MacBook Pro 16" or 2026 Windows laptop?

[Steve Adams]

Well... my experience with several high end Windows laptops is completely different. Yes, if you browse your email they are silent, but if you put them to work, they all kick the fans into high gear, and logically so. They need to shed heat! By the way, a Dell Inspiron 2 in 1 is a nice laptop, but not a high performance one comparable to a MacBook Pro. In my opinion 😉

It's one hundred percent on par with the macbook Pro of it's time. This system and the M1 macbook pro are neck and neck in performance. They trade wins in various real world benchmarks.

I also have 64gb of ram, 32 of which my Xe Graphics will take advantage of when doing hard labour. The fans do kick in, but in similar work flows the fans in the M1 pro does as well.

 

[Steve Adams]

Just keep the MBP. I run Parallels with Windows 11 when I need. The M5 Pro in it is so blazingly fast that even DCS World runs respectably through emulation not only of Windows, but x86 to ARM in Steam emulation. So, that's two different layers and it works well. These things are absolutely insane. Get the MBP, and you can do anything in Windows you want anyhow.

Not so. I tried my proprietary software created by the building corporation I used to sell for on parallels and it would not run correctly. It kept tossing errors so I went right back to native windows and it worked fine.

 

[TracerAnalog]

It's one hundred percent on par with the macbook Pro of it's time. This system and the M1 macbook pro are neck and neck in performance. They trade wins in various real world benchmarks.

I also have 64gb of ram, 32 of which my Xe Graphics will take advantage of when doing hard labour. The fans do kick in, but in similar work flows the fans in the M1 pro does as well.

Fair enough 🙂

 

[Steve Adams]

Fair enough 🙂

Thank you. It's not on par with an M5 MBP. it's 6 years old and used HARD! Not treated hard, just used! Travelling ALOT.

 

[Abydos]

8 or so years ago the MBP would have been a hands down winner, but today get a high quality wintel box (remember rosetta is going away)

 

[Harddrive]

I keep my MBP all mac and I dual boot my Windows HP with Ubuntu works fine for me .

 

[conmee]

Given your original requirements (Secure OS, no fan noise, nice screen, need Windows and Linux), I'd say go with a Panther Lake powered Dell or Lenovo (Dell has reintroduced the XPS line with Panther Lake). As for AI, Microsoft has been a lot more invasive with AI in the OS than Apple (though that is in part to how Apple has repeatedly fumbled their AI implementation - hopefully, macOS Golden Gate will allow either through Settings or Terminal to disable their AI features).

Since you used Macs in the past with Bootcamp and you boot into Linux (or use WSL) occasionally, I’d stick with a Windows system as Win11ARM in Parallels will not cut it for many apps (although I was lucky enough to have everything I need run in Win11ARM and thus retired my 2019 Intel MBP in March for an M5 Max). A system with Intel Core Ultra 5 338H with Arc B370 should give a good balance of performance and graphics performance (including ray tracing) especially for CAD while minimizing fan noise which is important to you. You can go up a level to a system with Intel Core Ultra X7 358H with Arc B390 for additional graphical performance, but in general the Intel Graphics/Arc GPUs are going to show up around ~50% slower than the 20-core GPU in the M5 Pro (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with Arc Pro B390 will get you closer to M5 Pro graphics performance but will still trail M5 Pro and will cost a lot more). But these are synthetic benchmark results. For CAD and your workflow, you may not notice much difference unless you plan to export large videos or play games. Combining an Intel Arrow Lake CPU with an Nvidia GPU will give you the best graphics performance and comparable to or exceed the M5 Pro depending on the system, but this is where you will encounter a lot more fan noise. So I’d stick with Panther Lake CPUs and Intel GPUs if you want the quietest/quieter Windows experience.

Here are some results if you're interested.

Geekbench 6 GPU (OpenCL)
M5 Pro (18-core): 88467
X7 358H: 58162
338H: 48283

Cinebench R23 CPU (Single Core/Multi Core)
M5 Pro (18-core): 2554 / 33955
X7 358H: 2074 / 16570
338H: 2044 / 16331

3DMark (Steel Nomad - Raster)
M5 Pro (18-core): 2338
X7 358H: 1667
338H: 1384

3DMark (Solar Bay - Ray Tracing)
M5 Pro (18-core): 47115
X7 358H: 30578
338H: 25259

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-Ultra-5-338H-Processor-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1196619.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...Lake-iGPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1193672.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...Lake-iGPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1169503.0.html

 

[Steve Adams]

Given your original requirements (Secure OS, no fan noise, nice screen, need Windows and Linux), I'd say go with a Panther Lake powered Dell or Lenovo (Dell has reintroduced the XPS line with Panther Lake). As for AI, Microsoft has been a lot more invasive with AI in the OS than Apple (though that is in part to how Apple has repeatedly fumbled their AI implementation - hopefully, macOS Golden Gate will allow either through Settings or Terminal to disable their AI features).

Since you used Macs in the past with Bootcamp and you boot into Linux (or use WSL) occasionally, I’d stick with a Windows system as Win11ARM in Parallels will not cut it for many apps (although I was lucky enough to have everything I need run in Win11ARM and thus retired my 2019 Intel MBP in March for an M5 Max). A system with Intel Core Ultra 5 338H with Arc B370 should give a good balance of performance and graphics performance (including ray tracing) especially for CAD while minimizing fan noise which is important to you. You can go up a level to a system with Intel Core Ultra X7 358H with Arc B390 for additional graphical performance, but in general the Intel Graphics/Arc GPUs are going to show up around ~50% slower than the 20-core GPU in the M5 Pro (Intel Core Ultra X9 388H with Arc Pro B390 will get you closer to M5 Pro graphics performance but will still trail M5 Pro and will cost a lot more). But these are synthetic benchmark results. For CAD and your workflow, you may not notice much difference unless you plan to export large videos or play games. Combining an Intel Arrow Lake CPU with an Nvidia GPU will give you the best graphics performance and comparable to or exceed the M5 Pro depending on the system, but this is where you will encounter a lot more fan noise. So I’d stick with Panther Lake CPUs and Intel GPUs if you want the quietest/quieter Windows experience.

Here are some results if you're interested.

Geekbench 6 GPU (OpenCL)
M5 Pro (18-core): 88467
X7 358H: 58162
338H: 48283

Cinebench R23 CPU (Single Core/Multi Core)
M5 Pro (18-core): 2554 / 33955
X7 358H: 2074 / 16570
338H: 2044 / 16331

3DMark (Steel Nomad - Raster)
M5 Pro (18-core): 2338
X7 358H: 1667
338H: 1384

3DMark (Solar Bay - Ray Tracing)
M5 Pro (18-core): 47115
X7 358H: 30578
338H: 25259

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-Core-Ultra-5-338H-Processor-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1196619.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...Lake-iGPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1193672.0.html

https://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel...Lake-iGPU-Benchmarks-and-Specs.1169503.0.html

Synthetic benchmarks mean nothing. It's just numbers. Push real world tasks and projects through the systems to really show the difference. It's not as much as these numbers indicate.

 

[conmee]

Synthetic benchmarks mean nothing. It's just numbers. Push real world tasks and projects through the systems to really show the difference. It's not as much as these numbers indicate.

They aren’t exactly nothing. They’re datapoints despite limited usefulness. And I conceded in my post more or less exactly what you’re saying: “But these are synthetic benchmark results. For CAD and your workflow, you may not notice much difference…”

For many tasks, the M5 Pro smokes most Intel-based thin and light laptops regardless of workflow. Obviously, if one has needs that only Windows can address (Windows-only software, AAA games, etc) then performance is a moot point. Windows is the only solution.

I do agree that the deltas between benchmark scores often overstates the real-world “feel” or experience, I was giving OP a starting point for consideration. Benchmarks aside, I think they would be best served with a Windows machine given their previously mentioned requirements and workflow.

 

[maflynn]

Synthetic benchmarks mean nothing.

I'd have to disagree
They provide a means to compare different computers consistently Seeing a Geekbench or Cinebench score, will give you a frame of mind of much faster or slower the computer you're measuring against others.

I get that real world usage is the best but that may not be an indeal means to convey peformance for people where as benchmarks are.

 

[Mr.McMac]

Hello, I orderd a MacBook Pro M5 Pro 16" before the price increase but due to poor handling of UPS, the product was damaged. I can exchange for another one or get a refund.

I planned to possibly trade-in for the Ultra when it is out but now that all those negative rumors about the upcoming Ultra have shown up, I wonder if it is better to get a Windows laptop instead. I chose the MacBook Pro 16" mainly for the secured OS, no fan noise and nice screen. Also, Windows laptops I tried before the pandemic all had fans kicking in even they were idle. They drove me crazy.

MacOS is nice to have due to the security but for work, I need Windows and Linux. It means that if I go for the MacBook Pro, I will need spend money to upgrade Parallels Pro each year (Vmware Fusion does not work for my Windows application). I don't want AI in my computer. Is MacBook Pro still better than Windows laptops even Apple is going to add more AI stuffs in the up-coming OS because we can turn them "ALL" off? Currently typing on a Windows PC. I think I have Co-Pilot turned off. Perhaps some AI stuffs are running in the background without my knowledge. At least, they don't bother me so far.

This is a solid review of what M5 pro gets you.

The M5 pro is definitely a hardy machine, and unless you are Adobe savvy, Nvidia's spark chip doesn't really do much especially if you are looking to do less Ai work loads.

If you are looking to get off the Apple Brand I guess it makes sense to take a first step though you would probably be a little disappointed in the user friendliness of windows to the ecosystem of Apple at the same price levels.

This influencer has video crossover review between the M5 and a similar windows PC. Maybe worth a look.

 

[maflynn]

This influencer has video crossover review between the M5 and a similar windows PC. Maybe worth a look.

I've seen other YTs from him, I do like him, and I think the M5 Pro is an excellent machine, though thanks to apple's price increases, its not something I'd be considering

 

[pshufd]

I'd get the machine that improves revenue generation, and, if it generates enough revenue, then buy the other one with it.

 

[hajime]

With all the disappointing last week's rumors/news about the Macbook Pro Ultra, for me it is no longer worth the wait nor trade-in in the near future. Given that future MacBook Pro are likely to be even more expensive and the trade-in cost is unlikely to rise accordingly, it is a bit of a turn off to trade-in with Apple 3-5 years later (don't want to take the risk with strangers). There is also a possibility that like the Apple Watch, Apple will stop support M1 to M5 24GB or below configurations by stating that their OS with AI need more RAM to run. How likely will that be?

Cost-wise, there are many 16" Windows laptops with features I want from the Ultra (lighter than the current M5 Pro MacBook Pro 16", no notch, higher resolutions). Given that I use Windows and Linux for work, is there any point to stay with the Mac besides possible??? more secure and dead silent? Given that there are a lot more consumers using the Mac right now, there could be more hackers targetting the Mac in the near future. How likely is that?

 

[hajime]

It's an all new architechure for windows systems. like M series but MASSIVELY more powerful in the graphics side. You have a MBP 16, so the ProArt 16 inch and New Surface ultra will be direct competitors to the MBP. The compute power in the new systems are insane. That being said, if you don't need ALL that power the asus A16 will give you amazing windows performance.

Fan noise is dependant on system. You can have one system like my sons' MSI that is a rocketship for speed, but damn, is it loud. Or you can get a current model proart 16 that is just as powerful, but its much much much quieter.

The only thing I would advise against a ARM windows systems is if you NEED linux. Then get intel/amd based systems. What software are you needing to run?

Do you mean those up-coming laptops with RTX Spark? It seems that they are powered by an ARM-based Nvidia Grace CPU rather than an Intel or AMD CPU. So, there could be problems running Linux?

 

[pshufd]

With all the disappointing last week's rumors/news about the Macbook Pro Ultra, for me it is no longer worth the wait nor trade-in in the near future. Given that future MacBook Pro are likely to be even more expensive and the trade-in cost is unlikely to rise accordingly, it is a bit of a turn off to trade-in with Apple 3-5 years later (don't want to take the risk with strangers). There is also a possibility that like the Apple Watch, Apple will stop support M1 to M5 24GB or below configurations by stating that their OS with AI need more RAM to run. How likely will that be?

Cost-wise, there are many 16" Windows laptops with features I want from the Ultra (lighter than the current M5 Pro MacBook Pro 16", no notch, higher resolutions). Given that I use Windows and Linux for work, is there any point to stay with the Mac besides possible??? more secure and dead silent? Given that there are a lot more consumers using the Mac right now, there could be more hackers targetting the Mac in the near future. How likely is that?

You want to practice good computing hygiene regardless of the operating system or hardware.

I bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 14 Lunar Lake a year ago and it's been great. It has a 4k OLED screen, no notch, Windows Hello!, and it can be used as a tablet with a pen though I don't use it that way. It weighs 3 pounds compared to 3.5 for the Mac. Thermals are similar to my M1 Pro MacBook Pro 16 and battery life is better.

I've chosen the application to look like my MacBook.

If I had it to do over again, I'd look at the Thinkpad X1 Carbon which has a similar form-factor but weighs 2.2 pounds.

 

[hajime]

No. do not judge old laptops against new. Most are just as quiet as macbooks now. I have a 6 year old Dell inspiron 2 in 1 and even at full honk, the fans are hardly audible. They only kick in when I am doing video work on it.

As for linux on any computer now. it's freakin awesome. As long as you can use only FOSS software.

Over the past few years, people suggested getting a laptop with an AMD CPU rather than an Intel CPU as the former runs cooler and quieter. With the 2026's new Intel CPU, is this still true?

 

[pshufd]

Do you mean those up-coming laptops with RTX Spark? It seems that they are powered by an ARM-based Nvidia Grace CPU rather than an Intel or AMD CPU. So, there could be problems running Linux?

You go with Intel if you need compatibility.

One of my main programs is native Windows x86. It runs on Apple Silcon via WINE and Rosetta 2. Rosetta 2 is going away with Goldengate so it won't be an option in the future outside of running it in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine. If you need to run x86, you're just better off with AMD and Intel instead of worrying about something you need to run not running or not running well.

 

[pshufd]

Over the past few years, people suggested getting a laptop with an AMD CPU rather than an Intel CPU as the former runs cooler and quieter. With the 2026's new Intel CPU, is this still true?

The 2025 Lunar Lake Intel laptops use less power than the AMD Strix Point laptops. The 2026 Panther Lake laptops use a little more power but give you more performance too. Lunar Lake was a one-off. I don't think that you'll ever see anything as low-power on the x86 side in the future.

On the Intel side, you have to choose the processor family carefully. You have low power and lower performance and high power, higher performance. AMD, with Strix Point aims at the middle-ground.

 

[hajime]

You want to practice good computing hygiene regardless of the operating system or hardware.

I bought a Lenovo Yoga 2-in-1 14 Lunar Lake a year ago and it's been great. It has a 4k OLED screen, no notch, Windows Hello!, and it can be used as a tablet with a pen though I don't use it that way. It weighs 3 pounds compared to 3.5 for the Mac. Thermals are similar to my M1 Pro MacBook Pro 16 and battery life is better.

I've chosen the application to look like my MacBook.

If I had it to do over again, I'd look at the Thinkpad X1 Carbon which has a similar form-factor but weighs 2.2 pounds.

How is Lenovo's support? Do you hear fan noise? Tried Yoga 2-in-1 before the pandemic. Sudden fans kicked in often for a few seconds when idel in a quiet room. Quite annoying.

I think the Carbon has no 16" screen configuration. 14" screen is a bit too small for me. I tried Air 15.3" and MacBook Pro 16". Certainly feel more comfortable with a larger screen.

 

[hajime]

You go with Intel if you need compatibility.

One of my main programs is native Windows x86. It runs on Apple Silcon via WINE and Rosetta 2. Rosetta 2 is going away with Goldengate so it won't be an option in the future outside of running it in a Windows 11 ARM virtual machine. If you need to run x86, you're just better off with AMD and Intel instead of worrying about something you need to run not running or not running well.

Didn't know about Rosetta 2 going away with Goldengate. Thanks for pointing it out.

Just to clarify. Programs that require a X86-64 CPU will not run even with Parallels Desktop Pro once MacOS has been upgraded to Goldengate?

 

[pshufd]

How is Lenovo's support? Do you hear fan noise? Tried Yoga 2-in-1 before the pandemic. Sudden fans kicked in often for a few seconds when idel in a quiet room. Quite annoying.

I think the Carbon has no 16" screen configuration. 14" screen is a bit too small for me. I tried Air 15.3" and MacBook Pro 16". Certainly feel more comfortable with a larger screen.

I don't hear fan noise.

I've heard that Lenovo's support is awful on the subreddit but I don't know if that's necessarily representative of the company overall as you mainly just hear the complaints there. It is certainly not like Apple's where you can just go into the store for service.

Heat is highly dependent on the CPU generation and variant. I would only choose Lunar Lake or Panther Lake if you want a cool and quiet laptop. The Lunar Lake V CPUs use little power. THe Arrow Lake H processers use a lot more and they are more used in gaming and high performance laptops. I have seen a lot of unhappy customers that haven't looked into the specific processors. Either they bought a more powerful processor in a thin and light design that generates a lot of heat or they bought a super-efficient processor for a thin and light and wanted to do gaming or heavy video-editing on it.

In the Mac world, you get both: great battery life if you don't use the CPU a ton and great performance when you need it though at the cost of battery life. With Intel and AMD, you get one or the other or a mix of both. So you don't have to be as careful with a Mac but you do have to size your requirement carefully on x86 CPUs.

 

[pshufd]

Didn't know about Rosetta 2 going away with Goldengate. Thanks for pointing it out.

Just to clarify. Programs that require a X86-64 CPU will not run even with Parallels Desktop Pro once MacOS has been upgraded to Goldengate?

You can run x86-64 programs in Parallels as it is Windows doing the ISA translation. But you often have latency and UI responsiveness issues using a virtual machine and program support isn't necessarily 100% running your X86-64 programs on Windows 11 ARM. If you want to use that as a solution, try to test your specific programs out on it and size RAM accordingly as you'll be running two operating systems at the same time.

 

[Steve Adams]

I'd have to disagree
They provide a means to compare different computers consistently Seeing a Geekbench or Cinebench score, will give you a frame of mind of much faster or slower the computer you're measuring against others.

I get that real world usage is the best but that may not be an indeal means to convey peformance for people where as benchmarks are.

But they don't. The real world differences are MUCH closer. As for an MBP m5 "abosolutey smoking" a windows system is poppycock. The panther lake X7 and X9 are actually faster than the M5 series in creative workflows. Take my laptop for example. it shows to be getting completely smoked by the M1 pro. In the real world, it is slightly slower at some big work flows and slightly faster at others. Synthetic benchmarks are used to sell systems to uneducated people.

 

[BSDnostalgia]

I miss the triple-boot Intel Mac Era.

In a couple of years, maybe triple-boot ARM Mac Era. One can hope.