Technical sheet of the 16-inch MacBook Pro: reviews and prices

For several years, the 15″ MacBook Pro reigned supreme in the Apple laptop family. A hegemony which ended in November 2016, when Apple revealed in a press release its designated successor, the16-inch MacBook Pro. You might think there's only a few millimeters of difference at first glance, judging by this size, but it's actually not that simple.

In fact, other components than the screen have also been updated during the transition to this 16-inch version, which is in fact much more efficient than before. We therefore delved into the bowels of the beast to detect its slightest faults and disadvantages: follow the guide!

Design

Let's start with the exterior appearance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This is entitled to a glass screen - watch out for fingerprints which mark very quickly - while the case is made of recyclable aluminum, in space gray or silver. This material is, however, fragile: a small shock and it wrinkles. Especially since with only two kilograms on the meter, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is relativelylightand will even go unnoticed in most backpacks.

In fact, its borders have been reduced enough so that its format is similar to fifteen-inch models, which makes it compatible with most backpacks or travel bags: no worries at the airport or in class (width 35.79 cm for 24.59 depth). In terms of strict dimensions, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is 1.62 cm tall: that'svery fine, especially when we compare it to the MacBook Air which only offers a single millimeter less for its thickness!

You guessed it: the 16-inch MacBook Pro, despite being larger than all other MacBooks, is still a computerportable. It is therefore particularly practical on the move and even in transport, but remember to equip yourself with the necessary equipment (laptop stand + keyboard + mouse) if you plan to work long hours with it, at the risk of breaking your back.

The largest screen in portable Macs

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is, as its name obviously suggests, equipped with an IPS panelRetinasixteen inches diagonal. Backlit by LED, the screen offers a native resolution of 3,072 x 1,920 pixels, i.e.226 ppisupporting millions of different colors, with proprietary True Tone technology. That's a lot, and should easily satisfy demanding graphic designers but also those looking for a display large enough to enjoy a series on Netflix without missing the smallest details. THEgamers, they too, will be delighted, with Apple Arcade inside clocked at a 60Hz refresh rate, althoughthe fourth generation iPad Pro released a few months later is already doing better.

The luminance of the 16-inch MacBook Pro screen reaches 500 nits, which also allows it to be used outdoors. Be careful though, because it is notnot water resistant, or dust for that matter: avoid the beach. Buying a protective shell and a carrying case are also good ideas to avoid damaging the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Also remember to close the screen as soon as possible.

Premium performance

The 16-inch MacBook Pro does not have the suffix ofProfor nothing: it is indeed very powerful. Under the hood we find mid-range or even high-end components. First of all, the processor, which can be chosen from four different models from the founderIntel:

• a hexa-core Intel Core i7 clocked at 2.6 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz) with 12 MB of shared L3 cache
• an Intel Core i9 with eight cores clocked at 2.4 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 5 GHz) with 16 MB of shared L3 cache
• an Intel Core i9 with eight cores clocked at 2.3 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz) with 16 MB of shared L3 cache
• an Intel Core i9 with eight cores clocked at 2.4 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 5 GHz) with 16 MB of shared L3 cache

Note that in a future version, Apple should use its future proprietary chipsSilicon, announced during the Worldwide Developer Conference 2020. However, we do not yet know when the 16-inch MacBook Pros with this component will be sold.

In terms of RAM, the 16-inch MacBook Pro offers16 Go to RAMDDR4 at 2666 MHz. But if that's not enough, then you can also opt for double or quadruple, for respectively 500 or 1,000 euros more than the base price. The graphics processor, for its part, offers an Intel UHD Graphics 630 on each model, always with a second GPU to be selected from:

• AMDRadeon Pro 5300M with 4GB GDDR6 memory
• AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory (+125 euros)
• AMD Radeon Pro 5500M with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory (+250 euros)
• AMD Radeon Pro 5600M with 8 GB of HBM2 memory (+1,000 euros)

Finally, let's talk about autonomy. The 16-inch MacBook Pro holds approximatelyeleven hours straight web browsing via Wi-Fidepending on the manufacturer, for example to play videos on Apple TV+. In standby mode, the 16-inch MacBook Pro could even stay on for thirty days, but it is advisable to turn it off every evening to avoid damaging the motherboard in the long run. 100 Wh battery comes with AC adapterUSB‑C de 96 W.

Software: macOS Big Sur

Since summer 2020, the new operating system for 16-inch MacBook Pros has been macOS Big Sur. Available in stable version in the fall, this program also equipsthe version with a thirteen-inch screen from the same year, and offers a serious makeover compared to the previous edition (Catalina). In fact, thecolorsnow make menu navigation easier, while Safari finally welcomes the arrival of favicons. But that's not all.

Indeed, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is also entitled to a brand newControl centerresembling that of the iPad, while the widgets are now available in three different sizes. The 16-inch MacBook Pro, like all other Macs, comes with around thirty applications from Apple and completely free. Our favorites are theMac App Store-obviously- to download the applications of your choice pre-validated by Apple, but also the excellent voice assistantSirior even Stock Market, to follow the price of your favorite stocks in the blink of an eye. The only downside: the installation of programs from unknown sources is increasingly limited by Cupertino, to the point ofto blocksimply torrent software!

In general, MacBook Pros are entitled toupdatesfor six to seven years after the day of their marketing. We can therefore hope that the 16-inch MacBook Pro still has a bright future ahead of it and will be supported for a long time.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro keyboard

With the 16-inch MacBook Pro, Apple has returned to the keysscissor mechanism, renowned for its stability and efficiency (we also speak of Magic Keyboard). Previously, the arrival of the butterfly keyboard had indeed sparked controversy because users (including us) complained about repeated bugs, but the manufacturer fortunately ended up listening to the complaints. And it's successful: the keyboard of the 16-inch MacBook Pro works perfectly.

It is associated with a particularly imposing touchpad, the size of the screen of a small tablet: it is larger than our iPhone XR! Thistrackpadhas the right toForce Touch, a technology from Apple that recognizes the different levels of pressure from your fingers to offer you several actions accordingly. Another advantage of the 16-inch MacBook Pro: its Touch Bar. This small touch screen is placed just above the keyboard and under the main screen, and again offers shortcuts depending on the different apps you use.

With Photoshop, for example, the 16-inch MacBook Pro displays a color palette on theTouch Bar, while with a browser you can, for example, access the search bar. The most practical on a daily basis for us is the emoji library. And if you were wondering, no, 16-inch MacBook Pro models without Touch Bar do not exist and yes, you can unlock them with your fingerprint using the scannerTouch ID(that's a lot ofTouch).

Connection, sound and camera

The 16-inch MacBook Pro is equipped withfour ThunderBolt 3 ports (USB-C plug)each supporting power, DisplayPort, and transfers up to 40 Gbps. You will therefore have to buy adapters for Ethernet, HDMI, SD card or even VGA, but you canplug the computer into the mains on the side you want: priceless. A headphone jack (3.5 m jack) is also there for music lovers: phew, it hasn't disappeared yet! As for the network now, you should know that the 16-inch MacBook Pro of course has a Wi-Fi modem (802.11ac/a/b/g/n) but does not have a 4G chip: consider have a hotspot within reach if you plan to use the Internet.

For wireless accessories, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is entitled to Bluetooth 5.0. Its camera is a FaceTime HD with high definition720p: this is not his strong point. As for audio, it can count on a “high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers“, in stereo and supporting Dolby Atmos. Added to this are three microphones “studio quality" with "high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming“. Thanks to the T2 chip, theyautomatically disconnect as soon as the screen is closed: good for your privacy.

Prices for the 16-inch MacBook Pro start at2 699 eurosin its basic version without option. But depending on the components chosen, the price can rise to more than 8,000 euros. For example, it takes 250 euros more for the SSD to go from 512 GB to 1 TB, 750 euros for the double, 1,500 euros for 4 TB or even 3,000 euros for8 To.

Our opinion on the 16-inch MacBook Pro

Let's conclude this technical sheet of the 16-inch MacBook Pro with our opinion. Apple offers us here a laptop in a particularly formatcompactfor a screen of this size, not to mention that it's a performance monster that doesn't lag. Its finishes are minimalist and luxurious, thesoftwarehas seriously improved since Big Sur: what more could you ask for?

So of course, the price puts this 16-inch MacBook Pro in the big leagues. It will therefore not be suitable for those looking to save money, that is clear. But professionals will find it in its technical sheet, that's for sure. In fact, most of the negative points of the 16-inch MacBook Pro - beyond the lack of a touch screen - are quickly eclipsed by itsbenefits: we use it in the editorial office and are fully satisfied with it. Well done Apple.