The Apple MacBook Pro 16 offers a large, high-quality Mini LED display, more storage, and a longer battery life, making it well-suited for demanding tasks like video editing, graphic design, and other professional applications. However, it comes at a premium price and is less portable due to its size and weight. On the other hand, the Framework Laptop 13 is priced midrange and is notably lighter and more portable, with a solid build and good general performance for everyday tasks. It also provides the flexibility to upgrade components, but comes with less storage and a shorter battery life. If your priority is high performance for professional creative work, and cost is less of a concern, the MacBook Pro might suit you better. If you prefer affordability, portability, and the option to upgrade hardware, the Framework Laptop could be the better choice. 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 (2023)
Excellent for general use
Very good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Very good for software development
Excellent 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
9.1/10
7.5/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 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 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in general use due to its high-performing CPU, ample RAM, and Mini LED screen offering exceptional brightness and color accuracy, though it is heavier and has a robust battery life suited for longer use without charging. The Framework Laptop 13 (2023), while also good for general use with a capable CPU and quality IPS screen, trades some performance and display superiority for greater portability and the convenience of repairability, but it offers less battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.3/10
5.8/10
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 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in 3D tasks thanks to its higher-end GPU and higher screen refresh rate, providing smoother visual experiences, but the MacOS may limit game availability compared to Windows. In contrast, the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is less suitable for gaming and 3D due to its integrated GPU that doesn't perform as well, but it runs Windows which supports a wider range of popular games.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.3/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.7/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) excels in engineering and design use with a high-performance CPU and GPU combo, significantly more RAM, and an exceptional display with superior resolution, brightness, and color fidelity; all these factors contribute to handling demanding tasks smoothly and offering a rich visual experience, albeit at the cost of less portability and heftier weight compared to the Framework Laptop 13 (2023). The Framework Laptop 13 (2023), while still suitable for engineering and design, offers the advantage of greater portability and a modular, repairable design, with good quality components including a decent screen, but falls behind in raw power and screen quality, making it less ideal for the most intensive engineering applications or color-critical work.
Content Creation
9.1/10
7.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent 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
8.9/10
7.6/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.8/10
16.0 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 (2023) 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
9.3/10
7.4/10
16.2in
SIZE
13.5in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2256 x 1504
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 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 MacBook Pro 16's screen stands out for its high resolution and brightness, providing crisp and vibrant visuals that enhance everyday use and detailed work in engineering and design due to its wide color gamut. The Framework Laptop's screen shares similar attributes but may not match the MacBook's brightness and color fidelity, still ensuring good performance in general use and professional applications respecting color work. However, for 3D applications or gaming, where high refresh rates are crucial for fluid motion, both laptops fall short, with the MacBook Pro and Framework Laptop offering more modest refresh rates more suitable for tasks other than fast-paced, visually demanding 3D environments.
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 (2023) has good portability.
The most portable laptops are small, thin, and light.
Build Quality
10.0/10
7.8/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) 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
$2,050
$1,079
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,050 and the Framework Laptop 13 (2023) costs $1,079.
"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."
"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 (2023) 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.
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
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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
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Laptops Expert
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