The MacBook Professional 16-inch is Apple’s flagship workstation laptop computer for creatives, and in January 2023, it bought a mildly shocking replace that may have little question bought lots of inventive professionals .
I say ‘mildly shocking’ as whereas the announcement of a brand new MacBook Professional 16-inch mannequin did come as a shock, ever since Apple launched its new M2 chip alongside the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and MacBook Professional 13-inch (M2, 2022) final yr, it was extensively anticipated that we’d find yourself seeing a brand new MacBook Professional 16-inch (and 14-inch mannequin) powered by superior chips based mostly on the brand new M2 – and that’s precisely what we bought.
Whereas the earlier MacBook Professional 16-inch, launched in 2021, got here with a selection of M1 Professional and M1 Max chips, the brand new mannequin options both an M2 Professional or M2 Max chip. As these names recommend, these are extra {powerful} variants of the M2 chip, and Apple argues that these new chips symbolize a generational leap over the M1 Professional and M1 Max.
That declare is actually thrilling, because the earlier MacBook Professional 16-inch was an extremely {powerful} laptop computer that excelled at heavy inventive workloads. If that laptop computer has seen a serious improve after simply two years available on the market, then this new one should be an actual beast, proper?
However, the 2021 mannequin was so good, was there any actual want for such a swift improve? There will even be individuals who invested some huge cash within the 2021 16-inch MacBook Professional who could also be trying on the new model and questioning if they need to swap to the brand new one. Would such a transfer be worthwhile, or is the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) much less of a generational leap and extra of a tentative step? Learn on to search out out.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Worth and availability
The Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) went on sale on January 24, 2023, every week after its shock launch. For patrons within the US, there was an additional nice shock, as the bottom mannequin of the brand new MacBook Professional has not had a worth improve, regardless of the {hardware} upgrades.
So, for $2,499, you may get the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) with an M2 Professional chip, 16GB of unified reminiscence, and 512GB of storage.
Nevertheless, within the UK, that very same mannequin prices £2,699, a £300 improve in comparison with the earlier mannequin.
For the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) with the extra {powerful} M2 Max chip, you’re a price ticket of $3,499 / £3,749, which comes with 32GB reminiscence and 1TB storage.
As with earlier MacBook Professional fashions, you possibly can configure the brand new Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) with numerous upgrades – and it’s value taking time to contemplate what you want out of this MacBook, as you possibly can’t improve it later. Nevertheless, be aware that boosting the specs can elevate the worth even additional – a maxed-out model with 96GB reminiscence and 8TB storage will set you again a large $6,499/£6,549.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) evaluation: {Hardware} and design
Not like the earlier mannequin, the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) doesn’t include a radical redesign, so on the skin, it appears similar to the 2021 model. This isn’t significantly a foul factor – the 2021 mannequin’s redesign added a bigger display screen, higher webcam, and extra ports – three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, a full-size HDMI port, and an SDXC reminiscence card slot.
So, it’s good to see these carried over to the brand new mannequin. The ports are useful, particularly for inventive professionals, as in contrast to with the 13-inch MacBook Professional, which solely options USB-C ports, you received’t have to depend on adapters or docks if you wish to plug in a monitor or get pictures from a digital camera’s reminiscence card.
As soon as once more, a MagSafe port is included, permitting you to simply plug within the charger – which snaps into place because of magnets. It will also be safely eliminated – and even yanked accidentally – with out inflicting injury to the port. It’s a pleasant addition, and in case you neglect to take the cable with you when touring, you possibly can nonetheless cost the MacBook through a USB-C charger.
The truth that it additionally comes with the identical 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR show, which makes use of mini-LEDs to supply an extremely spectacular distinction ratio, with a decision of 3456 x 2234 and as much as 120Hz refresh charges (utilizing what Apple calls ‘ProMotion’ expertise) is, once more, welcome. It stays the most effective display screen you may get on any laptop computer, not simply MacBooks. Whereas I won’t wholly agree with Apple’s aversion to together with touchscreens on its MacBooks, I actually don’t blame the corporate for sticking with the identical wonderful display screen.
The webcam is once more a 1080p FaceTime HD mannequin, and as with the earlier mannequin, this leads to a noticeable ‘notch’ that surrounds the webcam and dips down into the display screen, partially obscuring a part of the menu bar. Whereas this brought about some controversy when it first appeared within the 2021 MacBook Execs, it’s actually not that a lot of a giant deal, and macOS Ventura, which comes preinstalled on these fashions, has been designed to include the notch, transferring menu gadgets onto both sides, so that you don’t miss out on any performance, as you possibly can examine extra in our macOS Ventura evaluation.
The truth is, what lots of the controversy didn’t keep in mind was that you just bought extra workspace, because it was much less concerning the notch coming down into the display screen, however moderately the menu bar being pushed up into what was as soon as the display screen bezel.
The display screen measurement and extra ports do imply this can be a substantial laptop computer to lug about, with dimensions of 0.66 x 14.01 x 9.77 inches (1.68 x 35.57 x 24.81cm) and a weight of two.2 kg (4.8 kilos). Whereas the vary of ports and high quality of the display screen and webcam means you don’t have to plug in a spread of exterior units or adapters to work comfortably on the MacBook Professional 16-inch, making it actually a extra transportable workstation than a desktop PC or Mac. Nevertheless, as laptops go, this can be a giant and heavy gadget, so in case you’re after one thing extra transportable, think about the MacBook Professional 14-inch (2023), which comes with virtually similar specs, however in a smaller general bundle.
Different features of the brand new MacBook Professional 16-inch’s design stay the identical, so that you get a big and cozy keyboard that mixes low profile keys with good journey and a tactile, responsive, impact when typing. A Contact ID sensor can be included for simple and safe biometric logins.
So, whereas the design of the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) isn’t as revolutionary or as thrilling because the final model, it doesn’t must be. Apple’s customary construct high quality and aesthetics are all current and proper, and whereas it will not be the simplest MacBook to hold round, it manages to offer you virtually all the things you have to work each within the workplace or studio, or out on the street.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Software program and efficiency
The largest headline change for the brand new MacBook Professional 16-inch is what’s on the within, with Apple debuting two new super-powerful chips – the M2 Professional and M2 Max. The corporate claims that the M2 Professional presents 30% quicker GPU efficiency than the M1 Professional, and the M2 Max presents an analogous 30% leap in comparison with the M1 Max.
Contemplating how {powerful} the earlier chips had been, these claims trace at very spectacular efficiency from each new chips. Nevertheless, whereas a 30% enchancment over already {powerful} chips is respectable, few would argue that it’s a really generational leap. On paper, a minimum of, anybody who owns the M1 Professional or M1 Max MacBook Professional from 2021, and finds that their laptop computer simply handles any job you ask of it, shouldn’t really feel the necessity to improve to the brand new mannequin. Except you may get an excellent trade-in deal for the 2021 mannequin (and don’t take a look at Apple for that, because it presents trade-in costs that verge on the insulting), it received’t be well worth the worth.
Going from an Intel-based MacBook Professional, nevertheless, such because the 2019 mannequin of the MacBook Professional 16-inch, will probably be revolutionary. Make no mistake: the chips inside the brand new Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) are wonderful performers.
Throughout my time reviewing the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023), I used it for quite a lot of duties, together with photograph and video modifying utilizing Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premier Professional, and created a number of musical tasks in Ableton Stay 11 utilizing a mixture of MIDI devices, and the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023), which is supplied with the M2 Professional, carried out extraordinarily effectively. With the identical advanced multi-track audio tasks that typically made the M2 MacBook Professional 13-inch wrestle to maintain up, the M2 Professional MacBook Professional 16-inch didn’t skip a beat.
macOS Ventura and numerous different built-in apps, all carried out effectively and felt quick and responsive. Because the launch of Apple’s personal M1 chip in 2020, there was an growing variety of apps which have been constructed with M1 and M2 compatibility. Most main apps have native M2 help now, and the few that don’t can nonetheless be run because of Apple’s Rosetta 2 device.
Whereas the mannequin I reviewed wasn’t the highest-end model, for the mid to high-level inventive duties I used it for, the M2 Professional carried out extraordinarily effectively, which can make the M2 Max mannequin tougher to justify, as you’ll want to make use of it for some critically heavy-duty workloads to take advantage of out of the additional energy.
| Machine | CPU | Single Core | Multicore |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) | M2 Professional (12-core CPU / 19-core GPU) | 1,961 | 15,061 |
| MacBook Air (mid 2022) | M2 (8-core CPU / 10-core GPU)M2 (8-core CPU / 10-core GPU) | 1,917 | 8,950 |
| MacBook Professional 13-inch (2022) | M2 | 1,920 | 8,869 |
| MacBook Professional 13-inch (late 2020) | M1 | 1,705 | 7,382 |
| MacBook Air (late 2020) | M1 | 1,702 | 7,400 |
| Dell XPS 17 9700 | i7-10875H | 1,282 | 8,119 |
| Dell XPS 15 9500 | i7-10875H | 1,318 | 7,621 |
| Razer Blade Professional 17 | i7-10750H | 1,314 | 6,164 |
| ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 | Ryzen 4900HS | 1,221 | 7,982 |
| Floor E-book 3 | i71065G7 | 1,298 | 4,511 |
| Dell XPS 13 9300 | i7-1065G7 | 1,284 | 4,848 |
The artificial benchmarks I ran additionally confirmed a really succesful laptop computer, scoring 1,961 and 15,061 within the Geekbench 5 single-core and multi-core exams, respectively. This exams how effectively the CPU performs, and when in comparison with the 1,920 and eight,869 scores of the M2 chip in the identical exams, it exhibits a transparent efficiency leap over final yr’s chip.
I additionally ran the Shadow of the Tomb Raider recreation benchmarks to take a look at the graphical talents of the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023). With graphical settings set to ‘Highest’, and the decision set to 1920 x 1200, the MacBook Professional 16-inch managed an excellent 52fps (frames per second). Whereas this isn’t a gaming laptop computer, the outcome exhibits that it might probably actually do the job, even on graphically-intensive duties. Whereas I might nonetheless suggest a devoted gaming laptop computer, which is able to provide higher efficiency (and a wider vary of appropriate video games, attributable to it working Home windows), the MacBook Professional 16-inch is clearly a succesful gadget if you wish to unwind with a recreation after work. For recreation builders, having a laptop computer you possibly can each code on, and take a look at your recreation, will probably be extremely helpful.
The GFXBench Metallic take a look at for checking 3D graphics efficiency was equally spectacular. With the 1440p take a look at, it managed 192.47fps, an enormous improve over the M2’s rating of 110fps.
The 4K take a look at additionally confirmed virtually a doubling of efficiency, with the M2 Professional scoring 87.9fps in comparison with the 48fps of the M2. If you happen to’re on the lookout for graphical horsepower and contemplating both the M2 MacBook Professional 13-inch or the M2 Professional MacBook Professional 16-inch (or 14-inch), then the selection is obvious, so long as you’ve gotten the funds for it: go for the M2 Professional.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Battery
Whereas Apple is understandably pleased with the efficiency of the M2 Professional and M2 Max chips, it’s rightly boastful of the effectivity of those chips as effectively. Which means they will provide wonderful leads to heavy workloads with out consuming an excessive amount of energy. This implies the MacBook Professional 16-inch is an impressively quiet laptop computer when in use (because the much less energy its {hardware} wants, the much less warmth is produced, so the built-in followers don’t have to kick in), and it additionally signifies that its battery doesn’t drain as quick as its power-hungry opponents.
With a 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, Apple guarantees as much as 22 hours of battery life – a fairly outstanding boast contemplating what the MacBook Professional 16-inch is able to. Nevertheless, I’ve been impressed with earlier Apple silicon-based MacBook battery lives previously, so this was one boast I used to be excited to place to the take a look at.
The excellent news is that in my very own exams, together with working a 1080p video file till the battery died, the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023)’s battery life was certainly wonderful, lasting virtually 19 hours on a single cost. In day-to-day use, I used to be in a position to go a number of work days without having to plug within the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023).
Even higher, when on battery energy, the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) doesn’t throttle efficiency, like many Intel/AMD-based Home windows laptops do to protect battery life. There was no noticeable influence on efficiency when utilizing the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) unplugged, and rerunning benchmarks whereas on battery confirmed that there’s minimal distinction. So, you can also make use of the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023)’s lengthy battery life with out worrying about rendering tasks taking longer, for instance. It’s actually spectacular stuff.
The battery additionally costs shortly because of the MagSafe connection and 140W USB-C Energy Adapter – it went from empty to full in beneath an hour.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Competitors
As is usually the case with MacBooks, the primary competitors of the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) is different Apple units. There’s the MacBook Professional 14-inch (2023), which launched alongside the 16-inch mannequin, and presents basically the identical specs, however with a smaller display screen and a decrease beginning worth of $1,999 / £2,149.
That is much less of a competitor and extra of an alternate – if you need a extra transportable (and barely extra reasonably priced) MacBook Professional, then the 14-inch is the one to get.
There’s additionally the 13-inch MacBook Professional from 2022, which comes with the M2 chip. That is cheaper nonetheless, at $1,299 / £1,299, and is an effective selection for folks on the lookout for a professional laptop computer, however don’t want the sort of energy the brand new MacBook Professional 16-inch presents. Nevertheless, whereas the M2 chip is a good performer, there’s a clear uptick in efficiency with the M2 Professional (and much more so with the M2 Max). The MacBook Professional 13-inch (M2, 2022) additionally doesn’t function a brand new design, which leaves it feeling slightly dated.
Arguably the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023)’s greatest competitor is the earlier mannequin from 2021. It’s solely two years previous, and the M1 Professional and M1 Max chips you possibly can configure it with are nonetheless wonderful performers. If you happen to already personal one, there’s no have to improve. And, whereas Apple has stopped promoting the 2021 fashions, different retailers are nonetheless promoting them, and with the brand new fashions out, it’s possible you’ll discover some respectable reductions on the 2021 variations.
On the Home windows aspect of issues, nothing actually comes near providing each the efficiency and battery lifetime of the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023). The Dell XPS 17 is a large-screen laptop computer with good specs and a stunning slimline design, however it might probably’t compete in terms of efficiency.
MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Do you have to purchase it?
Purchase the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) if….
You want a strong, transportable, workstation.
The MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) combines the sort of efficiency you will have as soon as wanted a desktop PC to attain, with distinctive battery life that may allow you to work virtually wherever.
You’re a video editor or digital artist.
This MacBook is ideal for video editors, or anybody who works with visible mediums, because of its gorgeous 16-inch display screen and {powerful} parts.
You could have an Intel-based MacBook Professional.
The MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) actually shines when in comparison with 2019 MacBook Execs and earlier which have Intel {hardware}, because the M2 Professional and M2 Max provide massively improved efficiency and battery lives.
Don’t purchase the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) if….
You’re on a funds.
That is Apple’s flagship MacBook Professional, and meaning it additionally comes with a really excessive price ticket. If you happen to don’t want the ability, think about the MacBook Professional 13-inch (M2, 2022) or MacBook Air (M2, 2022) as a substitute.
You desire a skinny and lightweight laptop computer.
Whereas the MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) is actually extra transportable than lugging round a desktop PC to work on, that is nonetheless a big and heavy laptop computer. The 14-inch mannequin, or the MacBook Air, will probably be much more comfy to hold.
You splashed out on the earlier mannequin.
If you happen to spent some huge cash on the 2021 model – don’t fear about it being made redundant by the brand new mannequin. The 2021 MacBook Professional remains to be a implausible laptop computer, and the 2023 model doesn’t provide sufficient of a efficiency enhance to make the improve worthwhile.
Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023): Verdict
If you’d like essentially the most {powerful} MacBook Apple has ever made, then the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) is for you. It combines the very newest Apple silicon within the type of the M2 Professional and M2 Max chips, large quantities of reminiscence (as much as 96GB), and industry-leading battery life.
Add the most effective display screen you possibly can presently get on a laptop computer, and also you’ve bought a MacBook that may provide help to work quicker and smarter for years to come back. That’s, in case you can afford it. Whereas the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) hasn’t had a worth rise (within the US, a minimum of), that is nonetheless an extremely costly laptop computer, with a price ticket that may put it out of attain for many individuals.
The ability on provide right here will even possible be overkill for many individuals. If you happen to want a workstation laptop computer for doing critically heavy inventive workloads, equivalent to engaged on 8K footage or rendering advanced 3D animations, then the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) might be your dream laptop computer. If you happen to’re solely going to be doing a spot of photograph modifying and touching up dwelling movies, you’d be higher off saving some cash and going for the M2 MacBooks launched in 2022.
The Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023) doesn’t include a brand new design, nor does it provide a really generational leap in efficiency, and meaning regardless of the brand new MacBook Professional being an distinctive performer, it’s not fairly as thrilling because the 2021 mannequin, which actually did really feel revolutionary for the time.
Nonetheless, an incremental replace for among the best laptops ever made remains to be value celebrating, and in case you haven’t used an Apple silicon-based Mac or MacBook earlier than, you’re going to actually love the Apple MacBook Professional 16-inch (2023).
Backside line: The most recent MacBook Professional 16-inch will not be for everybody, however in case you want a particularly {powerful} laptop computer, that is the one to get.
