If you need high performance for tasks like video editing or software development, the MacBook Pro 16 is well-regarded for its powerful hardware and display quality, but it comes with a higher price tag. The HP 15" Laptop offers a more budget-friendly option suitable for everyday use like browsing, document editing, and less demanding applications. Its portability may be better than the MacBook Pro, which is heavier and less convenient for travel. However, you'll find the MacBook has a longer battery life, so if you're often on the go without access to power outlets, it might serve you better despite being less travel-friendly. 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)
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for software development
Very good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class speakers
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP 15" Laptop
The HP 15" Laptop has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019).
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
6.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
6.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for general use, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) offers a robust CPU, more RAM, and a higher-quality screen which makes it well-suited for general use, along with a longer battery life and superior build quality, enhancing both its performance and user experience. In contrast, the HP 15" Laptop has less RAM and a lower-resolution screen, which might not provide as smooth an experience for demanding tasks, though it is lighter in weight which contributes to its portability, but it also has a shorter battery life.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
6.2/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.6/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for engineering and design, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is equipped with higher RAM, a more powerful Intel i7 processor, and advanced AMD Radeon GPU, making it more suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks; it also offers superior screen quality for intricate graphical work. The HP 15" Laptop, on the other hand, has less RAM and a less powerful Intel i3 processor and integrated graphics, which provide fair performance for engineering and design, but with a lower resolution and color accuracy, it may not handle complex visual tasks as effectively.
Content Creation
8.0/10
6.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is very good for content creation, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
5.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good for software development, while the HP 15" Laptop is only fair.
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
6.3/10
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
250.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the HP 15" Laptop for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MacBook Pro 16 offers a higher resolution and brighter display, offering clearer and more vivid images compared to the HP 15" Laptop. In engineering and design, the MacBook Pro excels with a wider color gamut, providing accurate colors crucial for detailed work, an area where the HP may fall short. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's lower refresh rate could make it less smooth and responsive than alternatives designed specifically for high-frame-rate content.
Battery
12.0 Hours
6.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The HP 15" Laptop has 6 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
6.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the HP 15" Laptop has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$550
$378
$200
$300
$400
$500
$600
$700
$800
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $550 and the HP 15" Laptop costs $378.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) to be only fair for gaming and AI, while the HP 15" Laptop is poor.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.0in
SIZE
15.6in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.7 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP 15" Laptop and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the HP 15" Laptop compare to other laptops
"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."
"Chances are high that the HP 15 is one of the first laptops to pop up when you search for an inexpensive notebook. Indeed, its price tag is very tempting for many, and of course, this is the reason for its popularity. However, the HP 15" suffers from poor performance due to low power consumption. On the bright side, one of the good things about it is the port selection. On the inside, this includes two SODIMM slots for memory, an M.2 PCIe x4 slot for storage, and a SATA drive bay. However, the TN panel, and mediocre input devices are not ideal."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the HP 15" Laptop
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.
About HP
HP, also known as Hewlett-Packard, is an American technology company that develops personal computers and computer peripherals. In the laptop industry, HP is known for its entry level Essential series laptops, its mid-range Pavilion, Envy, and Victus series, and high-end Omen and Spectre series, in addition to its business-oriented EliteBook, ProBook, and Dragonfly series laptops. HP laptops generally undercut other mainstream competitors in terms of price, placing itself as the value-oriented mainstream brand.
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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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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
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