If you prioritize affordability and still desire a solid performance for everyday computing, the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is an excellent option to consider. It's more lightweight and compact, making it easier to carry around. However, if your work involves more resource-intensive tasks like video editing, 3D modeling, or software development, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) would be the better pick given its newer, more powerful hardware and larger screen, though it comes with a higher price tag and is bulkier, which may affect portability. The newer model also typically offers a longer battery life, which could be crucial if you often work on the go. Remember, purchasing the MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is an investment into more advanced capabilities and future-proofing, while the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is about value and convenience. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent for content creation
Excellent overall display quality
Key differences
General Use
7.7/10
9.1/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
491.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 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 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) offers a more powerful CPU and double the RAM of the MacBook Pro 13 (2020), contributing to its higher performance for general use; it also features a larger, higher-resolution Mini LED screen that will provide better screen quality but is less portable due to increased size and weight. The MacBook Pro 13 (2020), on the other hand, is lighter with a smaller screen, making it more portable, and while its performance is sufficient for general tasks, its lesser screen resolution and smaller battery capacity compared to the MacBook Pro 16 contribute to it being considered just 'good' for general use.
Gaming and AI
6.3/10
7.4/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
8.8/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
3.9/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.8/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is deemed very good for engineering and design because it boasts a higher performance Apple M2 Pro processor with more CPU and GPU cores, more RAM, and a superior Mini LED screen with higher resolution and brightness compared to the Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020). While the MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is good for such tasks with its capable Apple M1 processor and high-quality IPS screen, it has less computational power and screen real estate than its larger 16-inch counterpart, making the newer model more suitable for demanding engineering and design applications.
Content Creation
7.8/10
9.1/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.5/10
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent 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
8.5/10
8.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
2560 x 1600
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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
9.3/10
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
487.0 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 Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) is highly regarded for general use due to its high-resolution Retina display that delivers outstanding brightness and clarity. For engineering and design, it also excels by offering a wide color gamut for precise color work, although its smaller screen may be a limitation. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro 13 falls short because it has a lower refresh rate, which is critical for smooth rendering and animation but does not significantly affect tasks in general use or engineering and design.
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 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,249
$2,423
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020) has a price of $1,249 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) costs $2,423.
"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 (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.
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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