When deciding between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) with an M1 chip and the MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with an M1 Pro chip, the MacBook Pro 16 offers a larger screen, more powerful CPU and GPU, and a Mini LED display which can be advantageous for tasks that demand a lot of processing power like 3D and machine learning, or engineering. However, it is heavier and has a slightly shorter battery life than the MacBook Pro 13, making the latter more suited to those prioritizing portability and longer use on a single charge. The MacBook Pro 16 also has a higher price point, so if budget is a consideration, the MacBook Pro 13 may be the more cost-effective option. Both have high-quality build and keyboards, but the MacBook Pro 16 enhances the multimedia experience with a better webcam and speakers. If your work or personal use requires intensive graphic and computational power, and you are willing to compromise on portability and price, the MacBook Pro 16 (2021) may be the better choice. On the other hand, if you favor portability, longer battery life, and a lower price over powerful performance, the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) should suffice. 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 13 (2020)
Very good portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Very good for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
9.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
20.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.9/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is a more portable choice with a strong battery life and silent operation, suited for general tasks with its competent Apple M1 CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality IPS screen. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a larger, higher-resolution Mini LED screen, greater RAM and a more powerful M1 Pro CPU for better performance, at the expense of some portability due to its increased size and weight. Both are excellent in keyboard, speaker quality, and heat management, but the MacBook Pro 16 stands out for its larger screen and stronger performance suitable for more intensive applications.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.0/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
10.0/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.7/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is better for 3D because it has a more powerful GPU which is very important for 3D tasks, and a higher screen refresh rate that delivers smoother visuals. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a less capable GPU and a standard refresh rate screen, which means it is not as well-suited for intensive 3D applications despite having a high-quality screen and efficient CPU.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.7/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a more powerful CPU with more cores, significantly more RAM, and a stronger GPU compared to the MacBook Pro 13 (2020), which makes it very good for demanding engineering and design tasks that require high processing power and graphics capabilities. Additionally, the MacBook Pro 16 boasts a larger and higher-quality Mini LED screen, offering a better screen quality which is essential for design work, though it is less portable and heavier than its 13-inch counterpart.
Content Creation
7.8/10
8.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
7.8/10
8.9/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) 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
7.6/10
9.4/10
13.3in
SIZE
16.2in
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
491.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The MacBook Pro 13 offers a high-resolution display and brightness suitable for general tasks, and its high color accuracy benefits engineering and design work. The MacBook Pro 16 enhances these qualities with a brighter and more color-accurate screen, making it even better for detailed design tasks. However, both models have lower refresh rates, which isn't ideal for 3D applications where smoother visuals are crucial.
Battery
20.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 has 20 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
Very Good
Good
13.3in
SIZE
16.2in
3.0 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,249
$1,949
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) costs $1,949.
"The MacBook Pro 13 is still a very good subnotebook. The 2022 MacBook Pro 13 might look like recycling at first, because the device is completely identical to the old model expect for the new M2 SoC. We have to admit that we were surprised to see another iteration of the MBP 13 as well. The laptop is obviously familiar, but this does not change the fact that it is still a very good subnotebook. You get an excellent chassis with good stability, a very good display, good input devices and the new M2 chip is very powerful and efficient."
"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 13 (2020) or the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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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