If price is a primary concern and you prioritize a larger screen for tasks like video editing or graphic design, the MacBook Pro 16 offers a spacious display and strong performance. However, if you prefer a laptop that is lighter and more flexible, such as for taking notes or drawing with a stylus, the HP Spectre x360 14 boasts a convertible design and touchscreen capabilities. The Spectre's superior portability makes it ideal for on-the-go use, but remember this often comes with a higher price tag compared to the MacBook Pro. 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)
Best in class overall build quality
Very good battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the HP Spectre x360 14
Very good for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Very good for software development
Very good overall display quality
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
7.8/10
8.7/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
477.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
12.0 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.7/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.4/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for general use, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers high CPU and RAM capabilities which are great for demanding applications, but its size and weight affect portability, and its screen is exceptional; however, it tends to be pricier. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14 provides strong performance with good CPU and sufficient RAM, a high-quality screen, and the added benefit of better portability and battery life, all at a typically lower price point.
Engineering and Design
7.5/10
8.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
4.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The HP Spectre x360 14 is very good for engineering and design, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) is good.
The HP Spectre x360 14 typically offers versatility with potent CPU, ample RAM, and high-quality screen suited for engineering and design tasks, as well as a 2-in-1 form factor for portability and convenience in various working environments. In contrast, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 provides a powerful CPU, superior GPU, and exceptional screen quality that cater to demanding engineering software, but its heavier design and higher cost reflect less emphasis on portability and affordability.
Content Creation
8.0/10
8.7/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both very good for content creation, though the HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.4/10
4.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The HP Spectre x360 14 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
8.6/10
16.0in
SIZE
14.0in
3072 x 1920
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
60Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
477.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
384.0 nits
The HP Spectre x360 14 has a better screen than the Apple MacBook Pro 16 for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, content creation, and software development.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 and the HP Spectre x360 14 both offer high-resolution displays with bright panels, providing crisp and vivid visuals that cater well to general use like browsing and watching videos. Engaging in engineering and design tasks on these laptops is enhanced by their color-accurate screens, which cover a wide range of color gamuts, ensuring that professionals see true-to-life colors. However, both models fall short for 3D applications and gaming due to lower refresh rates, which may result in less fluid motion compared to laptops designed specifically for these purposes.
Battery
12.0 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 12 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 14 has 9 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
0.6in
The HP Spectre x360 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 Spectre x360 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
$1,630
$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 Spectre x360 14 costs $1,630.
The HP Spectre x360 14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) are both only fair for gaming and AI.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 provides a dedicated GPU and a high-quality screen, which supports 3D applications competently, but many popular games don't run on macOS, limiting its gaming potential. On the other hand, the HP Spectre x360 14's GPU and refresh rate are suitable for gaming and 3D tasks, and while it may not be as powerful as the MacBook Pro, it can run a wider range of games due to its Windows operating system.
Give feedback
We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) and the HP Spectre x360 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."
"The numbers don’t lie — the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is a star, and a hell of a one at that. From performance to battery life, this machine is a dream. But why didn’t I give it a perfect score? Well, I wish the display performed better and that there were more ports to go around. If you’re itching for someone a little cheaper that offers a brighter display and significantly more battery life, I can only recommend the MacBook Pro 14 as a suitable substitute. Otherwise, the HP Spectre x360 14 (2024) is the perfect choice for those who want a reliable premium laptop."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2019) or the HP Spectre x360 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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