If performance for tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, or engineering simulations is your priority and cost is less of a concern, the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) with its more powerful processor and better graphics capabilities would be a better choice. However, the LG Gram 16 is significantly lighter and offers better portability, as well as being notably more affordable. The MacBook Pro also has a longer battery life, a mini LED display with higher brightness and color coverage which can be important for creative work, but it is heavier. The LG Gram still provides a quality IPS display and has a fanless operation for silent use. Both have the same amount of RAM for multitasking, but the MacBook Pro has more storage. Keep in mind, the MacBook Pro comes with MacOS while the LG Gram runs Windows 11, so your software needs and OS preference may also influence your decision. 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 LG Gram 16
Very good portability
Key differences
General Use
9.1/10
7.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
15.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for general use, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is favored for general use due to its higher screen quality, superior speakers, and longer battery life, complemented by its powerful CPU and ample RAM, offering top-notch performance but at a cost to portability and with a heavier build. The LG Gram 16, while still providing good performance through a capable CPU and the same amount of RAM, excels in portability thanks to its lighter weight and silent operation, although it has a lower-quality screen and speakers, and a slightly shorter battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.4/10
6.4/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
10.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the LG Gram 16 is only fair.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a dedicated 19C GPU and a high refresh rate screen, enhancing its capabilities for 3D applications and rendering tasks, making it good for 3D work despite the limitation in game compatibility with MacOS. The LG Gram 16, on the other hand, with an integrated Iris Xe graphics and a standard refresh rate screen, offers fair performance for gaming and 3D tasks within Windows' more extensive gaming ecosystem.
Engineering and Design
8.8/10
7.5/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
5.8/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for engineering and design, while the LG Gram 16 is good.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is equipped with a high-performance CPU and GPU that excel in demanding engineering and design software, alongside a superior Mini LED screen offering enhanced brightness and color accuracy. In contrast, the LG Gram 16 also supports engineering and design tasks well with a capable, though less powerful, CPU and integrated graphics, but it gains an edge in portability due to its lighter weight and fanless operation that ensures quiet use.
Content Creation
9.1/10
7.8/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is excellent for content creation, while the LG Gram 16 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
7.9/10
8.5/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
7.9/10
16.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) is very good for software development, while the LG Gram 16 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
7.3/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1600
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
347.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the LG Gram 16 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16's screen boasts high resolution and brightness, plus an extensive color range, making it excellent for both general use and tasks requiring precise color representation like engineering and design. However, due to a standard refresh rate, it's less suitable for 3D applications which demand smoother motion. The LG Gram 16, while also offering high resolution and good color accuracy, follows a similar pattern but is not as optimized for high-end graphical tasks or fast-paced 3D environments as models with faster screen refresh rates.
Battery
17.5 Hours
15.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The LG Gram 16 has 15 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
16.0in
4.7 lbs
WEIGHT
2.6 lbs
0.6in
THICKNESS
0.6in
The LG Gram 16 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
7.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has best in class build quality, while the LG Gram 16 has good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,423
$1,450
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) has a price of $2,423 and the LG Gram 16 costs $1,450.
"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 LG Gram 16 is a lightweight device with stability issues. The LG Gram 16Z90Q with a Core i7-1260P is made with portability in mind and places less of a focus on users with high demands on performance. The compact and light chassis is particularly practical when you are on the go. The device is not only comfortably small and lightweight, it also boasts a great battery life. When connected to mains, on the other hand, the 16-inch device is rather disappointing. The standard cooling mode causes extreme volatility in terms of CPU, SSD and iGPU performance. The meager stability of the chassis may also put off some potential buyers."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023) or the LG Gram 16
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 LG
LG is a South Korean conglomerate company. While LG is mainly known for various products outside of technology, LG also develops laptops. Within the laptop industry, they are known for their thin-and-light Gram series, as well as their value-oriented Ultra series. LG laptops offer very thin and light laptops with phenomenal battery life, and are often on sale.
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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Joe Golden, Ph.D
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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
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
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