Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023) vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)

Compared 2 laptops: Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023), vs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021). Below are specs, tests, pros and cons for each device

Versions

Available versions and configurations
Processor - Apple M3 Pro
- Apple M3 Max
- Apple M1 Pro
- Apple M1 Max
Storage - 512 GB
- 1024 GB
- 2048 GB
- 4096 GB
- 8192 GB
- 512 GB
- 1024 GB
- 2048 GB
- 4096 GB
- 8192 GB
RAM - 18 GB
- 36 GB
- 48 GB
- 64 GB
- 96 GB
- 128 GB
- 16 GB
- 32 GB
- 64 GB

Review

Key Specs Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023) and Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
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
NanoReview Score
Overall score by NanoReview
Adjust each parameter’s importance to find the best match for you.
Customize your score
Function
Importance (Weight)
Performance:
Gaming:
Display:
Battery life:
Connectivity:
Portability:
Higher weight means greater impact on NanoReview score.

Tests & specs

Specs & test comparison

Body

Design and ergonomics comparison
Weight 2.14 kg 2.1 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 - Black
- Gray
- Silver
- Gray
Material Aluminum Aluminum
Transformer No No
Opening angle 135 ° 135 °
Cooling system
Cooling typeActiveActive
Vapor chamberNoNo
Liquid metalNon/a
Cooler count22
Cooler speed6000 RPMn/a
Noise Level42.8 dB37.4 dB

Display

Display quality comparison
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
Display test
Max brightness
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
600 nits
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
500 nits
Contrast1000000:125700:1
DCI-P3 gamut100 %99.1 %
sRGB gamut100 %100 %
Adobe RGB gamutn/a88 %
Response time58 ms67 ms

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, 140 W Yes, 100 W
Charge Port Location Left, Right Left, Right
Charge Power 140 W 140 W
Cable Length 2 m 2 m
Charger weight 347 g 353 g

Processor

Processor Apple M3 Pro Apple M1 Pro
Base frequency 4.05 GHz 3.2 GHz
Cores 12 (6P + 6E) 10 (8P + 2E)
Threads 12 10
Integrated Graphics Apple M3 Pro GPU (19-core) Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
Process tech. 3 nm 5 nm
GeekBench v6
Geekbench 6 (Single-Core)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
3061
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
2319
Geekbench 6 (Multi-Core)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
14579
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
10231
Cinebench
Cinebench R23 (Single-Core)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
1922
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
1528
Cinebench R23 (Multi-Core)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
14799
Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2021)
12046

GPU Model

GPU Model Apple M3 Pro GPU (18-core) Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
TGP 30 W 30 W
Graphics Type Integrated Integrated
Process tech. 3 nm 5 nm
GPU Frequency 500 MHz 450 MHz
Boost GPU Frequency 1600 MHz 1296 MHz
FLOPS 7.4 TFLOPS 5.3 TFLOPS
Memory Type LPDDR5 LPDDR5
Tire Width 192 bit 256 bit
Memory speed 6.4 Gbit/s 6.4 Gbit/s
Shader Units 2304 2048
TMUs 144 128
ROPs 72 64

RAM

RAM Size 18 GB 16 GB
Channels 3x6 GB 2x8 GB
Frequency 6400 MHz 6400 MHz
Type LPDDR5 LPDDR5
Replaceable No No

Storage

Bus Custom Custom
Type SSD (M2) SSD (M2)
Channels 2x256 GB 2x256 GB
Replaceable No No
NVMe Yes Yes
Storage Capacity 512 GB 512 GB

Sound

Audio Formats 4.2 4.2
Dolby Atmos Yes Yes
Max Volume 84.3 dB 84.7 dB
Microphones 3 3

Connectivity

Wi-Fi version v6E v6
Bluetooth version 5.3 5
Fingerprint sensor Yes Yes
IR sensor No No
CD drive No No
Webcam Above Display Above Display
Webcam Resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Ports
USB-ANoNo
USB-C3x4.03x4.0
ThunderboltThunderbolt 4Thunderbolt 4
HDMI1x2.11x2.0
DisplayPortNoNo
VGANoNo
3.5 mm Audio JackYesYes
Ethernet (RJ45)NoNo
Card ReaderYesYes
Charging PortYesYes

Keyboard & Touchpad

Key Type Island Layout Island Layout
Numeric Keypad No No
Backlight Yes Yes
Key Travel 1 mm 1 mm
Touchpad
Size15.5x9.9 cm15.5x9.9 cm
SurfaceGlassGlass
Windows PrecisionNoNo

Note

Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023):

Lower-end M3 Pro and M3 MaxSoCs with fewer CPU and GPU cores are also available. Our tests are conducted on the maxed-out variants.

* Attention! Ports, display type, speakers, and specs may differ by model or country.

Results

No clear favorite identified yet; updates may follow as new data arrives.

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