Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro test & experiences – a monster when traveling?

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The Apple According to the manufacturer, MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro is the most powerful MacBook of all time. It has a new, more powerful M1 Pro chip (or optionally M1 Max chip) and a larger 16-inch Retina display with up to 120 Hz. It also includes all the features that professional users need, such as a better camera, more ports and more storage space. How does the model perform in mine? Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review in everyday life and when travelling? What's it like taking the big device with you when you travel? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the model? I have put together the most important information for you.

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I bought my first silver MacBook Pro in 2006 and have only used notebooks from this series ever since. I created the entire Just Wanderlust travel blog on a MacBook Pro, all of them texts written on it, the Photos and edited videos and of course also made all the technical implementations. So let's put it this way: I have an overview of what the MacBook Pro models of the last generations were able to achieve and how the current MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro stands out from them.

And the devices have accompanied me worldwide. I already had my 15 inch MacBook with me in Indonesia, Thailand and the USA. And after switching to the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro, I couldn't resist taking the laptop with me when I traveled - especially since I had to do some tasks during the trip that I could only do on a laptop.

Normally I would just have mine iPad Pro 12.9 with Magic Keyboard because it is significantly lighter and more compact. Long story short: I had the pleasure of testing my MacBook Pro on my last trip and seeing how the model performs when used on the go.

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The most powerful MacBook Pro?

The manufacturer writes the following about the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro:

The most powerful MacBook Pro ever is here. With the ultra-fast M1 Pro or M1 Max chip – the first Apple Chips designed specifically for pros - you get groundbreaking performance and incredible battery life. Plus a brilliant Liquid Retina XDR display, the best camera and audio ever in a Mac notebook, plus all the ports you need. This MacBook Pro is the first of its kind. And it's a monster.

Apple

Basically, this much can be revealed in advance: If you are looking for a very powerful MacBook the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro is just right for you. Thanks to the M1 Pro chip, it is – at least as of early 2022 – the most powerful MacBook ever manufactured. At least if you include the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro Max. The series contains all the functions that professionals need, such as a better camera, more ports and, depending on the equipment, more storage space and more RAM.

I took the MacBook Pro with me on trips and worked with the power pack on the go. Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review experiences holiday travel travel blogger work blog blogger
I took the MacBook Pro with me on trips and worked with the power pack on the go. But be careful on the beach so that no sand penetrates the piece of jewellery.

The battery lasts so long that I haven't managed to use up a full battery charge once - and I work on the MacBook for hours every day. How does the device perform in my Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro test? What are its strengths and weaknesses? I tried to look at the MacBook from different perspectives and perhaps also show why the notebook is not an alternative.

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Overview – Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro review and experiences

  1. My experiences: The new MacBook Pro 16 is the most powerful MacBook ever thanks to its new M1 chip. It's a great choice for professionals who need a powerful and portable laptop.
  2. Technical data and functions: The MacBook Pro 16 has a more powerful processor, larger display, more storage space and more ports than other MacBooks.
  3. Power: The MacBook Pro 16 is a great choice for professionals who need performance in a portable package.
  4. Advantages and disadvantages: The MacBook Pro 16 is a great choice for professionals, but it's not as portable as other MacBooks.
  5. And finally ... The MacBook Pro 16 is the most powerful MacBook ever and a great choice for many users, but not for everyone.

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My travel experiences with the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro

First of all, I have to say that I use the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro for up to 16 hours a day to work with it. So I not only tested it on trips, but also on trips. Since I'm on the road quite a bit, I need a device that's similar to a notebook in terms of functionality. I usually take my iPad Pro 12.9 with me in combination with the Magic Keyboard because the ensemble is lighter and more compact. You can really get a lot of work done on the iPad while traveling. Unfortunately not everything. For some tasks you need the big MacBook after all - and that's why I took the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro with me when I traveled.

As a digital nomad, I am constantly on the lookout for the perfect companion for my work. I have high demands on the performance, design and mobility of my device. So far, my iPad Pro 12.9 with the Magic Keyboard has been my top choice when it comes to travel. The iPad is light, compact and offers many functions that make my work easier. Whether I'm writing blog articles, editing photos or creating presentations, the iPad can do almost everything. But only almost. Because there are also some tasks that I can't or don't want to do with the iPad. For example editing videos, programming websites or using special software applications. For these things I need a full-fledged notebook with a powerful processor, a large screen and a comfortable keyboard. That's why I recently bought the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro and tested it extensively on a trip to Spain.
Thanks to ChatGPT and Google Bard, is travel blogging coming to an end? In any case, there will be huge changes in online publications - not only in the travel industry.

And I have to say: the user experience is and will remain at the highest level when traveling. That's not a question at all. You can sit down with a coffee in the hotel room or in the lobby. You don't need a charging cable even for more extensive tasks because the battery is so powerful. I only charged the battery twice in the entire week.

First of all, I have to say that I use the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro for up to 12 hours a day to work with it. So I not only tested it on trips, but also on trips. Since I'm on the road quite a bit, I need a device that's similar to a notebook in terms of functionality. I usually take my iPad Pro 12.9 with me in combination with the Magic Keyboard because the ensemble is lighter and more compact. You can really get a lot of work done on the iPad while traveling. Unfortunately not everything. For some tasks you need the big MacBook after all - and that's why I took the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro with me when I traveled.

However, there are also minor disadvantages: As soon as the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro has connected to the hotel WiFi and starts loading your photos and videos into iCloud, the hotel WiFi is usually busy. However, there are programs like TripMode that can be used to prevent certain, selected uploads.

Of course, there is also the size of the MacBook. At over two kilograms, it is not lightweight and the large 16-inch display obviously has to be housed in a housing - so it's not exactly a compact notebook. It doesn't even want to be that way. You can find out what my bottom line is in my MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro test below.

Hello, I'm Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg - and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.
About the author

I'm just a curious beach kid in the world

Hello, I am Sascha Tobias Tegtmeyer from Hamburg – and a real beach child with heart and soul! Sea fan, travel lover and always up for an adventure. On my travel blog Just-Wanderlust.com and the social media channels of Strandkind Travels, I combine my love of traveling and nature with a passion for water sports such as stand-up paddling, diving and surfing. I am a journalist, author and blogger - and I am naturally curious when I get to know new travel destinations and then write about them in detail. As a technology fan, when I'm traveling with my family or alone, I'm always happy to bring a few travel gadgets with me for testing purposes. My favorite travel countries, which I also prefer to write about in my travel blog: USA, Thailand and Maldives.

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Table - Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro Specifications

I have put together a table for you with the most important specifications of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro. It lists the most important key data of the model. You can read the full table from the manufacturer Apple.

featureProperty
Main material100% recycled aluminum
ColorsSilver and Space Gray
Size16 inch
ProcessorApple M1 Pro chip with 10-core CPU with 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores as well as 16-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine with 200 GB/s memory bandwidth - optional: M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 24-core GPU or M1 Max with 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU
Advertising16,2″ Liquid Retina XDR display (41,05 cm diagonal)1 with 3456 x 2234 native resolution at 254 ppi
random access memory16GB RAM - up to 64GB with M1 Max
hard disk512GB - up to 8TB SSD
Battery lifeUp to 21 hours playback from Apple TV app movies. Up to 14 hours wireless surfing. 100 Wh lithium polymer battery3. 140W USB-C Power Adapter. USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable.
ConnectionsSDXC card slot, HDMI port, 3,5mm headphone jack, MagSafe 3 port
Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports supporting: Charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gbps, USB 4 (up to 40Gbps)
Wireless ConnectionsWLAN 802.11ax WLAN 6, compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
Bluetooth 5.0
Camera1080p FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor with computational video
measurements and weightHeight: 1,68 cm - Width: 35,57 cm - Depth: 24,81 cm
Weight (M1 Pro): 2,1kg
Weight (M1 Max): 2,2kg
All statements without guarantee. Source: Apple.com
The Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro is a real hit - there's really no other way to say it. You really notice that this device is made of one piece, both externally and internally. This means that everything works smoothly in the interaction between hardware and software and the machine can fully develop its power. I have compiled and commented on the most important properties of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro for you below.

Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro review – the most important features

The Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro is a real hit - there's really no other way to say it. You really notice that this device is made of one piece, both externally and internally. This means that everything works smoothly in the interaction between hardware and software and the machine can fully develop its power. I have compiled and commented on the most important properties of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro for you below.

Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review Experiences Vacation Travel Travel blogger Work Blog Blogger The huge Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 120 Hz is the highlight of the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro for me. It is easy to read even in bright sunshine.
The huge Liquid Retina XDR display with up to 120 Hz is the highlight of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro for me. It is easy to read even in bright sunshine.

The processor of the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro

The MacBook Pro 16 M1 is a great choice for professionals who need power and performance in a portable package. The new M1 Pro chip or M1 Max chip makes MacBook Pro 16 the most powerful MacBook ever and includes all the features professionals need. I've never experienced apps and files opening so quickly and smoothly. Once you experience the performance of the processor and get used to it, you can no longer tolerate an older notebook.

Apple M1 per chip

The MacBook Pro in my test is equipped with the M1 Pro. According to the manufacturer, the M1 Pro takes the performance of the M1 architecture to a whole new level for Pro users. Apple had already released an M1 chip some time before the M1 Pro, which is intended to gradually replace the Intel chips used up to now. The manufacturer promises that when using the M1 Pro, even the most ambitious projects will run very easily, since the M1 Pro has up to 10 CPU cores, up to 16 GPU cores and a 16-core neural engine as well as special media engines for decoding and encoders supporting H.264, HEVC and ProRes codecs.

Max M1

Optionally, the MacBook Pro is also available with the Apple M1 Max chip equipped. According to the manufacturer, the M1 Max is the most powerful chip ever developed for a pro notebook (as of early 2022). It has 10 CPU cores, up to 32 GPU cores and a 16‑core neural engine. It delivers twice the graphics processing speed and twice the memory bandwidth of the M1 Pro. It also has a dedicated media engine for decoding and two for encoding, with up to two times faster video encoding, plus two ProRes accelerators for even better multi-stream performance.

The display of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro

The Liquid Retina XDR display is a razor-sharp display. I have never seen such a bright, sharp and fluid display on a notebook. It gives me joy every day at work - and basically, that's what makes working on this device. Because in the 16 inch version you have so much space to do your work. In particular, anyone who uses the MacBook as a desktop replacement really needs this large work surface.

According to the manufacturer, it is said to be the best laptop screen yet and has an ultra-high dynamic range and a contrast ratio of 1.000.000:1. HDR content in photos, videos and games is designed to truly come to life with enhanced highlights, incredible shadow detail and vibrant, lifelike colors.

For the first time, the ProMotion function is available in a MacBook display. With frame rates of up to 120 Hz, adaptive technology automatically adjusts to the movement of the content. From scrolling web pages to playing games, everything is incredibly smooth and responsive while reducing power consumption. Video editors can also choose a fixed frame rate that exactly suits their footage.

The battery of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro

The MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro has a really excellent battery life. I've been writing this Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro review for two hours now and the battery is still at 92 percent. With average use, it will take up to 14 hours for the battery to run out - for example when surfing the Internet over Wi-Fi. Video playback should even be possible for up to 21 hours. This is one of the longest battery lives ever on a MacBook Pro, or any laptop for that matter.

It's even more impressive when you consider the MacBook Pro 16's huge, high-resolution and bright display and powerful processor. If you're looking for a MacBook Pro that will last all day with average usage, the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro is a very, very good choice.

The keyboard of the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro

As a writer, I type thousands of words every day using multiple keyboards. And yes, I have destroyed many keyboards. Sometimes keys came my way and often keyboards simply gave up. I use an external Magic Keyboard with the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro at home.

The MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro's keyboard produces a mechanical key feel that's really comfortable and crisp. Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review experiences holiday travel travel blogger work blog blogger
The MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro's keyboard produces a mechanical key feel that's really comfortable and crisp.

But the built-in Magic Keyboard is really fun, so I often use it simply because the feeling when typing is so pleasant: for the first time, it brings a mechanical key feel that is really pleasant and crisp. It also comes with new keyboard shortcuts for Spotlight, Dictation, and Do Not Disturb. I use the dictation function in particular very often and am glad that it has its own button. And Touch ID has a new tactile ring that guides your finger to unlock your Mac more easily.

The camera of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro

I have to be honest: I've never been a big fan of the built-in FaceTime camera on MacBooks. I rarely used the cameras because the resolution didn't convince me. Things are different for the first time with the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro. It has a great camera that makes it really fun to use FaceTime on Mac. Great for video calls and taking pictures, the camera is a welcome addition for those who need it.

It includes a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, which is a significant upgrade from the previous camera on MacBook Pros. In my experience, I rarely use the camera because I tend to use the camera on the iPhone Pro or iPad Pro. But this also depends on individual usage behavior. If you're looking for a MacBook Pro with a great camera, the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro is a good choice.

The handiness of the Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro

Handiness is simply not the focus of the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro. You work with it at home and you only take it with you when you really need the performance of the device for meetings or when traveling. The MacBook Pro 16 is a great choice for professionals, but it's not as portable as other MacBooks.

Compared to the MacBook Air or the smaller MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro, the 16-inch model is large and heavy. But you also get a huge display that offers a lot of space for creative work. Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review experiences holiday travel travel blogger work blog blogger
Compared to the MacBook Air or the smaller MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro, the 16-inch model is large and heavy. But you also get a huge display that offers a lot of space for creative work.

It's definitely not light and thin. It's a mobile notebook, yes. And it's still portable. If you need a truly more portable device that you have with you every day and carry around a lot, I would strongly recommend the MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro or the latest generation MacBook Air.

The price of the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro

The price of my 16-inch MacBook of the late 2021 generation was well over 2000 euros. I have it in the official one Apple Bought in the Amazon store and at least received a small price discount there. Directly at Apple You rarely get a discount - but then all guarantees and warranties expire Apple and in the event of defects, you can rely on the manufacturer for repairs and replacements over the full warranty period (I speak from experience).

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14 inch or 16 inch – Which MacBook Pro for whom?

My brother bought the MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro at the same time and of course we compared the devices directly. While the chips and memory as well as the resulting performance are identical, the MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro is noticeably more compact and lighter than its big sister model. The difference is really striking. When I saw my brother's MacBook in direct comparison with my large notebook, I wanted to switch to the smaller 14-inch model.

It was a bit cramped in Economy Class with the 16-inch MacBook Pro. If you fly more often with a MacBook and want to work in economy mode on the go, I would recommend the 14-inch model, a MacBook Air or a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer My brother and I both treated ourselves to a new MacBook Pro, but we chose different models. He chose the MacBook Pro 14 M1 Pro with a 14-inch screen and a compact and lightweight body, while I chose the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro with a 16-inch screen and a slightly larger and heavier body. We were both very excited to see the performance of the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which Apple referred to as powerful "monsters". We put the two MacBooks side by side and ran some tests to see how they fared. We found that the chips and memory and the resulting performance are identical in both models. This is because both MacBooks use the same M1 Pro chip with 10 cores, 16 graphics cores and 16 GB of shared main memory. This chip is loud Apple almost twice as powerful as the M1 chip used in the older 13-inch MacBook Pro. It also supports more storage, up to 8TB SSD, compared to just 2TB for the M1 chip.
It was a bit cramped in Economy Class with the 16-inch MacBook Pro. If you fly more often with a MacBook and want to work in economy mode on the go, I would recommend the 14-inch model, a MacBook Air or a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Photo: Sascha Tegtmeyer

But - and this is the point - when we opened the MacBooks and held them side by side, it became clear that the MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro's display is so much larger than the 14-inch model. That's what motivated me to stick with the larger model. The display of the large model is simply unbeatable for more complex work.

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Book your dream vacation now at favorable conditions on the renowned booking portal HolidayCheck – top rated by Stiftung Warentest (01/2024). Click and browse now!

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The MacBook Pro 16 is the most powerful MacBook ever and a great choice for professionals who need a powerful and portable laptop. Apple MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro review experiences holiday travel travel blogger work blog blogger
The MacBook Pro 16 is the most powerful MacBook ever and a great choice for professionals who need a powerful and portable laptop.

Macbook Pro 16 M1 Pro Review and Experience – Who Should Buy It?

My detailed conclusion

To be clear – the description of Apple That's true: The MacBook Pro 16 M1 Pro is really a monster - in a positive sense, of course. It is the purest productivity machine that supports professional users in their work every day. The MacBook Pro 16 is the most powerful MacBook ever and a great choice for professionals who need a powerful and portable laptop. It's packed with features professionals need, like unbeatable performance, a better camera, more ports and more storage.

At the same time, it is still relatively light and generally easy to transport. I will write many more exciting blog posts for you on this productivity machine. And if you ask me: Should I spend more than 2000 euros on this notebook? Then I tell you: if you are a pro and do creative work, go out and buy it.

Are you already using it? Apple Products like the MacBook Pro or the iPad Pro when traveling? Or are you planning to purchase it? Share your experiences in the comments.

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