The Apple MacBook Pro offers a seamless experience with its integrated ecosystem, great for creative work with a strong battery life, but it comes at a higher cost and with less flexibility for upgrades. In contrast, the Framework Laptop prioritizes customizability and repairability, which can extend its lifespan and adapt to changing needs, usually at a lower initial investment. The Framework's modular design offers the benefit of component replacements, but this might come with sacrifices in build quality compared to the MacBook Pro. If your priority is performance in a professional setting and budget isn't a major constraint, the MacBook Pro is a solid choice, while the Framework is ideal for tech-savvy users who value upgradability and a lower upfront cost. Give Feedback
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Advantages of the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Excellent for general use
Good for gaming and AI
Excellent overall display quality
Best in class overall build quality
Best in class battery life
Best in class keyboard
Advantages of the Framework Laptop 16 (2023)
The Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0/10
8.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
9.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a high-quality CPU and screen, ample RAM, and excellent battery life, making it a top choice for seamless general use and demanding applications, although it's less portable due to its size and weight. The Framework Laptop 16, while offering good performance and an easily customizable and repairable design, doesn't quite match the MacBook's screen quality or battery longevity, but it is lighter and offers better portability for those on the move.
Engineering and Design
8.7/10
8.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.0/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a powerful CPU, high-quality display, and dedicated GPU which are essential for demanding engineering applications and design work; it's also praised for a comfortable keyboard and quiet operation but is less portable due to its size and weight. The Framework Laptop 16, while offering upgradability in RAM and a respectable CPU, may not match the MacBook Pro's screen quality and GPU performance, yet it provides greater portability and a good keyboard, making it a versatile option for on-the-go professionals.
Content Creation
8.8/10
8.1/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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
8.9/10
8.0/10
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.1/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is somewhat better.
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
9.4/10
8.4/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
165Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
490.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the Framework Laptop 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) offers a superior screen quality for general use and engineering due to its high-resolution display, bright panel which ensures crisp and vibrant visuals, and wide color gamut that covers an extensive range of colors critical for design accuracy. For 3D tasks, however, its standard refresh rate makes it less ideal, as a higher refresh rate is crucial for smoother visuals in fast-moving scenes. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) balances very good screen quality with strong resolution and brightness for general tasks as well as a wide color spectrum for engineering, but like the MacBook, it lacks the high refresh rate necessary for optimal gaming and 3D experiences.
Battery
17.5 Hours
9.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The Framework Laptop 16 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.
Build Quality
10.0/10
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,699
$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 16 (2023) costs $1,699.
Although they have very similar scores, PerfectRec considers Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) to be good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) excels in 3D tasks because it has a powerful GPU and a high-quality screen, despite its lower screen refresh rate, which is less critical for non-gaming 3D applications. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) has a fair performance in gaming and 3D due to a competent GPU and adequate screen refresh rate, but the reduced game library for Macs makes it less versatile for gamers compared to Windows-based laptops.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
4.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and Framework Laptop 16 (2023) both have good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
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How the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and the Framework Laptop 16 (2023) 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 trend towards thinner and lighter laptops is made possible by fusing more and more components onto the mainboard. The main drawback to this approach is that it limits repairability as even a small fault may require replacing entire boards. Framework is one of the only manufacturers looking the other way in an attempt to improve end-user customization and servicing. There's no question that the Laptop 16 is more user-friendly to service than any alternative, but this lucrative feature comes at the cost of size and weight as individual components must be easily replaceable."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) or the Framework Laptop 16 (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.
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
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.