2021 M1 Max 16" MacBook Pro VS 2019 Intel i9 16" MacBook Pro! Compared!

Summary

In this comparison, the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro is pitted against its 2019 predecessor. The 2021 model boasts a larger 16.2-inch mini-LED display with higher resolution and brightness, ProMotion technology, and a controversial notch. It's slightly heavier, with options for M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, offering improved performance over the 2019's Intel processors. The new model ditches the Touch Bar for traditional function keys, includes more ports like MagSafe and an SD card reader, and features a 1080p FaceTime camera. It also supports Wi-Fi 6 and comes with a 140-watt GaN charger.

Takeaways

• 📏 The 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro has slightly larger dimensions and weighs more than the 2019 model, with the new model being either 4.7 or 4.8 pounds compared to the 4.3 pounds of the 2019 model.
• 🖥️ The 2021 model features a larger 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a higher resolution of 3456 by 2234 pixels and a higher brightness level, including a peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits.
• 🔋 The 2021 MacBook Pro introduces a new mini-LED technology for the display, offering better color accuracy and contrast compared to the LED display of the 2019 model.
• 🚀 Both the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips in the 2021 MacBook Pro offer significant performance improvements over the Intel processors available in the 2019 model.
• 🔩 The 2021 model does away with the Touch Bar and reintroduces a full row of physical function keys, responding to user feedback.
• 🔌 The 2021 MacBook Pro includes more ports, such as MagSafe for charging, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
• 📸 The 2021 model upgrades the front-facing camera to 1080p and improves the image signal processor for better video quality.
• 🎥 Both models feature high-quality audio with six speakers supporting spatial audio and Dolby Atmos, along with three microphones for clear audio input.
• 🌐 The 2021 MacBook Pro supports the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard, an upgrade from the Wi-Fi AC found in the 2019 model.
• 🔌 The 2021 model ships with a 140-watt USB-C power adapter, which is GaN-based for a more compact design compared to the 96-watt adapter of the 2019 model.

Q & A

What is the main difference in screen size between the 2019 and 2021 16-inch MacBook Pros?

The 2021 MacBook Pro has a slightly larger screen, being technically a 16.2-inch MacBook Pro, compared to the 2019 model, which is a 16-inch MacBook Pro.

How does the display quality differ between the 2019 and 2021 16-inch MacBook Pros?

The 2021 MacBook Pro features a mini LED display with a higher pixel resolution of 3456 by 2234 and a sustained brightness of 1000 nits, compared to the 2019 model's LED display with a resolution of 3072 by 1920 and a brightness of 500 nits.

What is the refresh rate capability of the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro's display?

The 2021 MacBook Pro supports ProMotion, which allows for a variable refresh rate that can range from 24 Hz to 120 Hz.

What is the weight difference between the 2019 and 2021 16-inch MacBook Pros?

The 2021 MacBook Pro weighs either 4.7 or 4.8 pounds, depending on the processor, which is heavier than the 2019 model that weighed 4.3 pounds.

What are the processor options for the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro?

The 2021 MacBook Pro offers two processor options: the M1 Pro and the M1 Max, both of which are 10-core processors.

What is the significant design change regarding the keyboard in the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro compared to the 2019 model?

The 2021 MacBook Pro does not have a Touch Bar and instead has a physical row of function keys, which was removed from the 2019 model.

What are the new ports introduced in the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro that were not present in the 2019 model?

The 2021 MacBook Pro introduces MagSafe charging, an HDMI port (HDMI 2.0), and an SDXC UHS-II card reader, which were not present in the 2019 model.

What is the resolution of the FaceTime camera in the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro?

The 2021 MacBook Pro has a 1080p FaceTime camera, an upgrade from the 720p camera in the 2019 model.

What type of Wi-Fi does the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro support that the 2019 model does not?

The 2021 MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, while the 2019 model only supports Wi-Fi AC.

What is the wattage of the power adapter included with the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro?

The 2021 MacBook Pro ships with a 140-watt USB-C power adapter, which is an upgrade from the 96-watt adapter included with the 2019 model.

Outlines

00:00

💻 MacBook Pro 16-inch 2019 vs 2021 Comparison

This paragraph discusses a detailed comparison between the 2019 and 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro models. The 2021 model features a slightly larger 16.2-inch display with a higher resolution of 3456 by 2234 pixels, compared to the 2019 model's 3072 by 1920 pixels. The new model also boasts a mini-LED display with a sustained brightness of 1000 nits and peak HDR brightness of 1600 nits, a significant upgrade from the 2019 model's 500 nits. Additionally, the 2021 model introduces ProMotion technology, offering a variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz for smoother visuals. The physical dimensions are similar, but the 2021 model is slightly heavier, weighing 4.7 to 4.8 pounds compared to the 2019 model's 4.3 pounds. The 2021 model also sees an improvement in the processor options, offering the M1 Pro or M1 Max chips, which provide better performance and efficiency over the 2019 model's Intel processors.

05:01

🔧 2021 MacBook Pro Design and Features Overview

The second paragraph delves into the design and additional features of the 2021 MacBook Pro. A notable change is the removal of the Touch Bar and the reintroduction of a physical row of function keys, which some users may prefer. The 2021 model retains Touch ID but lacks Face ID. It also includes an improved port selection with the return of MagSafe for fast charging, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.0 port, and an SDXC card reader. The 2021 model ships with a 140-watt USB-C power adapter, which is a GaN charger, making it more compact. The FaceTime camera is upgraded to 1080p, and the system features improved image signal processing due to Apple's silicon. Both the 2019 and 2021 models support Dolby Atmos and spatial audio with their respective speaker systems, and both have three directional beamforming microphones. The 2021 model also supports Wi-Fi 6, an upgrade from the 2019 model's Wi-Fi AC.

Keywords

💡MacBook Pro

The MacBook Pro is a line of high-performance laptops designed by Apple Inc., known for their sleek design, powerful processors, and high-resolution displays. In the video, the MacBook Pro is the central theme, with a comparison between the 2019 and 2021 models, highlighting their differences in design, performance, and features.

💡Display

The display refers to the screen of the MacBook Pro, which is a critical component for visual interaction with the device. The video discusses the significant improvements in the 2021 MacBook Pro's display, including a larger 16.2-inch screen with a higher resolution and brightness, as well as the introduction of a mini-LED technology for better color accuracy and contrast.

💡M1 Pro and M1 Max

The M1 Pro and M1 Max are Apple's proprietary system-on-chip (SoC) designs, which integrate the CPU, GPU, and other components onto a single chip. The video compares these chips to the Intel processors found in the 2019 MacBook Pro, emphasizing the performance and efficiency improvements that Apple's silicon brings to the 2021 model.

💡Physical Dimensions

Physical dimensions refer to the size and weight of the MacBook Pro models. The video notes that while the 2021 MacBook Pro is slightly larger and heavier than the 2019 model, it also offers a larger screen due to reduced bezels and a new design that accommodates the notch at the top of the display.

💡Retina Display

Retina Display is a marketing term coined by Apple to describe displays with a high pixel density, making individual pixels indistinguishable to the human eye at a normal viewing distance. The video mentions that both MacBook Pro models feature Retina displays, but the 2021 model has an increased pixel density, resulting in a sharper image.

💡ProMotion

ProMotion is a technology introduced by Apple that allows the display to have a variable refresh rate, which can range from 24 Hz to 120 Hz. The video explains how this technology in the 2021 MacBook Pro provides smoother scrolling and more fluid motion in videos and games, enhancing the overall user experience.

💡Touch Bar

The Touch Bar is a thin, interactive screen at the top of the keyboard on some MacBook Pro models that replaces the traditional function keys with context-sensitive controls. The video notes the removal of the Touch Bar in the 2021 MacBook Pro, which has been a point of contention among users, with Apple opting to return to a physical row of function keys.

💡Ports

Ports refer to the physical connections on the MacBook Pro for external devices. The video highlights the changes in port availability between the 2019 and 2021 models, with the newer model introducing MagSafe charging, more Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card reader, providing more versatility for connecting peripherals.

💡Face ID

Face ID is a facial recognition technology used for secure authentication on Apple devices. The video mentions that the 2021 MacBook Pro does not include Face ID, unlike some other Apple products, and instead retains the Touch ID fingerprint sensor for user authentication.

💡Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi technology, offering faster data transfer rates, improved capacity, and better performance in congested environments compared to previous generations. The video points out that the 2021 MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, whereas the 2019 model only supports Wi-Fi AC, indicating a significant upgrade in wireless connectivity.

Highlights

The 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro has a slightly larger screen than the 2019 model, making it technically a 16.2-inch MacBook Pro.

The 2021 model has decreased bezels, allowing it to be smaller in width and similar in height to the 2019 model.

The 2021 MacBook Pro weighs more, at 4.7 or 4.8 pounds, compared to the 2019 model's 4.3 pounds.

The new display on the 2021 MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade, with a higher pixel resolution and increased pixel density for crisper images.

The 2021 model uses a mini LED display, offering higher brightness and supporting ProMotion for a variable refresh rate up to 120 Hz.

The 2021 MacBook Pro's display has a notch, but it doesn't compromise screen real estate due to an adjusted menu bar.

Processor options for the 2021 MacBook Pro include the M1 Pro and M1 Max, both 10-core CPUs with significant improvements over 2019 models.

The 2021 MacBook Pro does not have a Touch Bar and instead features a physical row of function keys.

The 2021 model includes MagSafe charging, which can provide a 50% charge in just 30 minutes.

The 2021 MacBook Pro has three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port, an SDXC card reader, and a 3.5mm high impedance headphone jack.

The 2021 model features a 1080p FaceTime camera, an upgrade from the 720p camera in the 2019 model.

Both models have six speakers with force-canceling woofers and support for Dolby Atmos and spatial audio.

The 2021 MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6, an improvement over the Wi-Fi AC in the 2019 model.

The 2021 model ships with a 140-watt USB-C power adapter, which is more compact due to the use of gallium nitride technology.

The 2021 MacBook Pro offers more screen real estate than its predecessor, despite the presence of a notch.

The 2019 MacBook Pro had three different CPU options, while the 2021 model streamlines to two options with the M1 Pro and M1 Max.

The 2021 MacBook Pro's M1 Max option provides better video encoding, faster memory, and up to 64GB of RAM, compared to the M1 Pro.

Transcripts

well this is a big one let's compare the

2019 16 inch macbook pro against the

2021 16 inch macbook pro

[Music]

welcome everybody to apple insider it is

andrew here and you can find me on

twitter at andrew underscore osu and now

that the 2021 16 inch macbook pro is

here we can give it a full in-depth

comparison including benchmarks against

the

2019

macbook pro 16 inch macbook pro at least

so let's go ahead and dive into this

thing starting off with just the

physical dimensions

dimensions on these guys are not all

that different while apple is still

calling them both 16-inch macbook pros

the new one has a slightly larger screen

because apple did move it up a little

bit allowing for that notch to be in the

center and getting a little bit more

screen real estate so while this is a 16

inch macbook pro the 2021 is technically

a 16.2 inch macbook pro in terms of

their physical dimensions they stack up

pretty darn close i think the uh yeah

the 2019 macbook pro has a slight bit

more of an edge here apple did decrease

the bezels on the new model which allows

it to be a little bit smaller in the

width and it's about the same height or

depth as the previous generation that

said the new one does weigh a little bit

more the new 2021 macbook pro weighs

either 4.7 or 4.8 pounds depending if

you went with the m1 pro or m1 max

processor that is above the 4.3 pounds

that the 2019 6-inch macbook pro weighed

in at so you got almost a half a pound

more weight on the updated macbook pros

i think the biggest difference for me in

using both of these things

has to be the display of the new macbook

pro the new display is absolutely

gorgeous

apple has increased the size of display

now measuring 16.2 inches has a pixel

resolution of 3456 by 2234 compared to

3072 by 1920 on the prior generation

model luckily apple has increased the

pixel density here going from 226 on the

last generation to 254 on the new one it

means things look a lot crisper they are

both considered retina displays but

things do look sharper on the updated

macbook pro the prior generation macbook

pro is an led display apple is now using

a mini led display on the 2021 16 inch

macbook pro has a few side effects both

of these support the p3 wide color gamut

and they support true tone but the new

model has a much higher brightness has a

sustained brightness of a thousand nits

compared to only 500 and when you're

watching hdr content it can get a peak

brightness of 1600 nits which is pretty

incredible the new macbook pro also

supports pro motion which is a variable

refresh rate that can drop all the way

down to 24 hertz or all the way up to

120 hertz you notice this most when

you're doing things like scrolling

things look smoother and you may not

even notice it that much but when you go

back to an older display like if i'm

using the new macbook pro and i go back

to the old 6-inch macbook pro things

look choppier as you're scrolling

because it has a lower refresh rate a

lower 60 hertz half the speed of the

refresh rate on the new macbook pro so

it's not like a huge crucial thing i

don't think a lot of people love it but

i notice more is going to other displays

they just don't look nearly as good the

new display this new xdr display is just

incredible and yes it does have a notch

but to be fair apple kept the same

explain just moved it up like increased

the size up and left the camera cut out

there so we didn't lose any screen real

estate in fact because apple was able to

move the menu bar up we now have more

room for our applications so on apple's

largest portable mac we have more screen

real estate than ever

looking at the processors the 2019 60

inch macbook pro had three different

options a 2.6 gigahertz 6 core i7 a 2.3

gigahertz 8 core i9 or a 2.4 gigahertz 8

core i9 we went for that last model when

we reviewed it back at launch in 2019.

conversely on the 2021 6-inch macbook

pro you've got really two options in

terms of the cpu both of them are 10

core processors you can get an m1 pro

processor or an m1 max

check out my other video if you want to

know the differences between the m1 pro

and the m1 max even to the m1 but the

biggest differences between the two is

that there's better video encoding on

the m1 max it has faster memory has

higher bandwidth for the unified memory

and you can have up to 64 gigs of ram

additionally you can have a 30 core 32

core gpu instead of a 16 core gpu which

is what you're capped at with the m1 pro

so those are your two options for

processors as well as the gpu options on

the 16 inch macbook pro 2021 going back

to the design of these two beasts the

new macbook pro does not have a touch

bar it's a very similar keyboard to what

we had with the prior generation but

apple has removed the touch bar and said

put back another physical row of

function keys for better or for worse

personally i would still prefer the

touch bar but i know a lot of people you

were very vocal they hated the touch bar

and you won the function keys back so

don't worry they're back on the 2021

macbook pro we still have touch id

though and no face id there is a touch

id button there on the right hand side

similar placement to where it was on the

prior generation macbook pros other than

that same keyboard layouts and we have

our large glass track pad there in the

center

looking at ports the 16 inch macbook pro

2019 had five ports four thunderbolt 3

ports which were type c and then you had

one headphone jack three and a half

millimeter the new 2021 macbook pro has

a little bit more going for it there's

magsafe on the side which aside from

just being a handy way to charge your

machine can also fast charge your

machine giving you 50 battery life in

only 30 minutes there are three

thunderbolt 4 ports so there is two on

the left hand side here and there's one

on the right hand side we have a

headphone jack and a three and a half

millimeter stereo jack but it's now a

high impedance headphone jack for those

who have high quality headphones

there is an hdmi port though it is only

hdmi 2.0 you cannot use a hdmi 2.1 on

there and then we have an sdxc uh

class 2 uh s2 card reader on here so you

can

stick in your sd cards from your camera

and import your media directly without

having to worry about a dongle for

cameras the new macbook pro has a 1080p

facetime camera going from the 720p

camera that we had before it also has an

improved isp thanks to apple silicon on

the inside you're gonna get better

balance and lighting overall they each

have six speakers with force canceling

woofers and they support dolby atmos and

spatial audio they each have three

directional beam forming microphones the

old macbook pro supported wi-fi

ac while the new macbook pro supports

wi-fi 6.

the 2019 macbook pro it ships with a 96

watt usbc power adapter but the new 6

inch macbook pro ships with a beefy 140

watt power adapter still usb type c and

connect to that usb c to magsafe3 cable

that apple includes in the box also just

randomly worth noting it's a gan charger

this time which is

allowed to say more compact because it's

still a huge charger but it is smaller

than otherwise would be because it's

relying on gallium nitride instead of

the silicon that would be relying on

before

so there you guys have it those are the

differences the performance differences

between the brand new 16-inch macbook

pro and the last generation 2019 macbook

pro let me know what you guys think down

below in the comments which one are you

going to pick up if any dollar maybe

you're looking at 40 inch macbook pro

let me know on twitter at andrew

underscore osu and if you want to grab

any of apple's laptops we are grabbing

the best deals and discounts and putting

them down below in the description so

check out those links otherwise i'll see

you in the next video

[Music]

[Applause]

so

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