Whereas the MacBook Air is tremendously fashionable, some customers want just a little bit extra. Extra efficiency, a much bigger battery, extra ports, a bigger display screen…in the event you want extra, you want a MacBook Professional. If you’d like a Mac laptop computer with a show bigger than 13-14 inches, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is your solely possibility.
Earlier than you spend all that cash (usually upwards of $3,000) on one thing you hope to maintain and use for years, it’s value asking if it is a good time to purchase. On the planet of computer systems, there’s all the time one thing higher on the best way, but when it’s a lot higher and it’s coming quickly, you may wish to wait. With WWDC coming in early June, the place Apple may unveil M2-based MacBooks, you may wish to contemplate your choices rigorously. Right here’s our purchasing recommendation for the 16-inch MacBook Professional.
16-inch MacBook Professional: Pricing and specs
Launched: October 2021
The 16-inch MacBook Professional obtained an enormous Apple silicon improve at Apple’s “Unleashed” occasion. It begins with a brand new processor (the M1 Professional or M1 Max), nevertheless it’s extra than simply velocity. It has a brand new show (Liquid Retina XDR), extra ports (three Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC slot), a full-sized row of operate keys, and a brand new design. It replaces the Intel mannequin that was launched in 2019.
The 16-inch MacBook Professional begins at $2,499, $100 greater than the earlier mannequin. There are processor, RAM, and storage choices that may push it over $6,000.
16-inch MacBook Professional: Why you can purchase
The MacBook Professional is an amazing machine that checks off practically each field on a professional person’s wishlist. It’s quick, succesful, and highly effective, and brings Apple’s professional laptop computer into the forefront of the pack. The show is purpose sufficient to need one, bringing mini-LED and ProMotion to a Mac for the primary time, with excessive brightness (1,600-nit peak) and glorious coloration accuracy. Apple claims the M1 Professional chip is 70 % sooner than the M1 and the M1 Max has a GPU 4 occasions extra highly effective than that within the M1. It’s additionally bought extra RAM, a number of occasions extra reminiscence bandwidth, and a crazy-fast SSD.
There are additionally much more ports. Apple added three Thunderbolt 4 ports to the 16-inch MacBook Professional, in addition to HDMI and an SDXC card slot. There’s an upgraded 1080p FaceTime digicam as nicely, although you’ll must cope with a display screen notch like on the iPhone. However we predict that’s a suitable trade-off for a lot energy.
16-inch MacBook Professional: Why it is best to wait
You actually shouldn’t. Except you actually desire a Contact Bar, then you can purchase a 13-inch MacBook Professional, the one mannequin left that features it. We’re listening to rumors of M2-based Macs coming quickly, presumably as early as WWDC in June, however we don’t count on them to incorporate a 16-inch laptop computer.
Macworld recommends: BUY
A brand new MacBook Professional is a giant funding, and the 16-inch mannequin means spending at the very least $2,499 and certain over $3,000. However in the event you want the facility it supplies, get one now. Each new Mac is all the time the very best Apple has ever made, however the 16-inch MacBook Professional is a big leap each over the prior mannequin and within the historical past of the MacBook Professional, and we predict you’ll be more than happy along with your buy.
Our solely advice is to get as a lot storage and reminiscence as you may afford. The 16-inch MacBook Professional begins at 16GB of RAM and goes as much as 32GB with the M1 Professional and 64GB with the M1 Max chips. The upgrades aren’t low cost, however they’ll be nicely well worth the funding years from now when your machine remains to be working as easily because it was if you purchased it.