photographylife

AI-Free Since 2008

REVIEWS LEARN ABOUT US FORUM SEARCH

HOME → NEWS → PC / MAC / TABLET HARDWARE LEARN

• Beginner Photography
Apple Announces a Powerful 16″ MacBook Pro • Landscape Photography
• Wildlife Photography
BY NASIM MANSUROV | 26 COMMENTS
PUBLISHED ON NOVEMBER 13, 2019 • Portraiture
• Post-Processing
• Advanced Tutorials
Apple announced its long-awaited, next generation MacBook Pro today. The new
16″ MacBook Pro replaces the 15″ version and comes with very impressive
specifications, making it the most powerful laptop Apple has ever released.
Sporting 16 GB of RAM, 9th Gen Intel Core i7 CPU and 512 GB of storage for a Make Every Hour
base model, the new MacBook Pro can be configured to the teeth with up to 64
GB of RAM, up to 8-core Intel Core i9 CPU and up to 8 TB of fast storage. Pricing
Golden Hour
will start at $2,399 for the base model, with the most capable configuration
going for $6,099.

Join Photography Life’s

Member Page Here

REVIEWS

• Camera Reviews
• Lens Reviews
• Other Gear Reviews
• Best Cameras and Lenses

PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIALS

The New Apple 16″ MacBook Pro

Below are the technical specifications of the new Apple 16″ MacBook Pro:

PHOTOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE
RAM: 16 GB 2666 Mhz DDR4, Configurable to 64 GB BASICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Storage: 512 GB SSD, Configurable to 8 TB SSD
CPU: 2.6Ghz 6-Core Intel Core i7, Configurable to 2.4 Ghz 8-Core Intel Core
i9
GPU: AMD Radeon Pro 5300M with 4 GB of GDDR6, Configurable to AMD
WILDLIFE MACRO
Radeon Pro 5500M with 8 GB of GDDR6 Memory PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
Display: 16″ diagonal, LED-backlit IPS screen, 500 nits brightness
Display Technology and Color Gamut: True Tone Technology, Wide Color
(P3)
Display Resolution: 3072×1920 (226 ppi)
COMPOSITION & BLACK & WHITE
Ports: 4x Thunderbolt 3, USB Type-C CREATIVITY PHOTOGRAPHY
Keyboard: Full-size backlit Magic Keyboard
WiFi and Bluetooth: 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 720p FaceTime HD Camera
Audio: High-fidelity six-speaker system with force-cancelling woofers, Dolby
NIGHT SKY PORTRAIT
Atmos support, 3.5mm Headphone Jack PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
Battery: Up to 11 Hours (100Wh lithium-polymer battery)
Power: 96W USB-C Power Adapter
Finish: Silver, Space Gray
Size and Weight: 1.62 x 35.79 x 24.59 cm, 2.0 kg
STREET PHOTOGRAPHY
Starting Price: $2,399, Up to $6099 for the top model PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEOS

As you can see, the specifications are indeed very impressive. The 16″ MacBook
UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS
Pro is the only laptop on the market today that can deliver 8 TB of fast SSD
storage, which is insane.

The big question is, did Apple address the issues that plagued its previous-
generation 15″ MacBook Pro models when it comes to heat management and
keyboard issues? Apple says that it did – the new 16″ MacBook Pro now comes
with a brand new keyboard that Apple calls “the new Magic Keyboard”. Unlike the
older butterfly mechanism, the new keyboard uses a refined scissor mechanism
with 1mm travel, which is supposed to deliver superior typing experience. Apple
did not move away from the Touch Bar on the new MacBook Pro, but it did bring
back a physical “Esc” key, and inverted-T arrow keys. The Touch ID is now a
physical button as well, which also works as a power on/off button.

SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL

If you like our content, you can subscribe to our

newsletter to receive weekly email updates using
the link below:

Subscribe to our newsletter

The new Magic Keyboard

Apple claims that the new MacBook Pro has a more advanced thermal
architecture that should provide 28% increased airflow. The CPU also has a 35%
larger heat sink.

This new architecture should suffice in keeping the 8-Core Intel Core i9 cool
enough to prevent it from thermal throttling during high CPU utilization
workloads.

Apple also put a huge 100Wh lithium-polymer battery into the MacBook Pro,
which should provide up to 11 hours of browsing / playback time on a full charge.

Below is a promo video from Apple for the 16″ MacBook Pro:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysRigNyavF4
What do you think about this beast? If you are an Apple user, are you planning to
upgrade to the 16″ MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comments section below!

RELATED ARTICLES

Microsoft Surface Book 2 vs Apple iPhone 11 Pro Camera Apple Mac Pro Review for
Apple MacBook Pro Review Photography Needs

Apple iPad Pro 2018 Review for iMac Pro Display Brightness What Apple MacBook for
Photography Needs Retaining Issue Photography? (2024 M3
Update)

DISCLOSURES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT OPTIONS

FILED UNDER: PC / MAC / TABLET HARDWARE

TAGGED WITH: ANNOUNCEMENT, APPLE, APPLE REVIEWS, MACBOOK PRO

About Nasim Mansurov

Nasim Mansurov is the author and founder of Photography Life,
based out of Denver, Colorado. He is recognized as one of the
leading educators in the photography industry, conducting workshops,
producing educational videos and frequently writing content for Photography
Life. You can follow him on Instagram and Facebook. Read more about Nasim
here.

Join the discussion

Post Comment
Name*

Email*

26 COMMENTS Newest

Bob
December 15, 2019 11:55 am

Nasim,
I just got the new 16 inch Mac Book Pro, and am only getting around 2.5 hours on a full
charge. I use Lightroom for my editing. This is far below the stated 11 hrs by Apple. Is this
normal?

0 Reply

Kit Laughlin
November 28, 2019 8:19 pm

I am currently running a quad-core 2013 rMBP and this Mac we’re talking about here is the
first one in that intervening time that I have liked even slightly. I used to always buy optioned-
to-the-max Macs, simply because they are so easy to on-sell when changeover time comes
—but not for the last six years. As well, I am not a fan of USB-C-only ports, nor the Touch
Bar. I will have to get cables and perhaps a dock to use my current (Thunderbolt 2) RAIDs
and other peripherals.

One reason I have been able to hold off for so long is that we now shoot four video cameras
in the studio and use the current MBP to mix live-to-disk (this process included
compression, too, IIRC), so the need for a really powerful laptop has decreased in our
situation. I will be getting probably the bottom of the line 16″ MBP, with a one step upgrade
on the graphic card. I use RAIDs for external storage, so the huge internal drives are not
important to me.

Yes to the new 16″ MBP from me.

0 Reply

Scott Quigg
November 19, 2019 4:24 pm

youtu.be/FGOqkc2K9wc

Hot off the presses

0 Reply

Burghclerebilly
Reply to Scott Quigg November 20, 2019 4:50 pm

Seems great according to Lisa with some high-level graphics card options, and
apparently you can run two 6k monitors out of it, which will be nice for editing. But for
that kind of money, would a workstation laptop with future expandability options be
better I wonder. Biggest improvement, getting rid of the short travel keyboard for a more
normal version.

0 Reply

Burghclerebilly
November 15, 2019 2:39 pm

Let’s see what the High-Priestess of Computing, (Lisa Gade at MobileTechReview), says, and
then we’ll know if it’s worth an upgrade.

0 Reply

DavidB
November 14, 2019 3:55 pm

It is unlikely that I will buy this laptop. As long as Apple keeps making computers that are not
user-upgradable I will not buy. I’ll just keep using my legacy machines. They get the work
done—just not at the speed of a modern computer.

0 Reply

Charlie
November 14, 2019 12:48 pm

Their pricing is ridiculous. I got rid of my MBP because it just didn’t have the juice to keep up
with the larger camera files. I purchased a custom built laptop from Falcon Northwest that is
many times faster than the MBP (i7; 16 RAM; SSD) for about $2,500. Similar MBP specs
would probably be closer to $5,000 if I’m reading this properly.

0 Reply

Fred Lee
November 14, 2019 10:09 am

I’ve been holding on to my personal 2013 retina MBP for 6 years waiting for a suitable
replacement.

This one isn’t *perfect*, but like marco.org many of my complaints have gotten less relevant
as the years have passed.

I still don’t like the touch bar, but they’ve moved it further away which should reduce
phantom touches. I am thrilled to have the esc- key back, though I’ve remapped caps-lock to
esc on my work laptop and that is acceptable, though annoying. The ports, well that’s still
annoying. I don’t have any USB-C devices but I’ve got a ton of USB-A, and inexplicably many
USB-C -> USB-A converters cause the wifi on my work MBP to stop working.

I still miss mag-safe, but longer battery life means that I frequently only have to charge at
night where my laptop isn’t likely to be jerked by its power tether.

I have come awfully close to buying an LG Gram 17 over the last year, but the reality is I have
*never* had a Windows laptop that ran well after 2-3 years, while I’ve just been able to get a
~6-7 year service life out of my retina MBP, and it’s still got a pretty decent resale value
(though I suspect that will drop significantly now that the MBP 16 is out)

0 Reply

Darek
Reply to Fred Lee November 18, 2019 9:17 pm

That’s a weird thing to say that you never had a Windows laptop that ran well after 2-3
years.

Was it Windows that you think bogged down? You could do a reinstall, and try to keep
the install clean of any bloatware.

Or was it the hardware? Lots of Thinkpad users use theirs for a decade or more with very
few hardware issues, and easily replaceable parts in the event something does go
wrong.

Hell, I just booted up my T420, which came out in 2011 and looks and runs like new.
Same with the x201 that came out at the start of 2010. And I’ve used my 2007 T61 for
light browsing as recently as earlier this year, but the CPU was having a tough time with
all the heavy web sites these days, which can be expected for a 12 year old system. But
stuff like the old reddit design was perfectly fine.

0 Reply

William McKee
November 14, 2019 7:41 am

At last – screen estate!

I stll use a MacPro 17 (early 2009) – I prefer the screen size.
This looks the business, especially for tethering.

0 Reply

Vince
November 13, 2019 7:00 pm

I have a 2013 MBP, so I was planning to. But, as you can see, I keep my laptops for quite a
while, and this doesn’t have WiFi 6. So I’ll be waiting a while longer.

0 Reply

Michael Scandling
November 13, 2019 6:01 pm

It’s about a half an inch longer than the 15 inch model. It should fit into any bag designed for
a 15 inch laptop.

As a long time Mac user – since February 1984 – this is compelling. I have a late 2018 model
and it’s great except for two things: the keyboard, which is awful, and the thermal throttling.
This new one seems to address both issues. I have two friends in the graphic arts business
who immediately ordered theirs this morning. i’ll wait till the reviews come out.

0 Reply

Nasim Mansurov Author

Reply to Michael Scandling November 13, 2019 6:06 pm

Michael, I have the 2016 MacBook Pro model and it is the machine I regret buying – the
keyboard on my iPad Folio is a thousand times better! Hope the new keyboard is worth it,
as I really don’t like the butterfly keyboard on the older MacBook Pro models.

0 Reply

Load More Comments

SITE MENU REVIEWS MORE

About Us Reviews Archive Contact Us

Beginner Camera Reviews Subscribe
Photography Lens Reviews Workshops
Lens Database Other Gear Reviews Support Us
Lens Index Submit Content
Photo Spots
Search
Forum

Copyright © 2024 · Photography Life