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What we think
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Updated January 10, 2024· Prices updated 24 hours ago
The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is less expensive, lighter, and slightly more portable, making it a good choice for users who need to move around often and want a balance of performance and portability. The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023), while more expensive, offers better performance with a more powerful processor and GPU, a larger and more vibrant display, and longer battery life, which benefits professionals doing intensive tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, or software development. If those advanced features and larger screen are crucial for your work and you do not mind less portability and a higher price, the MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) would be a better option. 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 14 (2021)
- Very good portability
Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
- Good for gaming and AI
- Best in class battery life
Key differences
Gaming and AI
6.8
7.5
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
3024 x 1964
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 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is only fair.
Both the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) with its M1 Pro chip featuring a 14-core GPU and the MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) with the M3 Pro chip and an 18-core GPU are suitable for 3D work due to their powerful graphics capabilities and smooth visuals supported by high screen refresh rates. However, the MacBook Pro 16 offers a slightly larger and more powerful GPU for more complex 3D tasks, alongside a bigger screen that maintains high screen quality, making it better suited for those who need extra performance and working space.
Engineering and Design
8.2
8.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
4.7/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
6.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) are both excellent for engineering and design due to their high-performance CPUs, substantial RAM, and powerful GPUs, which are crucial for resource-intensive tasks like 3D rendering and simulations. The MacBook Pro 16 has a larger and higher resolution screen, providing more workspace and finer details, whilst maintaining high screen quality; however, it's heavier and less portable than the MacBook Pro 14, which might be a consideration for users who frequently travel or move around with their laptop.
Software Development
8.3
8.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
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
9.2
9.3
14.2in
SIZE
16.2in
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
479.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 14 for content creation, and software development.
Apple MacBook Pros have high-resolution displays with bright, accurate colors, which are ideal for general use and provide excellent clarity and detail for engineering and design tasks, thanks to their wide color gamuts supporting DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB. However, their screens typically have standard refresh rates, which are not optimal for 3D applications where higher refresh rates can provide smoother visuals and better user experience. The panel type used in both MacBooks further enhances the overall image quality, but when it comes to 3D work, which benefits more from quicker screen refreshes, these laptops may not be as suitable as others designed specifically with high refresh rate displays.
Battery
13.5 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 has 13.5 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
Very Good
Good
14.2in
SIZE
16.2in
3.5 lbs
WEIGHT
4.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Cost
$1,905
$3,099
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a price of $1,905 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) costs $3,099.
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Key similarities
General Use
8.4
8.8
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
479.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
487.0 nits
13.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
8.5/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for general use.
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) sports an Apple M1 Pro chip with eight CPU cores and a high-quality Mini LED display alongside 16 GB of RAM, which, coupled with its relatively lighter weight and solid battery life, makes it highly suitable for general usage.
Content Creation
8.4
8.9
6.8/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3024 x 1964
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
18.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) are both very good for content creation.
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.
Build Quality
10.0
10.0
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 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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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) | Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,905 | $3,099 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | November 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | 4.7 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 12.31" | 14.01" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 8.71" | 9.77" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | Apple M3 Pro (12C) | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 16 GB | 18 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 512 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | 17.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | 99.6 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | 16.2" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | Mini LED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | 3456 x 2234 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | 487 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 10/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | 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 | |
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Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"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."
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)
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Pricing last updated 24 hours ago |
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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."
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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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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
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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Laptops Expert
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.