The MacBook Pro is Apple’s most powerful and high-end laptop, and the latest generation offers two different sizes: the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16. While these two machines have many similarities, there are also some noticeable differences that may make one model more suitable for your needs.Â
On that note, we take a closer look at the 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro to hopefully help you decide which model is best for you.
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MacBook Pro 14 vs 16 Comparison Chart
| Model | MacBook Pro 14 | MacBook Pro 16 |
 |  | |
| Price | Check Price at Apple.com | Check Price at Apple.com |
| Display | 14.2-inch mini-LED Retina XDR, 3024 x 1964 | 16.2-inch mini-LED Retina XDR, 3456 x 2234 |
| Processor | M2 Pro, M2 Max | M2 Pro, M2 Max |
| RAM | Up to 96GB of unified memory | Up to 96GB of unified memory |
| Storage | Up to 8TB | Up to 8TB |
| Ports | 3 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, MagSafe 3, SDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5mm headphone jack | 3 x Thunderbolt 4 USB-C, MagSafe 3, SDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Battery Life | 70Whr, up to 18 hours | 100Whr, up to 22 hours |
| Weight | 3.52 lbs to 3.59 lbs | 4.73 lbs and 4.76 lbs |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 0.61″ x 12.3″ x 8.7″ | 0.66″ x 14″ x 9.76″ |
| Colors | Silver, Space Gray | Silver, Space Gray |
Display and Build
While the MacBook Pro 16 has the bigger screen, it’s still as sharp as the 14.2-inch display of the MacBook Pro 14.
It goes without saying that the MacBook Pro 16 has a larger display than the MacBook Pro 14—16.2 inches as opposed to 14.2 inches, to be exact. Also, it has a 3456 x 2234 resolution, which is technically higher than the latter’s 3024 x 1964. Despite that, each one is as sharp as the other, clocking in at 254 ppi.
Speaking of similarities, both use a mini-LED Retina XDR display. It’s capable of reaching a sustained brightness of 1,000 nits and a peak of 1,600 nits. Both support wide color P3, ProMotion for refresh rates of up to 120Hz and True Tone technology as well. In short, the only distinction that really matters here is in their screen real estate. Needless to say, a larger one is better not only for productivity but also for watching videos and the like. On the other hand, a smaller one means a smaller form factor, making it more portable in comparison.
On that note, the MacBook Pro 16 is bigger and heavier, measuring 0.66” in height, 14” in width and 9.76 in depth and weighing between 4.73 lbs and 4.76 lbs (depending on the variant). Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro 14 is at 0.61” in height, 12.3” in width and 8.7” in depth, and it weighs from 3.52 lbs to 3.59 lbs.
Performance and Battery Life
Compared to the MacBook Pro 14, the MacBook Pro 16 has a longer battery life and better performance with its High Power mode.
Under the hood, the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 can be configured up to the Apple M2 Max chip with a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU. The other option is the M2 Pro processor, but interestingly enough, the base model of the MacBook Pro 14 comes with a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU. In contrast, the entry-level MacBook Pro 16 uses a 12-core CPU and 19-core GPU right off the bat.
It’s also worth mentioning that only the M2 Max 16-inch MacBook Pro features High Power mode for more intensive tasks. As for RAM, both top out at 96GB of unified memory for the M2 Max variant. With the M2 Pro, the max RAM it can be paired with is 32GB.
Regarding battery life, the MacBook Pro 14 is powered by a 70Whr lithium polymer battery, whereas the MacBook Pro 16 comes with a 100Whr one. As expected, the latter can last longer in general. According to the Cupertino brand, it’s good for up to 22 hours of video playback and 15 hours of web browsing on a single charge. That’s as compared to the 14-inch model’s performance of 18 hours and 12 hours, respectively.
Moreover, Apple throws in a 140W power adapter with the 16-inch MacBook Pro, allowing users to take advantage of fast charging from the get-go. While the 14-inch MacBook Pro also supports fast charging, it needs a 96W charger or higher. Thing is, only the version with a 12-core CPU M2 Pro or M2 Max includes one, as the base model only comes with a 67W charger. In its defense, it does support fast charging over MagSafe 3 and Thunderbolt 4, while the MacBook Pro 16 can only use the feature via MagSafe 3.
Ports and Other Features
When it comes to ports, the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 are the same. Both have three Thunderbolt 4 USB-C ports and a MagSafe 3 port as mentioned earlier, as well as an SDXC card slot, HDMI port and 3.5mm headphone jack. Other similarities include Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3, Touch ID, a 1080p FaceTime HD webcam and up to 8TB of native storage.
Verdict
The MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 are almost the same, but there are a few key differences.
To sum things up, the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 are practically the same, except for their size, screen real estate and battery life. Both can be configured with the same processor, RAM and storage. Additionally, their displays have the same sharpness and features such as True Tone and ProMotion.Â
However, the 16-inch MacBook Pro has the advantage of featuring High Power mode. That makes it the stronger workhorse of the two, not to mention that it can last longer on a single charge to boot. On the flip side, the 14-inch MacBook Pro does have the edge in portability, which is important for those who work on-the-go. In other words, deciding boils down to what matters more to you, whether it’s portability or performance and screen size, as well as budget since the bigger model does cost a lot more.
FAQs
Both can be configured with the Apple M2 Max chip with a 12-core CPU and 38-core GPU paired with 96GB of unified memory. However, only the MacBook Pro 16 supports High Power mode, technically making it capable of delivering faster performance.
It depends on your needs, but in general, the 14.2-inch screen of the MacBook Pro 14 is more than enough for most folks. In fact, its size is widely considered as the perfect balance between portability and productivity (i.e., large enough keyboard and display for viewing documents and such).
The two are similar in a lot of ways, but the MacBook Pro 16 has a longer battery life and High Power mode support (M2 Max variant only). However, the MacBook Pro 14 supports fast charging over MagSafe 3 and Thunderbolt 4, whereas the 16-inch MacBook Pro only supports the feature using MagSafe 3.
While it will fit in most backpacks and such, it’s too big for the average size of plane or train trays. What’s more, it’s a bit on the heavy side, weighing 4.73 lbs or 4.76 lbs depending on the configuration.