Apple MacBook Pro 16 Review: Unprecedented Format and Exceptional Endurance
With the MacBook Pro 16, Apple is adopting a new format for its screen that is still as neat as possible and has chosen certain safe values by abandoning the butterfly keyboard in favor of the Magic Keyboard. But does this model have more surprises in store?
Our outline for the Apple MacBook Pro 16 review:
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Specs and General Presentation
Apple is shaking up its range with this new MacBook Pro. Replacing the 15-inch model, this model aims to be the brand's ultimate laptop, both in terms of finish and power. Intended above all for creatives looking for quality and a particular software ecosystem, it seeks to seduce with its screen of unprecedented size, its re-worked chassis and its high-end Intel processor - you choose between a Core i7 and two Core i9s, all of 9th generation, all classified in the "H" category, high performance.
The size is not the only novelty of this MacBook Pro 16. For example, Apple has listened to the comments on the famous butterfly keyboard by replacing it with a so-called "Magic Keyboard".
Likewise, the audio part has been revised, since the Macbook Pro 16 now offers six speakers instead of four. New features that may seem minor at first glance, but which dramatically improve the experience and shows Apple's attention to detail.
Here are the full specs for our review unit:
Screen: 16 inch diagonal
Screen resolution: 2520 x 1080
Dimensions (width, length, thickness): 356 x 246 x 16 mm
Weight: 2 kg
CPU: Intel Core i9-9980HK processor
RAM: 32 GB
Graphics Card: AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card
Video memory: 6GB
Storage: 1TB SSD
Operating System: MacOS
Panel: IPS
Connectivity: 4 x USB-C, 1 x Headphone output
Cooling: Active Fan
But is the MacBook Pro 16 free of flaws? This is what we will check immediately.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Build Quality, Keyboard and Connectivity
MacBooks have accustomed us to an impeccable level of attention to details. The MacBook Pro 16 is no exception. It still has a sober frame in gray anodized aluminum. We are on familiar ground, the only big news being the format.
If it's slightly larger than the 15-inch model, it plays out within a few millimeters. The screen occupies 86% of the front and therefore allows for thinner edges, which does not make it much more massive than its predecessor, which had a screen/front ratio of 77%.
The MacBook Pro 16 has a second screen: the Touch Bar. This Oled screen located between the keyboard and the main screen is a line of additional and dynamic keys. While it is used to manage brightness or sound on the desktop, it also adapts to the application being used, for example showing the navigation bar on Safari or the play bar on Netflix. The use of the Touch Bar does not change with this new model.
However, functionality is undergoing some changes. Thus, the Escape key is no longer integrated into the screen, again becoming a separate mechanical key. Same thing for Touch ID (fingerprint sensor). It always works perfectly, whether it is to unlock your session or make purchases on the Internet via Apple Pay.
The webcam, although present, does not allow the session to be unlocked, as may be the case on some high-end Windows PCs.
Coming back to the Touch Bar, it's designed to work in concert with the MacBook Pro 16 operating system, of course, we're talking about macOS. The product is, like all those from Apple, powered by the latest version of macOS, namely Catalina which brings some new features. We can especially mention Sidecar, which allows you to transform an iPad Pro into a second screen.
Apple has learned from its keyboard mistakes. A lot of ink has been spilled over the MacBook Pro butterfly keyboard because of its unreliability. The MacBook Pro 16 integrates, for the first time, its successor, namely the Magic Keyboard.
This is a variation of the iMac keyboard adapted to the laptop. The stroke is admittedly longer than on the butterfly keyboard (which slightly thickens the chassis) and typing provides a different feel. It remains very pleasant despite a still short race which may disconcert some.
The trackpad, still as large as ever, is also an example to follow, as it is so pleasant and efficient.
It is a habit now with the manufacturer: the connectivity ports are limited to the strict minimum. The MacBook Pro 16 only accommodates four USB 3.1 Type-C ports compatible with Thunderbolt 3 on its slices. Add to that a headset port, but nothing more.
A simple connectivity schema completely assumed by Apple. To connect a USB Type-A device, connect an external screen, or take advantage of an Ethernet socket, the user will have no other choice but to go through external adapters.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro cannot be disassembled. It is possible to remove the screws located under the chassis with a Phillips screwdriver, however, the cover cannot be removed without risk because it is stuck to the other part of the computer. Completely disassembling it wouldn't get the user any further anyway.
iFixit, which dared to carry out the operation, indicates that it is not possible to change parts, whether it is RAM or storage. It will therefore not be possible to change the configuration of the MacBook Pro 16.
Our review unit hosts the most powerful processor in the range. With an Intel Core i9-9980HK in a 16 mm chassis, heat management is not easy but the chip is still suitable for a thermal envelope of 45 W. The Cupertino brand does not work miracles. Thus, when it is used (when a game is launched for example) the processor rises to 86 ° C.
The chassis heats up logically, but its temperature of 46 ° C above the Touch Bar remains acceptable. Regarding the management of the fans, Apple had to make a sacrifice, since we measured the noise level at 47 dB. This is a lot, and it might get in the way of the user's surroundings. On the other hand, the MacBook remains silent in-office use, the fans can barely hear (37 dB).
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Screen
The particularity of this new MacBook Pro is obviously its screen. This is indeed the first Apple computer to have a 16-inch panel, and this size is still very rare on the market. The MacBook's RetinaIPS display adopts a maximum resolution of 3,072 x 1,920px and a refresh rate of 60Hz.
Let's immediately get rid of this screen's biggest flaw: afterglow. Measured at 30 ms by us, it is very high, as is often the case with IPS panels. In effect, this means that "fuzzy trails" will annoy the most sensitive users when moving on the screen - while watching a movie, for example.
Embarrassing, especially since the screen is exemplary, apart from this detail. The contrast here is 1313:1, which is fine for a laptop. Respect for colors, essential for photo retouching, is met with an average delta E of 1.1. All colors displayed are therefore as real as they can get.
The high brightness of 424 cd/m² is combined with a panel that is certainly brilliant, but little subject to reflections with a reflectance of 27%. Therefore, an ideal computer for working outdoors.
Finally, we need to focus on dynamic temperature, a feature called True Tone by Apple. The temperature adapts to the surrounding light, with the screen getting colder if there is a lack of light and vice versa. A technology that works wonderfully and avoids visual fatigue with prolonged use. It is possible to deactivate the True Tone, but it is irrelevant. In this case, the screen displays a fixed temperature of 7,085 K and therefore becomes slightly blue when a blank page is displayed.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Performance
The review unit of our 16-inch MacBook Pro is equipped with an Intel Core i9-9980HK processor with 8 cores, 16 threads, and engraved at 14 nm. Its turbo frequency is high, rising to 5 GHz.. It comes with 32 GB of dual-channel RAM as well as a 1 TB SSD.
To conduct our tests, we installed Windows 10 on the machine. The idea is simple: to be able to use all of our test software, not all available in macOS versions. It cannot be ruled out that some additional refinements on processor management may be present in macOS, but these results are already a good indicator of the machine's capabilities.
The Intel Core i9-9980HK does not disappoint, as it delivered the best results in our tests, leaving all other PCs way behind. Such power logically causes heating at the level of the processor. We have seen previously that its average temperature was 86 ° C during full load.
In reality, it oscillates between 80 ° C and 92 ° C, without ever stabilizing, the processor drawing a lot of energy with its 8 cores. To control this heat, Apple had to play with the frequency of the processor, which, instead of sticking to a specific rhythm, they bounce between 2.5 GHz and 3.8 GHz. The cooling system must evacuate the heat from it, which causes the very strong blast noted above. This clearly reflects the complexity of managing such a processor in such a thin chassis.
Gaming on The MacBook Pro 16
The MacBook Pro 16 is equipped with an AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics card, modest in theory. Again, for the sake of compatibility, we performed our tests on Windows 10, installed via Bootcamp.
In our test protocols, the graphics card delivered decent results with games at 1080p and graphics set to maximum. The Radeon Pro 5500 M delivered good results, which places it between Nvidia GeForce GTX 1650 and a GTX 1660. Its frequency managed with an average measured at 1144 MHz (and stable!).
It is thus possible to play in a fluid way, without reaching 60 fps all the time, though with maximum graphics settings. Lowering the details helps though, and here is up to you to tweak the settings if you feel the need to. The same rule applies when using macOS, the Mac compatible games being at the same level.
The addition of a dedicated graphics card within this machine does not mean that it is intended for gaming though, at least initially. Indeed, if Apple offers a dedicated GPU, it is above all to speed up certain tasks for which the graphics chip can be used. This is particularly the case with video editing or encoding applications, 3D modeling or any software that can be used by creatives.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Mobility and Autonomy
The 16-inch format does not seem to favor ultraportability. However, Apple wanted to make a powerful machine with as little weight and as thin as possible. At only 2 kg and 16 mm thick, the MacBook Pro 16 is easy to transport, provided you have a suitable backpack. The charger, barely bigger than that of a smartphone, is also light at 372 g. But it won't have to be taken everywhere, as the battery life of the computer is excellent.
It is rare for a laptop to exceed 10 hours of battery life in a test, but even more so to see one last near 15 hours!.
During our usual protocol on macOS (Netflix on Safari, brightness set to 200 cd / m2 and headphones plugged in), the 16-inch MacBook Pro shut down after 14 h 43 min. This is the highest score in digital history.
Needless to say, it will be possible to last a whole day with your MacBook Pro 16 without worrying about recharging. Apple remains true to its reputation by offering an ultra-enduring computer.
Apple MacBook Pro 16 Audio and Conclusions
The 16-inch format allowed Apple to add two more speakers compared to the 15-inch model, bringing their total number to six. The manufacturer pulls off a feat by delivering audio worthy of a good portable speaker in such a small chassis.
Powerful, balanced with a higher bass presence than on most PCs on the market and delivering crisp stereo, the sound of the MacBook Pro 16 is a real treat for the ears. Excellence supported by the fact that the speakers are placed in front, on either side of the keyboard.
The headphone jack is also exemplary. We would have liked better stereo separation, but we quibble, Apple having once again done a good job.
Apple has taken care of its MacBook Pro to the touch. It's hard to find any real flaws in this computer, as the Cupertino brand has worked on every detail, be it the screen, the keyboard, the Touch Bar or the battery life. Ultra-high-end par excellence, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is an example to follow in this segment.
