i was doing some reseach on TVs and they have really come a long way, i haven't watched Tv in like 10 years, i see that tehre is a new screen type called HDR and that MBPs have them, is it worth teh $1000+ premium for a 16" macbook pro compared to a 15" macbook air?
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Is the HDR screen on the macbook pro really worth it?
- Thread starter SilasPal
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It depends -- are you doing HDR photo/video editing? If so, sure but then I guess you wouldn't be asking this question. If you are doing home/office/productivity type work (e-mails, reading articles, buying airlines tickets, Excel, etc), I would say no.
Also I wouldn't call High Dynamic Range (HDR) a new type of screen as much as a new capability. In the way that 4K is better than 1080p is better than 480i, HDR is better than what is now called Standard Dynamic Range (SDR). However, many different screen technologies can offer HDR. The most common are based on OLED and Mini-LED. These are all basically self-illuminating flat-panel technologies (as compared to projection and reflective displays, etc).
If you watch good quality HDR(properly calibrated)content a lot. It’s worth it.
But if you watch normal content from random sources, and like a longer battery life non HDR screen is More than enough.
But if you watch normal content from random sources, and like a longer battery life non HDR screen is More than enough.
As someone who has had both machines honestly as other said, unless you’re video editing HDR stuff or REALLY into super high end displays chances are you’re not really going to notice anything unless you have them side by side, and even then it’s not a huge difference.
If I didn’t need the extra graphics beef of the pro I’d go right back to the Air, they’re wonderful machines.
If I didn’t need the extra graphics beef of the pro I’d go right back to the Air, they’re wonderful machines.
It all depends on what you are doing. A 16 inch MacBook Pro is a workhorse machine. It is not not just the screen you are paying for but the chip and the cooling that comes with it. Also it's not just HDR movies but photos shot in HDR. I think the better question is do you really need a 16 inch MacBook Pro, you can find a 14 inch ones at a good price.
HDR is not a new screen type, but a reference to the range of colors and tones that can be produced by the display. The $1000 price difference between the Air and Pro is not due solely to the screen, but the differences between the two machines with respect to the SoC, RAM, storage, etc. The Pro display actually supports Pro Motion (refresh rates up to 120 Hz) in addition to HDR support. Unless you need the power of the Pro for video editing, development, professional-grade photo editing, or similar uses, then the Air would be more than enough machine.
I personally think it is very worth it if you watch any sort of video on your laptop. The difference is significant and pushed me more towards the pro than the air.
Even photos look amazing. HDR became fairly mainstream around 6-7 years ago so for it not to be on a 999 laptop like the air is a bit of a ripoff to be honest.
Even photos look amazing. HDR became fairly mainstream around 6-7 years ago so for it not to be on a 999 laptop like the air is a bit of a ripoff to be honest.