Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5, 2026)
74
out 100
VS
85
out 100
Compared 2 laptops: Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021), vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5, 2026). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device
Versions
| Processor | - Apple M1 Pro - Apple M1 Max |
- Apple M5 Pro (18-Core) - Apple M5 Max (32-сore GPU) - Apple M5 Max (40-сore GPU) |
| Storage | - 512 GB - 1024 GB - 2048 GB - 4096 GB - 8192 GB |
- 1024 GB - 2048 GB - 4096 GB - 8192 GB |
| RAM | - 16 GB - 32 GB - 64 GB |
- 24 GB - 36 GB - 48 GB - 64 GB - 128 GB |
Review
System Performance
System and app performance
Gaming Performance
Graphics in popular 3D games
Display
Color accuracy, sharpness & brightness
Battery Life
Estimated real-world battery life
Connectivity
Ports, webcam, and interfaces
Case & Design
Appearance, materials, durability, comfort
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Tests & specs
Specs & test comparisonBody
| Weight | 2.1 kg | 2.14 kg |
| Pixel size | 355.7x248.1x16.8 mm | 355.7x248.1x16.8 mm |
| Area | 882 cm² | 882 cm² |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 86.2 % | 86.2 % |
| Side bezels | 3.4 mm | 3.4 mm |
| Colors | - Silver - Gray |
- Black - Silver |
| Material | Aluminum | Aluminum |
| Transformer | No | No |
| Opening angle | 135 ° | 135 ° |
| Cooling type | Active | Active |
| Vapor chamber | No | No |
| Liquid metal | n/a | No |
| Cooler count | 2 | 2 |
| Noise Level | 37.4 dB | 51.7 dB |
Display
| Diagonal | 16.2 in | 16.2 in |
| Type | Mini LED | Mini LED |
| Refresh rate | 120 Hz | 120 Hz |
| Adaptive refresh rate | Yes (24-120 Hz) | Yes (24-120 Hz) |
| Pixel density | 254 ppi | 254 ppi |
| Aspect ratio | 16:10 | 16:10 |
| Resolution | 3456x2234 pixels | 3456x2234 pixels |
| HDR support | Yes, Dolby Vision | Yes, Dolby Vision |
| Sync Tech | No | No |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Coating | Glossy (Anti-Reflective) | Glossy (Anti-Reflective) |
| Light sensor | Yes | Yes |
| Contrast | 25700:1 | 1000000:1 |
| DCI-P3 gamut | 99.1 % | 100 % |
| sRGB gamut | 100 % | 100 % |
| Adobe RGB gamut | 88 % | n/a |
| Response time | 67 ms | n/a |
Battery
| Capacity | 100 Wh | 100 Wh |
| Full Charge Time | 1:25 h | 1:25 h |
| Battery Type | Li-Po | Li-Po |
| Removable | No | No |
| Fast Charging | Yes | Yes |
| USB PD | Yes, 100 W | Yes, 140 W |
| Charge Port Location | Left, Right | Left, Right |
| Charge Power | 140 W | 140 W |
| Cable Length | 2 m | 2 m |
| Charger weight | 353 g | 351 g |
Processor
| Processor | Apple M1 Pro | Apple M5 Pro (18-Core) |
| Base frequency | 3.2 GHz | 4.61 GHz |
| Cores | 10 (8P + 2E) | 18 (6P + 12E) |
| Threads | 10 | 18 |
| Integrated Graphics | Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core) | Apple M5 Pro GPU (20-core) |
| Process tech. | 5 nm | 3 nm |
GPU Model
| GPU Model | Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core) | Apple M5 Pro GPU (20-core) |
| TGP | 30 W | 28 W |
| Graphics Type | Integrated | Integrated |
| Process tech. | 5 nm | 3 nm |
| GPU Frequency | 450 MHz | n/a |
| Boost GPU Frequency | 1296 MHz | 1620 MHz |
| FLOPS | 5.3 TFLOPS | 8.3 TFLOPS |
| Memory Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5X |
| Tire Width | 256 bit | 256 bit |
| Memory speed | 6.4 Gbit/s | 9.6 Gbit/s |
| Shader Units | 2048 | 2560 |
| TMUs | 128 | 160 |
| ROPs | 64 | 80 |
RAM
| RAM Size | 16 GB | 24 GB |
| Channels | 2x8 GB | 3x8 GB |
| Frequency | 6400 MHz | 9600 MHz |
| Type | LPDDR5 | LPDDR5X |
| Replaceable | No | No |
Storage
| Bus | Custom | Custom |
| Type | SSD (M2) | SSD (M2) |
| Channels | 2x256 GB | 2x512 GB |
| Replaceable | No | No |
| NVMe | Yes | Yes |
| Storage Capacity | 512 GB | 1024 GB |
Sound
| Audio Formats | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Max Volume | 84.7 dB | 84.7 dB |
| Microphones | 3 | 3 |
Connectivity
| Wi-Fi version | v6 | v7 |
| Bluetooth version | 5 | 6.0 |
| Fingerprint sensor | Yes | Yes |
| IR sensor | No | No |
| CD drive | No | No |
| Webcam | Above Display | Above Display |
| Webcam Resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
| USB-A | No | No |
| USB-C | 3x4.0 | 3x4.0 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 4 | Thunderbolt 5 |
| HDMI | 1x2.0 | 1x2.1 |
| DisplayPort | No | No |
| VGA | No | No |
| 3.5 mm Audio Jack | Yes | Yes |
| Ethernet (RJ45) | No | No |
| Card Reader | Yes | Yes |
| Charging Port | Yes | Yes |
Keyboard & Touchpad
| Key Type | Island Layout | Island Layout |
| Numeric Keypad | No | No |
| Backlight | Yes | Yes |
| Key Travel | 1 mm | 1 mm |
| Size | 15.5x9.9 cm | 15.5x9.9 cm |
| Surface | Glass | Glass |
| Windows Precision | No | No |
*
Attention!
Ports, display type, speakers, and specs may differ by model or country.
Results
After analyzing the data, we consider Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M5, 2026) the clear winner in this comparison.
Survey
Total Votes: 0
