | N/A | |
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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."
Razer Blade 14 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
NotebookCheck
Allen Ngo | May 2022
"After making a huge splash with the original 2021 model, it's expected that the 2022 refresh would be more of a minor update to an already impressive machine. It adds a higher resolution webcam (720p to 1080p), faster CPU (Ryzen 9 5900HX to Ryzen 9 6900HX), faster GPU (RTX 3070/3080 to 3070/3080 Ti), faster RAM (DDR4-3200 to DDR5-4800), faster M.2 SSD support (PCIe3 x4 to PCIe4 x4), newer WLAN module (Killer AX1690i to Qualcomm WCN685x), and a MUX switch for the new integrated Radeon 680M GPU. It's indubitably an upgrade especially in terms of single-thread processor performance."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Razer Blade 14 (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.
About Razer
Razer is an American-Singaporean technology company. Razer is best known for their Blade series laptops, well known for their strong performance and sleek design. Although Razer charges a premium price tag for their laptops, buyers can expect a stealthy laptop with clean fit and finish and strong performance. All of their models offer great portability and build quality compared to other gaming laptops.
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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.
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About the laptop team
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CEO and Laptops Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
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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.
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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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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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