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Updated March 22, 2024·
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) generally offers superior build quality, a high-resolution display, longer battery life, and is optimized for professionals seeking power for tasks like video editing and music production in a sleek form factor. It's also favored for its ecosystem, which is ideal if you use other Apple devices. On the other hand, the HP Omen Transcend 14 is tailored for gaming and intensive graphics work, featuring a high refresh rate screen for smooth visuals and dedicated graphics power that better supports 3D, machine learning, and gaming. It's usually more affordable while still providing considerable performance, but will often have a shorter battery life and might be heavier and thicker, making it less portable. Consider which aspects are more important for your daily needs – performance in specific areas, portability, battery life, or the benefits of a particular ecosystem. 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
- 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 HP Omen Transcend 14
- The HP Omen Transcend 14 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021).
Key differences
General Use
9.0
8.2
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
497.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.9/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) is excellent for general use, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 is very good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers strong CPU performance and ample RAM paired with exceptional screen quality, making it outstanding for general use; however, its larger size impacts portability and it carries a premium price tag. On the other hand, the HP Omen Transcend 14 has a good balance of CPU and RAM, with a focus on gaming, but its screen and battery life, while very good, may not match the MacBook Pro, and it is more comfortable for carrying around.
Gaming and AI
7.0
7.9
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
Yes
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
7.5/10
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) are both good for gaming and AI, though the HP Omen Transcend 14 is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its dedicated GPU, offers robust performance and high-quality screen resolution, making it suitable for 3D tasks, but gaming options are limited as many games are not compatible with macOS. The HP Omen Transcend, on the other hand, combines a high refresh rate with a powerful GPU, delivering a smooth gaming experience and competent 3D capabilities, but may not match the MacBook's screen quality.
Software Development
8.9
8.1
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and HP Omen Transcend 14 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
8.6
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
120Hz
497.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
400.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the HP Omen Transcend 14 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
For general use, the MacBook Pro's high-resolution, bright display makes every interaction vivid, offering a premium viewing experience. For engineering and design tasks, its wide color gamut results in more accurate colors, crucial for detailed work. However, for 3D applications, the MacBook Pro's lower refresh rate may result in less smooth visuals, which is more apparent during fast-paced scenes compared to the HP Omen Transcend 14.
Battery
17.5 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The HP Omen Transcend 14 has 11 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
7.2
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) has best in class build quality, while the HP Omen Transcend 14 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$1,949
$1,699
$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 HP Omen Transcend 14 costs $1,699.
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Key similarities
Engineering and Design
8.7
8.5
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
5.0/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
7.9/10
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and HP Omen Transcend 14 are both very good for engineering and design.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its high-quality CPU, abundant RAM, and advanced GPU, excels in demanding engineering and design tasks while offering a superior screen for detail-oriented work; however, it may not be as easy to carry around. The HP Omen Transcend 14 boasts similar high-performance components, making it a strong choice for engineering software, and its more compact size enhances portability, though the tradeoff might be in a slightly lower screen real estate and speaker quality.
Content Creation
8.8
8.3
7.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
8.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2880 x 1800
32.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
OLED
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) and HP Omen Transcend 14 are both very good for content creation.
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.
Portability
Good
Good
16.2in
SIZE
14.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
3.8 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.7in
The HP Omen Transcend 14 and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) 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 HP Omen Transcend 14 compare to other laptops
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) | HP Omen Transcend 14 |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,949 | $1,699 | ||
Release Date | |||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | February 1, 2024 | |
Overall Dimensions | |||
Overall Dimensions | 14'' x 9.8'' x 0.66'' | 12.3'' x 9.2'' x 0.71'' | |
Weight | |||
Weight | 4.7 lbs | 3.87 lbs | |
Width | |||
Width | 14.01" | 12.32" | |
Depth | |||
Depth | 9.77" | 9.19" | |
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | |||
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (10C) | Intel Core Ultra 7 155H | |
RAM | |||
RAM | 32 GB | 16 GB | |
DDR Memory Version | |||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | 5 | |
RAM Slots | |||
RAM Slots | 0 | 0 | |
Storage | |||
Storage | 512 GB | 1024 GB | |
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | |||
Battery Life | 17.5 Hours | 11 Hours | |
Battery Capacity | |||
Battery Capacity | 99.6 Wh | 71 Wh | |
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | |||
Diagonal Size | 16.2" | 14" | |
Display Technology | |||
Display Technology | Mini LED | OLED | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 3456 x 2234 | 2880 x 1800 | |
Refresh Rate | |||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | 120Hz | |
Display Brightness | |||
Display Brightness | 497 nits | 400 nits | |
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score | |||
Build Quality Score | 10/10 | 7.2/10 | |
Portability Score | |||
Portability Score | 7.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Gaming Laptop Appearance | |||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | Yes | |
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 | 6.3/10 | |
Webcam | |||
Webcam | 1080p | 1080p | |
Fingerprint Reader | |||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | No | |
Backlit Keyboard | |||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | Yes | |
Number Pad | |||
Number Pad | No | No | |
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | |||
USB Type-A | 0 | 2 | |
USB-C ports | |||
USB-C ports | 3 | 2 | |
USB-C Charging | |||
USB-C Charging | Yes | Yes | |
Display Outputs | |||
Display Outputs | 2 | 3 | |
Thunderbolt Version | |||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | 4 | |
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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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Dig into reviews and images
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."
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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.
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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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