Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro VS 16-inch MacBook Pro Comparison [VIDEO]

Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Pro was recently upgraded with the latest specs to finally brings it on par with the company’s 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro upgrade.

Many users face the question at to which MacBook Pro would be more suitable for them. Tech analyst Rene Ritchie compared the two devices in a YouTube video to clarify the specs offered by both and give users a better perspective on which model they should buy. Let’s get into the features offered on both devices.

13-inch MacBook Pro VS 16-inch MacBook Pro:

Design and Display

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro has the same look and build as its predecessors. It offers a 13.3-inch LED-backlit display with IPS technology, 500 nits brightness, 2560 by 1600 pixels, Wide Color (P3), and True Tone technology.

13-inch MacBook Pro

On the other hand, the 16-inch MacBook Pro offers a 16-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit display and a resolution of 3072 by 1920 pixels, with all the other features remaining the same in both devices.

Size and weight

SPECS 13-Inch MacBook Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro
Height 0.61-inch 0.64-inch
Width 11.97-inches 14.09-inches
Depth 8.36-inches 9.86-inches
Weight 3.1 pounds (1.4 kg) 4.3 pounds (2 kg)

So if you prefer portability, the 13-inch Model is preferable. However, if you’re willing to bear with extra pounds and a bigger size, then the 16-inch model is the one.

Camera, Speakers and Microphone

Both MacBooks have 720p FaceTime HD cameras, which await a much-needed upgrade from Apple. They are simply not as good as the front-facing cameras that are available in iPhone and iPad.

Apple offers speakers with high dynamic range, wide stereo sound and Dolby Atmos playback in both devices, with an exception of a high-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers in the 16-inch model.

Furthermore, Apple claims that the 16-inch MacBook Pro has studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming instead of a three-mic array system in 13-inch MacBook Pro.

If the best-in-class speaker system and audio recording are important for you, the 16-inch model offers better results.

Keyboard

Both devices offer the new and improved scissor switch Magic Keyboard. The previous butterfly mechanism was replaced with an improved scissor-switch mechanism, which improves the overall typing experience for users.

13-inch MacBook Pro

The new keyboard is more comfortable and satisfying when compared to the older Butterfly keyboard switches used by Apple in both MacBook Pros.

Performance

The base configuration for the 13″ model has a 1.4GHz quad-core 8th-generation Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz. Users get Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645, as well as 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory and 256GB SSD with 2 Thunderbolt 3 ports if they chose to go with 13-inch MacBook Pro.

On the other hand, the 16″ model’s base configuration comes with 2.6GHz 6-core 9th-generation Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost up to 4.5GHz and 512GB SSD. Furthermore, it has 16GB of 2666MHz DDR4 RAM, as well as an AMD Radeon Pro 5300M graphics card with 4GB of GDDR6 memory.

Price

With all the better specs offered in the 16″ model, it is no surprise that it is much more expensive. 13″ MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 and 16″ starts at $2,399, almost $1,000 more.

Which one should you buy?

If you have demanding work and prefer performance over portability, then you should go for the 16″ MacBook Pro. It offers better graphical capability for gamers, video editors and designers. However, if portability is your preferred feature, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is the right pick for you. To get the best performance though, it is recommended to get the new 13-inch model with 10th-generation Intel processor, which starts at $1,799.

Check out Rene Ritchie’s detailed analysis of both MacBooks:

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About the Author

An avid blogger and book enthusiast with an extensive love for learning new things.