

This performance drop may only be temporary, however, until the developer releases a version that runs natively on Apple’s M1 chip. That said, you may see a performance issue when using this software, as it runs on an emulator, called Rosetta 2, that’s built into MacOS Big Sur. This is notable not only because it sees Apple jumping the Intel chip but because the M1 doesn’t natively run Intel-based software. The two starting points are based on its new Apple M1 System-on-a-Chip (SoC) combining eight ARM-based CPU cores (four performance, four power-efficient) and eight GPU cores. Performance is where these two laptops really diverge.Īpple changed the game with its 2020 refresh of the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
#Macbook pro dimensions weight upgrade
If you want something fancier, you’ll have to upgrade to the newly redesigned iMac. They also share only two color options: Silver and Space Gray. That gives both units an exceptionally premium feel. Both come in all-aluminum unibody shells, which are solidly built with no bending or flexing.

There’s no support for legacy USB-A devices without the optional dongle.ĭespite all these differences, the two laptops have a lot in common in terms of design. All units have a 3.5mm audio jack, but that’s it. The two higher-priced variants along with the 16-inch model, all of which use Intel chips, have four USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3. The large Force Touch trackpad for performing gestures in MacOS is one of the best you’ll find, too.įor ports, the two M1 13-inch starting points include two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 and USB-4 support.

Immediately to the Touch Bar’s right is the Touch ID sensor mounted on the power button for password-free access and purchases. The Magic Keyboard is complemented by Apple’s Touch Bar, an OLED strip that replaces the Function keys to add touch-based controls. The company ditched its problematic butterfly switches for a scissor design, leading to one of the best keyboards we’ve ever used on a laptop. Moving down to the keyboard deck, both units have Apple’s newer Magic Keyboard.

Apple’s MacBook Pro screens have always performed superbly, so you should be happy with either of these, although the 16-inch model’s thinner bezels make it appear more modern. Both have a peak brightness of 500 nits, support the P3 wide color gamut, and Apple’s True Tone technology, which matches the display’s white balance to the surrounding ambient light. The 16-inch model comes in at 3072 x 1920 (226 ppi) with noticeably thinner bezels whereas the 13-inch model is 2560 × 1600 (227 ppi) with fatter bezels. With the bigger screen comes a bigger resolution. However, they’re not radically different in appearance other than their dimensions and weight. The biggest differentiator is in the screen size: One is 16 inches and the other at 13.3 inches (both diagonal). If you weren’t sure about which version to get, this comparison aims to help you decide. Their differences aren’t quite so wide as seen in years past, although the introduction of Apple’s new M1 chip makes the contest a bit more interesting. In this comparison, we pit the 13-inch model against its bigger 16-inch sibling. The MacBook Pro 16 is still a powerhouse.
