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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)

Manufacturer	Apple
Product family	MacBook Pro
Release date	November 2023 (2023-11)
Introductory price	USD 2499 to 7199
Discontinued	No
Operating system	macOS Sonoma
CPU	Apple M3 Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Max
Memory	18 GB, 36 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB, 128 GB unified memory
Memory slots	None (onboard)
Storage	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB SSD
Storage slots	None (onboard)
Removable storage	SDXC card slot
Display	Screen size: 16.2 inch Panel type: Mini-LED Coating: Glossy Resolution: 3456 x 2234 PPI: 254 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: 120 Hz (ProMotion) Brightness: 600 Nits (SDR), 1600 Nits (HDR) Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 P3: 99.2 % VRR: ProMotion
Graphics	Apple M3 10-core GPU Apple M3 Pro 18-core GPU Apple M3 Max 30-core GPU Apple M3 Max 40-core GPU
Sound	6-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers Wide stereo sound Support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos
Camera	1080p FaceTime HD camera
Touchpad	Force Touch trackpad
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 3 x USB-C 4.0 with Thunderbolt 4 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x SDXC card slot 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack MagSafe 3 port
Dimensions	W: 14.01 inches (35.6 cm) D: 9.77 inches (24.8 cm) H: 0.66 inches (1.7 cm)
Mass	4.7 pounds (2.1 kg)
Power brick	140W USB-C Power Adapter
Battery	99.6 Wh Li-Polymer
Keyboard	Backlit Magic Keyboard
Chassis	Color: Space Black, Silver Materials: Anodized aluminum Cooling: Dual fans
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Touch ID
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Website	Apple

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The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is a high-performance laptop designed for professionals and power users. It features Apple's latest M3 series chips, offering significant improvements in CPU and GPU performance, efficiency, and battery life. The MacBook Pro 16 is available in various configurations, including the M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, and comes in Space Black and Silver finishes.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) can be configured with the following processors:

• Apple M3 with 8-core CPU (4 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)
• Apple M3 Pro with 12-core CPU (6 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores)
• Apple M3 Max with 14-core CPU (10 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)
• Apple M3 Max with 16-core CPU (12 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores)

The M3 Max variant, in particular, offers a significant performance boost with its 12 performance cores, making it suitable for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and software development. The M3 Max's CPU performance is reported to be 63% higher than the M2 Max, and it outperforms Intel's H45 CPUs and AMD's HS processors in multi-core benchmarks.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • M3 Max (16-core): ~24024 pts (multi-core), ~1968 pts (single-core)
• Geekbench 6.2:
  • M3 Max (16-core): ~21243 pts (multi-core), ~3096 pts (single-core)

Graphics

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers the following GPU configurations:

• Apple M3 with 10-core GPU
• Apple M3 Pro with 18-core GPU
• Apple M3 Max with 30-core GPU
• Apple M3 Max with 40-core GPU

The M3 Max GPUs support advanced features such as hardware-accelerated ray tracing, making them suitable for graphics-intensive tasks and gaming. The 40-core GPU variant offers up to 25% better performance than the M2 Max in gaming benchmarks and supports new GPU features like ray tracing.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited:
  • M3 Max (40-core): ~31268 pts
• GFXBench 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen:
  • M3 Max (40-core): ~203.7 fps

Memory

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) supports unified memory configurations ranging from 18 GB to 128 GB, depending on the chosen SoC. The M3 Max configurations can be equipped with up to 128 GB of unified memory, making them ideal for memory-intensive applications such as video editing and 3D rendering.

Benchmarks:

• AIDA64 Memory Copy: ~79000 MB/s

Storage

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers storage options ranging from 512 GB to 8 TB SSD. The SSDs provide high transfer rates, with the 8 TB variant achieving up to 8 GB/s read and write speeds.

Benchmarks:

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:
  • 8 TB SSD: ~5665.9 MB/s (read), ~8271 MB/s (write)

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The MacBook Pro 16 features a backlit Magic Keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement. The keyboard offers a comfortable typing experience with precise key travel and feedback.

Touchpad

The Force Touch trackpad on the MacBook Pro 16 provides precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities, enabling Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.

Webcam

The MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, offering good image quality for video calls. However, it lacks advanced features like Face ID and Center Stage.

Microphone

The MacBook Pro 16 includes a studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming, providing clear audio for calls and recordings.

Output Devices

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Display

The MacBook Pro 16 features a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 3456 x 2234 pixels and a pixel density of 254 PPI. The display supports ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120 Hz and offers a peak brightness of 1600 nits for HDR content. The display covers 99.2% of the P3 color gamut and provides excellent color accuracy.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum SDR brightness: ~630 nits
• Maximum HDR brightness: ~1625 nits

Audio

The MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, providing wide stereo sound and support for Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. The speakers deliver balanced mids and highs with good bass response.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The MacBook Pro 16 features Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for fast and reliable wireless connectivity. The performance is stable, with high transfer rates in both 2.4 GHz and 6 GHz bands.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: ~1726 Mb/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: ~1752 Mb/s

Bluetooth

The MacBook Pro 16 includes Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity with peripherals.

SD Card Reader

The MacBook Pro 16 features an SDXC card slot, providing fast transfer speeds for media files.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum read speed: ~226.7 MB/s
• Average JPG copy test: ~163.3 MB/s

USB

The MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with three USB-C 4.0 ports with Thunderbolt 4 support, providing up to 40 Gbps data transfer, DisplayPort 1.4, and USB Power Delivery. It also includes an HDMI 2.1 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, and a MagSafe 3 port for charging.

Case

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is available in Space Black and Silver finishes. The chassis is made of anodized aluminum, providing a premium and sturdy build. The laptop weighs 4.7 lbs and has dimensions of 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches. The design includes dual fans for cooling and a backlit Magic Keyboard.

Maintenance

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The MacBook Pro 16 has limited maintenance options, with most components, including the RAM and SSD, soldered onto the motherboard. The bottom panel can be removed for cleaning the fans, but upgrades are not possible.

Cooling System

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The MacBook Pro 16 features a dual-fan cooling system that efficiently manages heat during intensive tasks. The fans remain quiet during light to medium loads and only become audible under heavy workloads.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum fan noise: ~42.8 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with a 99.6 Wh battery and a 140W USB-C power adapter. The power consumption is efficient, with a maximum of 145.2W under load.

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro 16 offers impressive battery life, with up to 20 hours of wireless web browsing and 24 hours of video playback at 150 nits brightness. The battery life is slightly reduced at maximum brightness but remains competitive.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Browsing (150 nits): 999 minutes
• WiFi Browsing (max brightness): 405 minutes
• Video Playback (150 nits): 1221 minutes
• Load (max brightness): 71 minutes

Biometrics

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The MacBook Pro 16 includes Touch ID for secure authentication but does not support Face ID.

Software

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The MacBook Pro 16 ships with macOS Sonoma, offering a range of built-in apps and features for productivity and creativity. The operating system includes accessibility features to support users with disabilities.

Accessories & Warranty

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The MacBook Pro 16 comes with a 140W USB-C power adapter and a USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable. It includes a one-year limited warranty, with the option to purchase AppleCare+ for extended coverage.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is highly regarded for its performance, build quality, and display. Reviewers praise the significant improvements in CPU and GPU performance, making it suitable for demanding professional tasks. The laptop's battery life, display quality, and audio performance are also highlighted as strong points.

Problems Summary

• Limited performance in combined CPU/GPU workloads
• Constant PWM flickering and slow response times
• Only a one-year warranty
• No maintenance options
• High prices for RAM and SSD upgrades
• Webcam lacks Face ID and Center Stage

Links

M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD): NotebookCheck

M3 Max (16-core CPU, 40-core GPU, 48 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD): MaxTech