The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is a premium option with exceptional build and display quality, a powerful processor and GPU suitable for intensive tasks like 3D rendering, machine learning, and engineering applications. It boasts a notable battery life and a high-quality set of speakers and webcam, but it is expensive and is not designed for gaming.
In contrast, the HP Spectre x360 is more affordable and offers good performance for general use and some engineering tasks. It stands out with a touchscreen and a 2-in-1 design for versatility, but it may not handle demanding 3D tasks or machine learning as effectively as the MacBook. It has a lower-quality display compared to the MacBook and less battery life but better portability. Both are comparable in weight, and neither is ideal for intensive gaming. Your choice should align with your priority: high-end performance and screen quality with the MacBook Pro or affordability and flexibility with the Spectre x360. 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 (Late 2023)
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 HP Spectre x360
The HP Spectre x360 has no clear advantages over the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).
Key differences
General Use
8.8/10
8.2/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
487.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
406.0 nits
17.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
11.0 Hours
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
7.6/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for general use, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 with its powerful Apple M3 Pro processor, larger amounts of RAM, and a high-quality Mini LED screen offers exceptional performance and impressive screen quality for general use, complemented by its best-in-class battery life.
Gaming and AI
7.5/10
6.6/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
No
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
8.7/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is good for gaming and AI, while the HP Spectre x360 is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Gaming and AI Score strongly emphasizes graphics processing capability, while also taking into account other factors that impact suitability for gaming and AI work.
Engineering and Design
8.9/10
8.0/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
6.2/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
3.8/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for engineering and design, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is somewhat better.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16, with its more powerful Apple M3 Pro CPU and higher RAM, excels in demanding engineering tasks, and its superior Mini LED screen provides vibrant colors and high resolution for detailed design work. In contrast, the HP Spectre x360, while still capable for engineering with its Intel CPU and ample RAM, doubles as a tablet for flexibility in design processes but falls behind in screen quality and raw computational power.
Content Creation
8.9/10
8.2/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for content creation, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) 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
8.3/10
9.1/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
9.0/10
18.0 GB
RAM
16.0 GB
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
9.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
8.0/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) and HP Spectre x360 are both very good for software development, though the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) 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
9.3/10
7.6/10
16.2in
SIZE
16.0in
3456 x 2234
RESOLUTION
3072 x 1920
Mini LED
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
120Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
487.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
406.0 nits
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has a better screen than the HP Spectre x360 for general use, AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 boasts an exceptional display with high resolution and brightness, alongside extensive color gamut coverage, making it ideal for professionals in engineering and design who prioritize accurate color reproduction. The HP Spectre x360 offers a versatile display with commendable resolution and brightness suitable for general use and also provides good color representation for tasks like graphic design, but may not reach the color fidelity of the MacBook. However, both laptops lack high refresh rates, which diminishes their suitability for 3D applications and gaming, where smoother motion and faster screen updates are crucial for optimal performance.
Battery
17.5 Hours
11.0 Hours
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 has 17.5 hours of battery life. The HP Spectre x360 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
10.0/10
8.5/10
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has best in class build quality, while the HP Spectre x360 has very good build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$2,499
$1,000
$500
$1,000
$1,500
$2,000
$2,500
$3,000
$3,500
$4,000
The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has a price of $2,499 and the HP Spectre x360 costs $1,000.
"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."
"As we said, Lenovo's Yoga 9i is a tough competitor to the Spectre with an equally admirable OLED display. We're sad that neither of them has an HDMI port nor a niche or slot to hold the stylus, though the HP wins points for its bundled mini docking station and magnetically attached pen. Your choice will come down to screen shape—and in our eyes, just as seeing an OLED screen spoils you for an IPS panel, enjoying a tall 3:2 display spoils you for a more conventional view. The HP Spectre x360 13.5 is our new favorite 2-in-1."
Get a great deal on the Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) or the HP Spectre x360
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.
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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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
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