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MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023)

Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
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 Pro Apple M3 Max
Memory	18 GB, 36 GB, 48 GB, 64 GB, 96 GB, 128 GB unified memory
Storage	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB SSD
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 Screen-to-body ratio:
Graphics	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 Studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming
Camera	1080p FaceTime HD camera
Touchpad	Force Touch trackpad
Connectivity	WiFi 6E Bluetooth 5.3 3 x USB 4 (Thunderbolt 4) 1 x HDMI 2.1 1 x SDXC card slot 1 x 3.5mm headphone/microphone jack 1 x MagSafe 3
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
Keyboard	Backlit Magic Keyboard
Chassis	Color: Space Black, Silver Materials: 100% recycled aluminum enclosure Cooling: Dual fans
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes (Touch ID)
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	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 Pro and M3 Max chips. It offers significant improvements in CPU and GPU performance, battery life, and display brightness compared to its predecessors.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

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

• Apple M3 Pro with 12 cores (6 performance cores + 6 efficiency cores), 18-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 150GB/s memory bandwidth.
• Apple M3 Max with 14 cores (10 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores) or 16 cores (12 performance cores + 4 efficiency cores), 30-core or 40-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, and 300GB/s or 400GB/s memory bandwidth.

The M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are built on a 3 nm process, offering significant performance and efficiency improvements over previous generations. The M3 Max, in particular, provides a substantial boost in multi-core performance, making it suitable for demanding tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering.

Benchmarks:

• Cinebench R23:
  • M3 Pro: ~15106 pts (multi-core), ~1977 pts (single-core)
  • M3 Max: ~24024 pts (multi-core), ~1968 pts (single-core)

Graphics

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

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

The M3 Max GPUs provide significant performance improvements over previous generations, particularly in tasks that benefit from high GPU performance such as video editing and 3D rendering. The GPUs also support hardware-accelerated ray tracing and other advanced graphics features.

Benchmarks:

• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited:
  • M3 Pro: ~14545 pts
  • M3 Max: ~31268 pts

Memory

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) supports the following memory configurations:

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

The unified memory architecture allows the CPU and GPU to share the same memory pool, improving performance and efficiency for memory-intensive tasks.

Storage

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

• 512 GB SSD
• 1 TB SSD
• 2 TB SSD
• 4 TB SSD
• 8 TB SSD

The SSDs offer high read and write speeds, ensuring fast boot times and quick access to files and applications. The 8 TB SSD configuration is particularly suitable for users who require extensive storage for large files and projects.

Benchmarks:

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test:
  • Read: ~5666 MB/s
  • Write: ~8271 MB/s

Input Devices

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Keyboard

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

Webcam

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera. The camera provides good image quality for video calls, although it lacks advanced features such as Face ID or Center Stage.

Output Devices

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Display

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) 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 120Hz and offers a peak brightness of 1600 nits for HDR content and 600 nits for SDR content. The display also supports a wide color gamut (P3) and True Tone technology.

The display provides excellent color accuracy and contrast, making it suitable for professional photo and video editing. The high brightness and HDR support enhance the viewing experience for multimedia content.

Audio

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) includes a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers. The speakers provide wide stereo sound and support Spatial Audio when playing music or video with Dolby Atmos. The laptop also features a studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.

The audio system delivers clear and balanced sound, making it suitable for both casual listening and professional audio work.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.3, providing fast and reliable wireless connectivity.

Benchmarks:

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

Bluetooth

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) includes Bluetooth 5.3, offering improved connectivity and energy efficiency for compatible devices.

SD Card Reader

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features an SDXC card slot, providing fast and convenient access to external storage.

Benchmarks:

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

USB

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) includes the following USB ports:

• 3 x USB-C (USB 4, Thunderbolt 4) with support for charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s).

Display Outputs

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) supports up to four external displays with the M3 Max chip and up to two external displays with the M3 Pro chip. The HDMI 2.1 port supports up to 8K resolution at 60Hz or 4K resolution at 240Hz.

Case

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is available in Space Black and Silver. The chassis is made from 100% recycled aluminum, providing a premium and durable build. The laptop features a sleek and professional design with a uniform color scheme.

The MacBook Pro 16 is relatively lightweight for its size, weighing 4.7 pounds (M3 Pro) or 4.8 pounds (M3 Max). The dimensions are 14.01 inches in width, 9.77 inches in depth, and 0.66 inches in height.

Maintenance

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has limited maintenance options. The bottom panel is secured by PentalThis section was written by AI and requires review. Remove this after review.

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) has limited maintenance options. The bottom panel is secured by Pentalobe screws (P5) and small metal hooks, requiring careful handling to remove. Once inside, users can clean the fans, but all other components, including the RAM and SSD, are soldered and not user-upgradable.

Cooling System

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) features a dual-fan cooling system designed to manage the heat generated by the powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max chips. The fans are capable of running at different speeds, with one fan operating between 1350-5349 rpm and the other between 1458-5777 rpm.

Heat

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) maintains relatively low surface temperatures even under heavy load. During stress tests, the maximum temperature recorded on the upper side was 42.3 °C, and on the bottom, it was 42 °C. The efficient cooling system ensures that the laptop remains comfortable to use, even during intensive tasks.

Benchmarks:

• Maximum upper side: ~42.3 °C
• Maximum bottom: ~42 °C
• Idle upper side: ~22.5 °C
• Idle bottom: ~22.9 °C

Noise

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is designed to operate quietly in most scenarios. The fans remain inaudible during light tasks and only become noticeable under heavy load. The maximum noise level recorded during stress tests was 42.8 dB(A). The fan noise is steady and not disruptive, making the laptop suitable for quiet environments.

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) is energy-efficient, with a maximum power consumption of 145.2 W under load. The laptop includes a 140W USB-C power adapter, which is sufficient to charge the battery even during intensive tasks.

Benchmarks:

• Idle: 5.2 W (min), 16.9 W (avg), 17.2 W (max)
• Load: 90.5 W (avg), 145.2 W (max)

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) is equipped with a 100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, providing impressive battery life. Apple claims up to 22 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web usage.

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 (Late 2023) includes a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated into the power button, providing secure and convenient authentication. However, it does not support Face ID.

Software

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The MacBook Pro 16 (Late 2023) ships with macOS Sonoma, the latest version of Apple's desktop operating system. macOS Sonoma includes new features to enhance productivity, gaming performance, and device personalization.

Preinstalled Software

The MacBook Pro 16 comes with a suite of preinstalled Apple applications, 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
• Weather

Linux Support

Linux is not officially supported by Apple on 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 (2 m).

Apple offers a one-year limited warranty for the MacBook Pro 16, with the option to purchase AppleCare+ for extended coverage and accidental damage protection.

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, battery life, and display brightness. The laptop is considered an excellent choice for professionals who require a powerful and reliable machine for demanding tasks.

Problems Summary

• Limited maintenance options with soldered components.
• High prices for RAM and SSD upgrades.
• No Face ID or Center Stage for the webcam.
• Constant PWM flickering and slow response times on the display.
• Only a one-year warranty.

Links

M3 Pro, 18-core GPU, 18 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD: NotebookCheck

M3 Max, 40-core GPU, 48 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD: NotebookCheck