9 Key Differences Between the 16″ and 15″ MacBook Pro
Credit: Apple
Apple on Wednesday officially unveiled its long-awaited and highly anticipated 16-inch MacBook Pro during a private media press briefing in New York City and via press release. But how does the new 16-inch model actually stack up against the past 15-inch MacBook Pro (which it replaces in the lineup)? Continue reading to learn about all of the changes and differences on the new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Magic Keyboard
Arguably the most significant change to the 16-inch MacBook Pro is the addition of a new scissor-based keyboard. Apple calls it the Magic Keyboard and says it’ll do away with many of the problems of its past butterfly mechanisms.
The MacBook Magic Keyboard features a redesigned switch with 1mm key travel for a “satisfying key feel.” It’s also likely to be much more reliable than the problem-prone butterfly keyboard.
Form Factor Changes
While the new 16-inch MacBook Pro features a noticeable increase in display size, it still retains the same general footprint as past 15-inch models. But that doesn’t mean the form factor has been left untouched.
As we’ve seen with newer iPhones, Apple seems willing to make its devices thicker now for better performance. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is actually slightly heavier than previous 15-inch models and is slightly larger in all dimensions.
Audio Upgrades
One of the more unexpected but still significant changes on the 16-inch MacBook Pro is a significant overhaul of the audio system. Apple says the device now features a “high-fidelity” sound system for musicians, podcasters, audio engineers and video editors.
That includes new force-canceling woofers for deeper bass and other systems for clearer and more natural sound. It also features a new high-performance microphone array with less hiss and better signal-to-noise ratio. Apple says it rivals professional-grade microphones.
Display Size, PPI
As you could probably guess from the name, the new MacBook Pro model features a 16-inch display (measured on the diagonal). That makes it the largest MacBook Pro display since the discontinuation of the 17-inch models.
The screen area features overall slimmer and more uniform bezels. The display itself sports a resolution of 3072 x 1920 and a higher pixel density of 226 ppi. Apple says the devices feature factory-calibration and nearly 6 million pixels.
Battery Life
Professional and creative users demand good battery life from their portable computers. Apple has taken notice and implemented a slightly larger 100Wh battery in its new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
Apple says the new model will feature an estimated battery life of around 11 hours. That’s only slightly better than the 10-hour battery life of the previous 15-inch MacBook Pro — but, of course, any improvement in this area is welcomed. It’s also worth noting that the 16-inch model comes with a new 96W USB-C power adapter.
Thermal Performance & Chips
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro features the latest ninth-generation Intel chips (in 6-core or 8-core configurations). But Apple has also given the performance aspects of its new MacBook a boost in another area: thermals.
Past MacBook Pro models have had trouble with thermal throttling and performance. And that’s something that Apple has attempted to mitigate here. There’s a new fan design and heat sink which should allow the MacBook Pro to “run at higher power for sustained periods of time.”
New Touch Bar Elements
One of the chief complaints about the Touch Bar has been the lack of a dedicated and physical ESC key — something that is incredibly important for app developers, programmers and coders. Apple has taken heed of those complaints and fixed it with the new 16-inch MacBook Pro.
The Touch Bar is still here, but it’s actually slightly smaller to accommodate the new physical ESC key. Additionally, the Touch ID sensor is also housed in its own dedicated module, which could mean fewer false hits on the Touch Bar itself.
Better Graphics
Speaking of performance, Apple has also made demonstrable upgrades in the graphics performance department on the new 16-inch model. They now feature AMD Radeon Pro 5000M graphics, which are made with the first 7nm GPU process.
It also features GDDR6 video memory and 8GB of VRAM options. All in all, that means users could see graphic performance up to 2.1 times faster on the standard configuration. Users who opt for the highest-end graphical variant could see up to 80 percent faster performance.
Better RAM & More Storage Options
As far as other changes to the internals, Apple has given the new 16-inch MacBook Pro some impressive RAM and storage options. On the former point, the memory in the new model is now faster than on previous variants.
If you eat up storage space on your MacBooks, you’ll be happy to know that the 16-inch model now supports an internal SSD up to a whopping 8TB — making it the first 8TB notebook on the market. If you feel like splurging, you can also equip the device with up to 64GB of RAM.