When considering between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021), it's essential to weigh the improvements in the newer model against the cost savings of the older one. The MacBook Pro 2021 generally offers more advanced processors, better graphics, and longer battery life compared to the 2019 model. This makes it more suitable for demanding tasks like video editing, 3D rendering, and running multiple heavy applications. It may also feature a brighter and more vibrant display, which can be significant for creative professionals. However, the 2019 model still provides solid performance for general use and lighter creative tasks at a lower price point. If you're on a budget and your work doesn't demand the latest specs, the 2019 model may be sufficient, but if you require the utmost in performance and future-proofing, the additional investment in the 2021 model could be worthwhile. 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 (Late 2019)
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
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
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class battery life
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
9.0/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
17.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
9.5/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.6/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) with its Intel i7 processor and 16 GB of RAM guarantees reliable performance for general use, though it has slightly lower battery life and a traditional IPS display when compared to its successor. The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) steps up with a more potent Apple M1 Pro chip and 32 GB of RAM, coupled with a brighter Mini LED display and longer battery life, enhancing the overall experience for demanding everyday tasks.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
7.0/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
60Hz
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 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M GPU and a standard refresh rate of 60Hz, making it fair for 3D applications. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts a more powerful Apple M1 Pro integrated GPU with a 16-core configuration and a higher refresh rate of 120Hz, which is better suited for 3D tasks, providing smoother visuals and increased graphical performance.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
5.0/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a powerful Intel CPU and AMD GPU suitable for engineering and design, but the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) elevates this with a more robust M1 Pro CPU and GPU, along with greater RAM capacity, all essential for demanding tasks. Additionally, the 2021 model improves screen quality with a higher-resolution Mini LED display, and while it is slightly heavier, suggesting a small tradeoff in portability, it compensates with significantly better battery life and reduced operating noise for a quieter work environment.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.9/10
8.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.5/10
16.0 GB
RAM
32.0 GB
3072 x 1920
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 16 (Late 2019) 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
7.8/10
9.4/10
16.0in
SIZE
16.2in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
3456 x 2234
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
Mini LED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
497.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) boasts a high-resolution Retina display with bright, vibrant colors, making it excellent for general use and detail-oriented work in engineering and design, thanks to its wide color gamuts. The 2021 model improves upon this with an even brighter and more color-accurate Liquid Retina XDR display that provides deeper blacks and enhanced contrast, perfect for professional design tasks that require the highest screen fidelity. However, both models lack high refresh rates, which limits their effectiveness for 3D work where smoother motion and faster screen updates are crucial.
Battery
12.0 Hours
17.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 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.
Cost
$540
$1,949
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) costs $1,949.
"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."
"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 16 (Late 2019) 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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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.