When choosing between the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14", consider that the MacBook Pro's larger screen and robust hardware make it suitable for demanding tasks like video editing, but it may be heavier and less portable than the sleeker HP Dragonfly. The Dragonfly's smaller size and likely lighter build make it ideal for frequent travel, and it might have newer technology given the model year. If budget is a concern, and you require high-performance computing, the MacBook Pro offers value. However, if portability and having the latest features are top priorities, the higher cost of the HP Dragonfly could be justified. 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)
Very good for content creation
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
Very good for general use
Very good portability
Key differences
Screen Quality
7.8/10
7.1/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
405.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" for general use, AI, engineering and design, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) excels in screen quality for both general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display and brilliant brightness, combined with wide color gamuts that ensure accurate color representation crucial for design work. However, its refresh rate may not be as high as specialized gaming or 3D modeling laptops, making it less suited for applications that require quick screen refreshes. Conversely, the HP Dragonfly Pro's quality is solid across general use and engineering with a good resolution and brightness, but its screen may lack the high refresh rates desired for smooth gaming or 3D experiences.
Battery
12.0 Hours
10.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has 10 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
Good
Very Good
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
4.3 lbs
WEIGHT
3.4 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has best in class build quality, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$540
$1,400
$0
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) has a price of $540 and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" costs $1,400.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers HP Dragonfly Pro 14" to be very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
PerfectRec’s General Use Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for general productivity, web browsing, streaming, video calls, and running a wide variety of apps and programs.
Gaming and AI
6.4/10
6.5/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019), with its Radeon Pro 5300M GPU, offers solid performance for 3D tasks, but its MacOS limits game compatibility, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" has a Radeon 680M GPU that supports gaming but may not handle the latest titles on the highest settings; both have similar screen refresh rates which are not ideal for high-speed gaming where higher rates are preferred.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
7.6/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Dragonfly Pro 14" and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is favored for engineering and design due to its powerful Intel i7 CPU, dedicated AMD Radeon Pro GPU, and high-resolution IPS screen; while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" is also suitable with its AMD Ryzen 7 CPU, AMD Radeon 680M integration, and quality IPS display, but offers greater portability due to its smaller size and lighter weight.
Content Creation
8.0/10
7.9/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) to be very good for content creation, while the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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
7.9/10
7.8/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1200
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and HP Dragonfly Pro 14" are both good for software development.
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.
Give feedback
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the HP Dragonfly Pro 14" 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."
"I’d say that the HP Dragonfly Pro checks off most of the boxes for this freelancer. It feels nice to use, is zippy and responsive, has great speakers, and even has a relatively sane price. Although it’s an unorthodox choice to pick AMD for this kind of machine, it’s clear that when Ryzen is given a chance to shine, it can kick a lot of butt."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the HP Dragonfly Pro 14"
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.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
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Chandradeep Chowdhury
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.