If you prioritize performance for 3D rendering, machine learning, or gaming, the Acer Nitro 16 with its dedicated Nvidia graphics might be a better fit, but it's heavier and larger than the MacBook Pro, making it less portable. The MacBook Pro 14, with its Apple silicon, offers outstanding build quality, a higher-quality screen with better color accuracy, and speakers, making it ideal for media consumption and general use, and it's more portable with longer battery life. However, it may fall behind in gaming or intensive engineering software compared to the Nitro 16, and the non-upgradable lower RAM could be a constraint for heavy multitasking or professional workloads. 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 Acer Nitro 16
Very good for gaming and AI
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
Very good for general use
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good portability
Excellent battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Key differences
Gaming and AI
8.0/10
6.7/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
Yes
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
7.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Acer Nitro 16 is very good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is only fair.
The Acer Nitro 16 excels in gaming and 3D due to its powerful Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU and higher screen refresh rate of 165, making it well-suited for fast-paced gaming visuals, whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 14's Apple M3 GPU and 120 refresh rate screen provide good performance for 3D applications but might fall short for some gaming needs, especially since many popular games are not compatible with MacOS. While both have quality displays and competent CPUs, the Acer is tailored more towards gaming with its Windows platform, which supports a wider range of games compared to the MacBook Pro.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.4/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for content creation, while the Acer Nitro 16 is 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
7.7/10
8.2/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
8.0/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) is very good for software development, while the Acer Nitro 16 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
8.3/10
9.2/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.2in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3024 x 1964
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
165Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
494.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
489.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has a better screen than the Acer Nitro 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 14's high resolution and bright display ensure crisp text and vibrant images, making it ideal for everyday tasks. In engineering and design, the MacBook's wide color gamuts provide accurate color representation critical for professional work. However, for 3D applications, the Acer Nitro's screen may not refresh as quickly as desired, and despite the MacBook's superior color and resolution, its lower refresh rate may not deliver the smooth motion graphics that gaming and 3D rendering demand.
Battery
9.0 Hours
17.0 Hours
The Acer Nitro 16 has 9 hours of battery life. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 17 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
Fair
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.2in
5.9 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
1.1in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has very good portability, while the Acer Nitro 16 has only fair portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
7.4/10
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the Acer Nitro 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,050
$1,449
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Acer Nitro 16 has a price of $1,050 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) costs $1,449.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) to be very good for general use, while the Acer Nitro 16 is good.
The Acer Nitro 16 offers a robust processor and ample RAM for smooth multitasking, combined with a high-quality display and good heat management, making it suitable for general use, though it is heavier and has shorter battery life which affects portability. On the other hand, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 boasts a strong CPU, a superior display with higher pixel density and brightness, and significantly longer battery life, enhancing portability; however, it has less RAM, which may limit multitasking efficiency compared to the Acer.
Engineering and Design
8.2/10
8.1/10
7.9/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.4/10
8.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Acer Nitro 16 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) are both very good for engineering and design.
The Acer Nitro 16 has a strong CPU, ample RAM, and a dedicated GPU, making it well-suited for demanding engineering tasks and design applications; its screen quality ensures sharp and accurate visuals for detailed work. However, the Apple MacBook Pro's optimized macOS software, high-quality Retina display, and premium build with a quieter operating noise and better speakers offer a robust alternative for engineering, albeit at a higher price point and with less gaming-focused hardware.
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How the Acer Nitro 16 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
"Video editing, rendering and, of course, gaming represent the Nitro 16's core competencies with a Ryzen 7 7735HS and GeForce RTX 4070 providing the necessary power. Both chips run at consistently high clock speeds. A fast PCIe 4 SSD (1 TB) provides the required storage space and ensures short loading times. With the Nitro 16 AN16-41, Acer has a well-specced, mid-range gaming laptop in its portfolio."
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
Get a great deal on the Acer Nitro 16 or the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (Late 2023)
About Acer
Acer is a prominent Taiwanese electronics brand which makes a wide range of laptops, with multiple product lines catering to personal use, gaming, and business use. They are renowned for having exceptional value for money, as they frequently offer good specifications at a lower price than other manufacturers.
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.
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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