>
Apple just unveiled some new MacBook Pro models, equipped with the shiny new M2 Pro and M2 Max processors. You can read about the 14-inch model here, but in this article we’re going to explore the larger (and more expensive) 16-inch version.
Thanks to the newly powered M2 Pro and Max chips, we can certainly expect the 2023 MacBook Pro 16-inch to make its way into our list of the best MacBooks and Macs, on a par with the mighty MacBook Pro 13-inch (2022) , which didn’t have those chips – instead used the standard M2 SoC found in the MacBook Air (2022).
There’s a lot to like here, from super-powerful new silicon to a pleasingly healthy pricing model. Sure, they’re still seriously expensive devices, but that shouldn’t be surprising to anyone even remotely familiar with Apple hardware; the important thing here is that we’re not looking at huge generational price jumps.
Keep reading and you’ll find all the details we now know about this new laptop. Of course, we’ll post a review as soon as we get to put the new MacBook Pro through its paces, so stay tuned for that in the next few days!
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023): to the point
- What is it? The 16-inch model of Apple’s 2023 M2 MacBook Pro
- When will it be available? Available to order now, official release on January 24
- What does it cost? Ranging from $2,499 to $3,499 with no optional upgrades
MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023): release date
Quickly go to the Apple website and you will find a video (opens in new tab) with lots of information about the new MacBook Pro 16-inch. Perhaps the most pertinent detail here is the release date, which will be January 24 – although pre-orders are now available through the Apple website and supporting retailers.
January 24 will also see the launch of the M2 MacBook Pro 14-inch and new M2-powered versions of the Mac mini. Shipment is guaranteed on January 23 if you pre-order directly from Apple, so go to their website (opens in new tab) if you want one of these new laptops ready for release day (or at least very soon after).
MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023): Price
As mentioned above, we’re pleased to see that the M2 MacBook Pro 16-inch isn’t getting a major generational price increase this time around. Like the M1 Pro version, this laptop starts at $2,499 for the base configuration: that’s the M2 Pro chip, 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of SSD storage.
Looking at the more powerful models, the M2 Max version of the MacBook Pro 16-inch will run you another thousand more with its $3,499 base price, which comes with 32GB of memory and a 1TB drive.
As usual, of course, all the models listed on Apple’s website can be configured specifically to your liking, customizing the processor, RAM, and storage. If you go crazy and go for the highest spec possible (which has a ridiculous 96 GB of memory and 8 TB of storage), you’ll be paying a wallet-busting $6,499. You can also pre-install Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro software on the laptop, for $299.99 and $199.99 respectively.
Unfortunately for UK buyers, prices outside America are a bit steeper. The additional internal component upgrades get a direct currency change (so it’s $200/£200 to upgrade from a 512GB SSD to a 1TB SSD), but the base prices for each model are inexplicably higher in the UK.
The cheapest model costs £2,699 in the UK, about $3,315 at the time of writing. The more expensive M2 Max Edition costs £3,749 – that’s just over $4,600, more than a thousand dollars more than in the US. Given the current cost-of-living crisis weighing on the UK, this is a very disappointing move from Apple.
MacBook Pro 14-inch (2023): specifications
Interestingly, only the more powerful version of the two M2 Pro chip variants is available in the 16-inch MacBook Pro; a slightly watered-down version with fewer CPU and GPU cores can be found in the cheapest configurations of the new MacBook Pro 14-inch.
However, you can choose from two different versions of the M2 Max chip, one with 30 GPU cores and a more powerful version with 38. Each model has the same 12 CPU cores and 16-core Neural Engine built in.
In terms of memory, configurations are tied to the chosen processor, with 16GB or 32GB available for the M2 Pro and up to 96GB available for M2 Max models. Storage starts at 512 GB and can be configured to 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB or 8 TB. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 Max chip comes with a drive capacity of at least 1 TB.
The 16-inch display is technically a 16.2-inch screen, but the rounded corners reduce the effective viewing area slightly. Nevertheless, it’s the same high-quality Liquid Retina XDR display that we’ve come to love on Apple’s laptops. We also have an improved battery, with a potential battery life of up to 22 hours.
For physical connectivity, we’re looking at three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI port that supports 8K video output, an SDXC card slot, a headphone jack, and a MagSafe 3 port for charging the laptop. All in all, it’s an impressive feat for Apple’s latest MacBook Pro.