14″ Macbook Pro vs 16″ Macbook Pro : Ultimate Comparison

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Do you need help deciding which MacBook Pro to buy? Well, it depends on what you plan to do with the laptop. The two models have some specific differences that could make one more suitable than the other depending on your needs. Unfortunately, these differences are often not discussed. Keep reading, because I’ll explain the differences between these two MacBooks that you may not have known about.

Intro

After using both the MacBook Pro 14 and 16 for over 8 months and testing them in real-life scenarios, I’ve drawn some conclusions that I want to share with you in this comparison article. To make this comparison fair, we will use a point-based system to determine the winner.

Design & Connectivity

Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro have the same sleek, modern design and come in silver or space gray colors.

The main differences between the two models are their weight and size. The MacBook Pro 16 is 1.2 pounds heavier and has 30% more volume than the 14-inch model, making the MacBook Pro 14 more portable. Its thinner, smaller and lighter design is impressively compact for the amount of power it packs in, making it perfect for using on-the-go.

Both models have the same connectivity options, with 3 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports (which also support DisplayPort), 1 HDMI port, an SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack. In addition, MagSafe charging is back with a MagSafe 3 charging port on the left side of both laptops.

Winner: Macbook Pro 14

Display

Both displays on the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros have mini-LED screens, but they differ in size and resolution. The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a display resolution of 3024 x 1964, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro has a higher resolution of 3456 x 2234. However, they have an identical aspect ratio of 16:10.

When it comes to refresh rates, there are no differences between the two MacBook Pros. Both models use ProMotion technology, which adapts the refresh rate to your current activity. The refresh rate can go as low as 24Hz, but can reach up to an impressive 120Hz when needed. This design choice helps to conserve battery life while providing smooth performance during gameplay and creative workflows.

The screen-to-body ratio is slightly different between the two models, with the 16-inch having a ratio of 91% and the 14-inch having a ratio of 89%. While this may not seem significant on paper, in person the 16-inch display appears more bezel-less due to the presence of a Notch.

Those who prioritize a larger screen size may prefer the 16-inch model, which provides a more comfortable viewing experience for tasks such as image editing, graphic design, and coding.

Winner: Macbook Pro 16

Speakers

Both the 14 and 16-inch models feature a six-speaker setup. However, due to the larger chassis size, the speaker enclosure on the 16-inch is slightly larger than that on the 14-inch. To my ears, the 16-inch produces a slightly bassier sound than the 14-inch. This is proof that you cannot cheat physics.

While it is a small difference, if you desire the absolute best speaker system on your MacBook Pro, you will have to opt for the 16-inch model.

Winner: Macbook Pro 16

Perfomance

Both the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models can be upgraded to the ‌M1 Max‌ chip with a 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU. However, if you are looking to save money or don’t need extra performance, it’s worth noting the difference between the chips in the base configurations.

The base configuration of the 14-inch MacBook Pro has an ‌M1 Pro‌ with an 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU, while the base 16-inch model has an ‌M1 Pro‌ with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. In my tests, I used these two configurations with the 14-inch model having 16GB of RAM and the 16-inch model having 32GB of RAM.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the ‌M1 Max‌ chip has a software feature called High Power Mode that boosts the machine’s performance for intensive, sustained workloads. High Power Mode is designed to optimize performance for resource-intensive tasks, such as color grading 8K ProRes video. The larger size of the 16-inch model also provides better thermals, which can help with performance.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro does not feature High Power Mode, so if you want the ability to push the ‌M1 Max‌ chip to its limits, you will need to buy the 16-inch model. However, for day-to-day tasks like using multiple Chrome tabs, watching videos, and listening to music, there is no significant performance difference between the two models.

  1. While Benchmarking the CPU of both machines on Cinebench R23 the 16 inch with M1 Pro [ 10 Cores ] got 12,390 while the 14inch with M1 Pro [ 8 Cores ] got 9,576.
  2. As for Graphics, running Geekbench OpenCL we got 34350 on the 16inch while we got 31300 on the 14inch.
  3. Using Blender Benchmark for 3D Rendering a Car Scene the 16 inch finished it in 4min while the 14inch in 5min.
  4. Now for Video Editing, there was no major difference between the two due to this being handled by the dedicated Media Engines. Exporting a 5min 4K h.264 project on Final Cut Pro took 2min50sec on both machines.

In my experience, the fans kick in sooner on the 14-inch model than on the 16-inch model because it lacks the better and bigger cooling system.

Overall, I have not noticed any significant difference in day-to-day performance between the two base models.

Winner: Macbook Pro 14

Battery Life

The 16-inch MacBook Pro has a larger battery than the 14-inch model, resulting in a longer-lasting battery life. Specifically, the 14-inch model contains a 70-watt-hour battery, while the 16-inch model contains a 100-watt-hour battery.

Thanks to its larger battery size, the MacBook Pro 16-inch can function for longer periods of time before requiring a recharge. In my test, I was able to browse for 15.0 hours on the 16-inch model, compared to only 12 hours on the 14-inch model.

The new MagSafe 3 technology allows the MacBook Pro to charge from 0% to 50% in just 30 minutes. However, this feature is dependent on the power adapter used. With the base 14-inch model, this feature is not available unless you purchase the 96W charger separately or choose the M1 Max option for the 14-inch model. On the other hand, all models of the 16-inch MacBook Pro come with a 140W power adapter, which enables fast charging.

Winner: Macbook Pro 16

Price & Value

Choosing the right configuration for your MacBook Pro can be tricky, as there are many options to customize chip, memory, storage, and add-ons. It’s easy to spend thousands of dollars on either the 14-inch or 16-inch model, but for the sake of comparison, let’s look at the base models of both laptops.

Upgrading the 14-inch model to the same M1 Pro with 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU as the 16-inch model increases the price to $2,299, which is only $200 less than the starting price of the 16-inch model.

For those leaning towards buying the 16-inch MacBook Pro and needing the M1 Pro with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU at a minimum, the price difference between the two models is now only $200, making it easier to justify getting the larger machine. Additionally, the 16-inch model comes with a bigger screen and battery, and a higher thermal limit, providing more headroom to last longer.

However, tests show that there isn’t a significant performance boost when choosing the M1 Pro with 10 cores. In practice, upgrading the configuration of the base model 14-inch isn’t necessary, saving you $500 compared to the 16-inch model. Plus, you get a compact and easy-to-carry laptop with top performance.

Winner: Macbook Pro 14

Conclusion

Final Points Score: Macbook Pro 14: 3 | Macbook Pro 16: 3

There you have it, a comparison between the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. I hope this helped you form an opinion on which machine to choose. Rest assured that whichever you choose, it will last you a long time.

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