Background and Identification
The first MacBook Pro 16" was released in November 2019 as a replacement for the MacBook Pro 15’’ line of computers. Although the computer has a similar footprint to the 15” version, the screen bezels shrank to allow Apple to fit a 16-inch 3072x1920 Retina display. This version retains the same Touch Bar in place of the function keys as the previous version, although with the switch to a physical escape key, an appreciated addition for many. The 16” MacBook Pro also sees the power button fully divorced from the Touch Bar to a separate Touch ID enabled button, an aluminum band in the unibody dividing the two and sealing the deal.
However, don’t let the transition to a 16” screen distract you from the real gold within these updated models: the “magic” keyboard. After years of problems with the “butterfly” keyboards, Apple has finally accepted their mistake and walked their keyboard design back to what works, with a keyboard reminiscent of the older model MacBook Pros.
Other than these changes, the MacBook Pro 16” is very similar to the 15 inch MacBook Pro released earlier the same year. It uses the same processors, has the same ports (still just USB-C, sorry dongle-haters), and solders all the vital components to the logic board. While the componentry of these computers may be similar to the previous generation’s, improved thermal management in the 16 inch models may allow for these components to be used to their full potential.
This new generation of MacBooks come with a new model number, A2141, which can be found on the bottom case of the laptop.