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Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)

Manufacturer	Apple
Product family	MacBook Pro
Release date	October 2023 (2023-10)
Introductory price	USD 2499 to 7199
Discontinued	No
Operating system	macOS Sonoma
CPU	Apple M3 Apple M3 Pro Apple M3 Max
Memory	8 GB, 16 GB, 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: 1000 nits sustained, 1600 nits peak (HDR) Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 P3: 99.2 % Screen-to-body ratio:
Graphics	Apple M3 10-core GPU Apple M3 Pro 14-core GPU, 18-core GPU Apple M3 Max 30-core GPU, 40-core GPU
Sound	High-fidelity six-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 (802.11ax) Bluetooth 5.3 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x SDXC card slot
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) (M3 Pro), 4.8 pounds (2.2 kg) (M3 Max)
Power brick	140W USB-C Power Adapter
Battery	100 Wh Li-Polymer
Keyboard	Backlit Magic Keyboard
Chassis	Color: Space Black Materials: Aluminum Cooling: Two large fans
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes (Touch ID)
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
Website	Apple

All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.

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   The Apple MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is a high-performance laptop designed for professionals, featuring Apple's M3 series chips. It is available in various configurations, offering a range of CPU and GPU options, memory capacities, and storage sizes.

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), 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 100GB/s memory bandwidth.
• Apple M3 Pro with 11-core CPU (5 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores), 14-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 150GB/s memory bandwidth. Configurable to 12-core CPU and 18-core GPU.
• Apple M3 Max with 14-core CPU (10 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores), 30-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 300GB/s memory bandwidth. Configurable to 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU.

Apple claims that the M3 series chips offer significant performance improvements over their predecessors, with the M3 Max providing the highest performance among the available options. The M3 Max chip, in particular, is designed for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and software development.

Reviewers have noted that the M3 Pro chip offers a 14.4% improvement in multicore tasks compared to the base model, while the M3 Max chip shows a 38% improvement in multicore performance over the previous generation. The M3 Max also demonstrates a 50% faster performance in Cinebench 2024 with only 16% more power usage.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • M3 Pro: 15106 pts (multi-core), 1977 pts (single-core)
  • M3 Max: 24024 pts (multi-core), 1968 pts (single-core)
• Geekbench 6:
  • M3 Pro: 15480 pts (multi-core), 3138 pts (single-core)
  • M3 Max: 21243 pts (multi-core), 3096 pts (single-core)

Graphics

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with integrated GPUs based on the M3 series chips:

• Apple M3 with 10-core GPU.
• Apple M3 Pro with 14-core GPU, configurable to 18-core GPU.
• Apple M3 Max with 30-core GPU, configurable to 40-core GPU.

Apple claims that the M3 Max chip offers the highest graphics performance, suitable for tasks such as 3D rendering, gaming, and video editing. The M3 Max GPU is designed to handle demanding graphics workloads with hardware-accelerated ray tracing and other advanced features.

Reviewers have noted that the M3 Max chip provides a 99.7% raw performance increase over the M2 Max in synthetic benchmarks. In real-world gaming benchmarks, the M3 Max achieves 188 FPS, which is 25% faster than the M2 Max and 57% faster than the M1 Max.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited:
  • M3 Pro: 14545 pts
  • M3 Max: 31268 pts
• Geekbench Metal:
  • M3 Pro: 78324 pts
  • M3 Max: 155752 pts

Memory

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) offers various memory configurations:

• 8 GB or 16 GB unified memory, configurable to 16 GB or 24 GB.
• 18 GB unified memory, configurable to 36 GB (M3 Pro or M3 Max with 14-core CPU), 96 GB (M3 Max with 14-core CPU), 48 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB (M3 Max with 16-core CPU).
• 36 GB unified memory, configurable to 96 GB (M3 Max with 14-core CPU), 48 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB (M3 Max with 16-core CPU).
• 48 GB unified memory, configurable to 64 GB or 128 GB.

The memory is onboard and not user-upgradable. The M3 Max chip supports up to 128 GB of unified memory, making it suitable for memory-intensive tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering.

Reviewers have noted that the memory performance is high, supporting the overall system performance. The additional RAM and faster SSD contribute to better overall performance.

Benchmarks:

• Amorphous Memory Mark: High subjective performance impression

Storage

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

• 512 GB or 1 TB SSD, configurable to 1 TB or 2 TB.
• 512 GB SSD, configurable to 1 TB, 2 TB, or 4 TB; 8 TB (M3 Max only).
• 1 TB SSD, configurable to 2 TB or 4 TB; 8 TB (M3 Max only).

The SSDs are onboard and not user-upgradable. Apple claims that the SSDs offer high transfer rates, contributing to the overall system performance.

Reviewers have noted that the SSD speeds have improved, with write speeds reaching 6,271 MB/s compared to 5,600 MB/s in the previous version. The read speeds are very similar.

Benchmarks:

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:
  • M3 Pro: 4756.4 MB/s (read), 4198.7 MB/s (write)
  • M3 Max: 5665.9 MB/s (read), 8271 MB/s (write)

Co-processors

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features a 16-core Neural Engine for machine learning tasks. This co-processor is integrated into the M3 series chips and is designed to accelerate AI applications.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with a backlit Magic Keyboard featuring 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement. The keyboard also includes Touch ID and an ambient light sensor.

Reviewers have praised the keyboard for its comfortable and precise typing experience. The keystrokes are described as fantastic, with positive feedback on the keyboard's performance.

Touchpad

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features a Force Touch trackpad that provides precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities. It enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.

Reviewers have noted that the trackpad is excellent, offering a consistent clicking experience and extensive customization options in macOS.

Webcam

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The camera includes an advanced image signal processor with computational video.

Reviewers have noted that the webcam offers good image quality, though it is not comparable to front cameras on iPads. The camera is suitable for video calls and other casual uses.

Microphone

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features a studio-quality three-mic array with a high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.

Output Devices

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Display

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features a 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a native resolution of 3456 x 2234 pixels at 254 PPI. The display supports XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range) with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 nits sustained full-screen brightness, and 1600 nits peak brightness for HDR content. It also supports ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.

Reviewers have praised the display for its high brightness, accurate colors, and high refresh rate. The display offers excellent picture quality, with a maximum SDR brightness of 630 nits and HDR brightness reaching up to 1625 nits.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum SDR brightness: 630 nits
• Maximum HDR brightness: 1625 nits
• Color accuracy: ΔE Color 1.2, ΔE Greyscale 1.9
• Display P3 Coverage: 99.2%

Audio

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers. The speakers support wide stereo sound and Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos.

Reviewers have noted that the speakers are among the best in laptops, offering loud and balanced sound with good bass and linear mids and highs.

Benchmarks:

• Speaker loudness: 84.3 dB
• Overall sound linearity: 5.3% difference to median

Connectivity

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WiFi

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) for high-speed wireless connectivity.

Reviewers have noted that the Wi-Fi performance is very good, with stable transfer rates.

Benchmarks:

• iperf3 transmit AXE11000: 1726 MBit/s
• iperf3 receive AXE11000: 1752 MBit/s

Bluetooth

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless connectivity.

SD Card Reader

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) includes an SDXC card slot for expandable storage.

Reviewers have noted that the card reader is very fast, with transfer rates up to 226 MB/s.

Benchmarks:

• AS SSD Seq Read Test: 226.7 MB/s
• JPG Copy Test: 163.3 MB/s

USB

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with the following USB ports:

• 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) with support for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s).
• 1 x HDMI 2.1.
• 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack.

Display Outputs

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) supports multiple external displays depending on the configuration:

• Apple M3: One external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz.
• Apple M3 Pro: Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt, or one external display with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI. One external display supported at 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external displaywith up to 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.
• Apple M3 Max: Up to four external displays: Up to three external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 144Hz over HDMI. Alternatively, up to three external displays: Up to two external displays with 6K resolution at 60Hz over Thunderbolt and one external display with up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or one external display with 4K resolution at 240Hz over HDMI.

Case

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features an aluminum chassis available in Space Black. The design is robust and high-quality, with a premium feel. The new Space Black color is less prone to fingerprints compared to the Midnight color.

The dimensions of the 16-inch model are 14.01 inches (35.57 cm) in width, 9.77 inches (24.81 cm) in depth, and 0.66 inches (1.68 cm) in height. The weight varies slightly depending on the configuration, with the M3 Pro model weighing 4.7 pounds (2.14 kg) and the M3 Max model weighing 4.8 pounds (2.16 kg).

Reviewers have noted that the chassis is sturdy and feels premium, with high-quality workmanship. The design is appreciated for its aesthetics and functional improvements, such as rubber pads to prevent contact when pressure is applied to the back.

Maintenance

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has limited maintenance options. The bottom panel is secured by Pentalobe screws and metal hooks, making it difficult to open. Most components are soldered and cannot be upgraded, limiting the upgradeability of the device.

Cooling System

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with two large fans that operate at different speeds to manage the cooling of the device. The cooling system is designed to be efficient, keeping the device cool under load.

Heat

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) maintains manageable surface temperatures, with a maximum of 42.3 °C on the upper side under load. The device remains cool under most conditions, with maximum temperatures reaching 42 °C (108 °F) during gaming.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum Upper Side: 42.3 °C
• Maximum Bottom: 42 °C

Noise

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is usually silent in everyday use, with fan noise becoming noticeable only under extreme load. The fans ramp up faster and more noticeably on the M3 Max compared to the M2 Max. Under high load, the fan noise can reach up to 42.8 dB(A).

Benchmarks:

• Idle: 23.7 dB(A)
• Load: 42.8 dB(A)

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) ships with a 140W USB-C Power Adapter. The power consumption is slightly higher than the previous model but remains within acceptable limits. The M3 Max chip uses up to 49 watts of power compared to 35 watts for the M2 Max.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: 5.2 - 17.2 Watt
• Load: 90.5 - 145.2 Watt

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with a 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. Apple claims that the battery can last up to 22 hours for Apple TV app movie playback and up to 15 hours for wireless web usage.

Reviewers have noted that the battery life is impressive, with the M3 Max offering better battery life despite higher power usage. The device retains 14% battery after extensive testing, compared to 5% on the M2 Max.

Benchmarks:

• WiFi Websurfing: 16h 39min
• WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: 6h 45min
• Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: 20h 21min
• Load (maximum brightness): 1h 11min

Biometrics

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) includes Touch ID for fingerprint recognition. There is no support for Windows Hello face recognition.

Software

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) ships with macOS Sonoma. The device comes with a range of preinstalled software, including App Store, Books, Calendar, Contacts, FaceTime, Find My, Freeform, GarageBand, Home, iMovie, Keynote, Mail, Maps, Messages, Music, News, Notes, Numbers, Pages, Photo Booth, Photos, Podcasts, Preview, QuickTime Player, Reminders, Safari, Shortcuts, Siri, Stocks, Time Machine, TV, Voice Memos, and Weather.

Preinstalled Software

The preinstalled software includes a variety of applications for productivity, creativity, and entertainment. Notable applications include GarageBand for music creation, iMovie for video editing, and Keynote for presentations.

Linux Support

There is no specific mention of Linux support for the MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023).

Accessories & Warranty

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) comes with a 140W USB-C Power Adapter and a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable. The device includes a one-year limited manufacturer warranty if purchased in the US.

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 have praised the device for its high CPU and GPU performance, excellent battery life, and robust design. The primary drawbacks include the high cost and limited upgrade options.

Problems Summary

• High cost.
• Limited upgrade options due to soldered components.
• No support for Windows Hello face recognition.
• PWM flickering on the display.
• Slow response times on the display.
• Higher power consumption compared to previous models.

Links

M3 Pro, 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU: MaxTech Review

M3 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU: MaxTech Review

M3 Pro, 14-core CPU, 30-core GPU: MaxTech Review

M3 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU: MaxTech Review

M3 Pro, 12-core CPU, 18-core GPU: NotebookCheck Review

M3 Max, 16-core CPU, 40-core GPU: NotebookCheck Review