Whereas the MacBook Air is tremendously standard, some customers want a bit bit extra. Extra efficiency, an even bigger battery, extra ports, a bigger display screen…for those who want extra, you want a MacBook Professional. If you need a Mac laptop computer with a show bigger than 13-14 inches, the 16-inch MacBook Professional is your solely possibility.

Earlier than you spend all that cash (typically upwards of $3,000) on one thing you hope to maintain and use for years, it’s value asking if this can be a good time to purchase. On the planet of computer systems, there’s at all times one thing higher on the best way, but when it’s a lot higher and it’s coming quickly, you would possibly need to wait. With WWDC coming in early June, the place Apple would possibly unveil M2-based MacBooks, you would possibly need to think about your choices fastidiously. Right here’s our purchasing recommendation for the 16-inch MacBook Professional.

16-inch MacBook Professional: Pricing and specs

Launched: October 2021

The 16-inch MacBook Professional acquired a large Apple silicon improve at Apple’s “Unleashed” occasion. It begins with a brand new processor (the M1 Professional or M1 Max), however it’s extra than simply velocity. It has a brand new show (Liquid Retina XDR), extra ports (three Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SDXC slot), a full-sized row of operate keys, and a brand new design. It replaces the Intel mannequin that was launched in 2019.

The 16-inch MacBook Professional begins at $2,499, $100 greater than the earlier mannequin. There are processor, RAM, and storage choices that may push it over $6,000.

16-inch MacBook Professional: Why you can purchase

The MacBook Professional is an incredible machine that checks off almost each field on a professional consumer’s wishlist. It’s quick, succesful, and highly effective, and brings Apple’s professional laptop computer into the forefront of the pack. The show is cause sufficient to need one, bringing mini-LED and ProMotion to a Mac for the primary time, with excessive brightness (1,600-nit peak) and wonderful coloration accuracy. Apple claims the M1 Professional chip is 70 p.c quicker than the M1 and the M1 Max has a GPU 4 occasions extra highly effective than that within the M1. It’s additionally received extra RAM, a number of occasions extra reminiscence bandwidth, and a crazy-fast SSD.

There are additionally much more ports. Apple added three Thunderbolt 4 ports to the 16-inch MacBook Professional, in addition to HDMI and an SDXC card slot. There’s an upgraded 1080p FaceTime digital camera as effectively, although you’ll have to cope with a display screen notch like on the iPhone. However we predict that’s a suitable trade-off for a lot energy.

16-inch MacBook Professional: Why it’s best to wait

You actually shouldn’t. Except you actually desire a Contact Bar, then you can purchase a 13-inch MacBook Professional, the one mannequin left that features it. We’re listening to rumors of M2-based Macs coming quickly, probably as early as WWDC in June, however we don’t count on them to incorporate a 16-inch laptop computer.

Macworld recommends: BUY

A brand new MacBook Professional is a giant funding, and the 16-inch mannequin means spending at the least $2,499 and sure over $3,000. However for those who want the ability it gives, get one now. Each new Mac is at all times the perfect Apple has ever made, however the 16-inch MacBook Professional is a big leap each over the prior mannequin and within the historical past of the MacBook Professional, and we predict you’ll be more than happy along with your buy.

Our solely suggestion is to get as a lot storage and reminiscence as you may afford. The 16-inch MacBook Professional begins at 16GB of RAM and goes as much as 32GB with the M1 Professional and 64GB with the M1 Max chips. The upgrades aren’t low cost, however they’ll be effectively well worth the funding years from now when your machine remains to be working as easily because it was whenever you purchased it.