Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch) long-term review - A true desktop replacement - Android
Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro is not for the faint-hearted. It’s big, powerful, and incredibly expensive. The company initially introduced it in November of 2019 as a replacement for the outgoing 15-inch model, which had its fair share of hardware issues. The 16-inch model received a lot of praise upon release, but what’s it like to live with long term? And, more importantly, is it worth buying halfway through 2020?
In Android Authority’s Apple’s 16-inch MacBook Pro review, you’re about to find out.
There’s a reason Apple calls this machine a “Pro.” From the performance, to the display, to the pricing, it caters to creative professionals, whether they’re toiling away at the office or on the go. This notebook is made to be someone’s workhorse — not a Netflix and YouTube machine.
With this machine, you’re paying for desktop-level performance in a portable package. This convenience is important to people like me who can have easy access to their work computer no matter where they are. The fact that you can get rid of a desktop computer altogether and use it as your sole machine is why the 16-inch MacBook Pro costs as much as it does.
This is not a small laptop, so calling it a thin and light is not accurate. That said, at 357.9 x 245.9 x 16.2mm and 2kg, it’s not a behemoth either. I found it struck the right balance between a portability and a desktop features.
The 16-inch 60Hz IPS display comes in at 3,072 x 1,920 pixels with an aspect ratio of 16:10. The panel covers the P3 color gamut and has a 500nit peak brightness. Thanks to the excellent colors, great brightness, and solid viewing angles, it’s the best display over 12in. that I own. The bezels surrounding the screen are thin enough to not be distracting, though they are not the thinnest on the market.
This is arguably the most ideal form factor for video editing.
The omission of ports such as an SD card reader, HDMI, and ethernet is likely going to miff those who rely on legacy connectors. All four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports are capable of 40Gbps throughput and charging the MacBook at full speed. At least Apple kept the 3.5mm headphone port. Remember that one? It’s not ideal to be left with just a handful of ports, but I got by with a single dongle to suit all of my needs. The ports’ versatility helps here a lot.
Apple’s reputation for great build quality is evident in this notebook. There’s hardly any flex to the keyboard deck at all; the display hinge is as satisfying as it is stable; the keyboard and trackpad don’t wobble about; and there’s a real sense of tightness in the chassis.
Apple’s track record for keyboards has been a bit iffy in recent years. Its butterfly keyboards were reviled for being unreliable an uncomfortable. The 16-inch Pro brought back the old scissor-switch keyboard and it was refreshing to use. Having a proper keyboard was a breath of fresh air. The extra travel results in more long-term comfort. Between the backlight, the spacing, and the tactile feel, I have nothing bad to say about Apple’s new keyboard. It was flawless over the two months I used it, with no sticky or missed keystrokes.
The TouchID fingerprint scanner at the top right corner of the keyboard was consistently quick and accurate.
The touch bar, on the other hand, was a bit hit and miss. I’d have much preferred a row of old-fashioned physical buttons for adjusting brightness and volume. I basically never used the touch bar and I know the same goes for others who have touch bar-equipped MacBooks. Still, one key at a time, eh? Thanks for the escape key, Apple!
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