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Updated January 10, 2024·
Considering the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023), your choice depends on your priorities. The MacBook Pro offers superior processing power and graphics capabilities suitable for high-end tasks like video editing or music production and has a larger, higher-resolution mini LED display, which is excellent for creative work but at a higher cost and with more weight. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop is more affordable, easier to carry due to its lower weight, and has a more modular design, allowing for easier upgrades and repairs, but it comes with less powerful hardware and a smaller screen, which might limit its performance for demanding applications. Both have high-quality keyboards and webcams, but the MacBook Pro offers significantly longer battery life. If portability and upgradability are key, opt for the Framework Laptop, but if performance and display quality are paramount, the MacBook Pro is a better fit. 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 (2021)
- Excellent for general use
- Very good for engineering and design
- Good for gaming and AI
- Very good for software development
- Very good for content creation
- Excellent overall display quality
- Best in class overall build quality
- Best in class battery life
- Best in class speakers
- Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
- Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
9.0
7.5
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
472.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
7.5 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) stands out for general use because of its superior CPU and RAM capabilities, high screen quality with its Mini LED display, longer battery life, and better build quality including heat management and speaker quality, but it’s less portable due to its larger size and weight.
Gaming and AI
7.0
6.3
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) with its higher-end GPU and 120Hz screen refresh rate makes it more suitable for 3D tasks, and while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has a capable GPU for some gaming and 3D applications, its lower refresh rate at 60Hz may limit the smoothness in fast-paced games; also, the MacBook Pro's lack of support for many popular games under MacOS should be considered.
Engineering and Design
8.7
7.3
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) boasts a more powerful CPU and GPU, more RAM, and superior screen quality, making it very suitable for demanding engineering and design tasks. The Framework Laptop 13 (2023), while also capable, is more portable and offers higher repairability and customization but doesn't match the MacBook's performance and screen prowess.
Content Creation
8.8
7.5
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for content creation, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) 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
8.9
7.6
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is very good for software development, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) 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
9.4
7.4
16.2in
SIZE
13.5in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
472.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 13 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a superior screen with high resolution and brightness, as well as wide color gamuts like DCI-P3 and Adobe RGB, making it excellent for general use and engineering or design tasks; however, its standard refresh rate is less optimal for 3D applications where higher refresh rates are preferred. The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has a commendable screen that balances resolution and brightness for general tasks while still offering good color reproduction for engineering and design work, but like the MacBook, it lacks a high refresh rate, which is a drawback for gaming and 3D applications. Both laptops prioritize screen qualities crucial for productivity and creative work over the fast refresh rates required for 3D and gaming experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
7.5 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 13 has 7.5 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
Good
Very Good
16.2in
SIZE
13.5in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.9 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has very good portability, while the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0
7.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,079
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has a price of $1,949 and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) costs $1,079.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) | Framework Laptop 13 (2023) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,949 | $1,079 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | May 1, 2023 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 11.7'' x 9'' x 0.62'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 2.95 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 11.7" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.01" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | Intel i5-1340P | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 8 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 4 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 2 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 256 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 7.5 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 55 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 13.5" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | IPS | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2256 x 1504 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 60Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 497 nits | 472 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.8/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 8.8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | No | |
Premium Business Laptop | |||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | No | |
Fan Noise Score | |||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | 7.5/10 | |
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | |||
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | 8.5/10 | |
Speaker Quality Score | |||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | 8/10 | |
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 | 1 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 2 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
Shopping
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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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."
Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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Dig into reviews and images
Wired
Scott Gilbertson | July 2023
"If you’re thinking of investing in your first Framework, now is the time. The kinks and rough edges have all been smoothed out and this is a very nice machine with a bright, upgradable future. The only reason I can think of to wait is the AMD model, which I’ll be sure to test as soon as I can get my hands on one."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Framework Laptop 13 (2023)
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 Framework
Framework is a new American laptop manufacturer, specializing in modular and repairable laptops with the goals of promoting longevity and reducing electronic waste. They are a strong proponent of the right to repair movement. Framework laptops have replaceable RAM, storage, ports, keyboards, display bezels, mainboards, and more, making them a great choice for repairability-oriented individuals.
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