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MacBook Pro 16" or 2026 Windows laptop?

pshufd said:
I've found that the answer is to get one of each.
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Unfortunately, true. There are always some apps that don't exist or are not as capable on either platform, so, a person may end up with one of each.

I notice that a lot of folks here like Lenovo, but, like many, I think I have experience with so many different mediocre PC laptop builds, and, my experience has been better with ASUS. I have one of last year's ASUS, but, if I were buying today, probably something like the ASUS Expertbook with Intel Ultra 7 358H. Like Macs, these PCs are now running more $$ due to all that memory/storage inflation. At least it has both USB -A and -C with TB4 (why not TB5?) and HDMI 2.1, a more-Mac-like touchpad, and, no numpad. (I haven't touched this model. YMMV.)
 
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Over the years I have had really good luck with Dell XPS and HP Omnibook (intel) but my Mac's have become obsolete rather than broke forcing an upgrade. Though currently most of the brands if buy their premium unit seems to hold up well.
 
BSDnostalgia said:
Unfortunately, true. There are always some apps that don't exist or are not as capable on either platform, so, a person may end up with one of each.

I notice that a lot of folks here like Lenovo, but, like many, I think I have experience with so many different mediocre PC laptop builds, and, my experience has been better with ASUS. I have one of last year's ASUS, but, if I were buying today, probably something like the ASUS Expertbook with Intel Ultra 7 358H. Like Macs, these PCs are now running more $$ due to all that memory/storage inflation. At least it has both USB -A and -C with TB4 (why not TB5?) and HDMI 2.1, a more-Mac-like touchpad, and, no numpad. (I haven't touched this model. YMMV.)
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The reason PCs, both laptops and desktops, have TB4 instead of TB5 is that they have user-serviceable SSDs.

My Lenovo Yoga (2025) has an SSD which gets about 7,500 read/write. TB4 gives you about 3,500 and TB5 gives you about 7,500. If you need more, there are laptops and desktops that come with or support Gen 5 NVMe SSDs which run at up to 14,800 which TB5 can't touch. You can get those speeds on internal Mac SSDs but you pay through the nose for them. You can get a Smasung 9100 Pro for $1K while 4 TB costs you an uplift of $1,800 in the Apple world.
 
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teh_hunterer said:
Why? You don't have to use it.
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I am talking about some integrated internal programs within the OS that monitor the user's typing and usage. Then do something to tailor to the user. On the Mac, I don't mind visitng bank's website and do online banking. I am a bit hestitate to do that on a Windows/Linux PC. Actually do I have to worry? I think somewhere I read that CO-Pilot took some screenshots regularly? Has this been stopped?
 
hajime said:
I am talking about some integrated internal programs within the OS that monitor the user's typing and usage. Then do something to tailor to the user. On the Mac, I don't mind visitng bank's website and do online banking. I am a bit hestitate to do that on a Windows/Linux PC. Actually do I have to worry? I think somewhere I read that CO-Pilot took some screenshots regularly? Has this been stopped?
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They are already watching and have been ever browse the internet for a new TV and suddenly your email has a lot of advertisement for TV's close to what you were looking at even though you have do not track me enabled.
 
Harddrive said:
They are already watching and have been ever browse the internet for a new TV and suddenly your email has a lot of advertisement for TV's close to what you were looking at even though you have do not track me enabled.
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Given that people love to talk about human rights so much, why there is no movement against this kind of tracking?
 
hajime said:
I am talking about some integrated internal programs within the OS that monitor the user's typing and usage. Then do something to tailor to the user. On the Mac, I don't mind visitng bank's website and do online banking. I am a bit hestitate to do that on a Windows/Linux PC. Actually do I have to worry? I think somewhere I read that CO-Pilot took some screenshots regularly? Has this been stopped?
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You can turn off Apple Intelligence altogether if you really want to. It's one slider in the settings.

You seem a bit out of the loop to be making these kind of grand proclamations about what's safe and what isn't.

The privacy feature of Apple's implementation is that all the data it uses stays encrypted on your device and can't be utilised by anyone (even Apple). But if you don't like it you can just go Settings > Apple Intelligence and turn it off.

Apple has no business case to invade your privacy or collect your data. They simply don't collect it so they have never developed way to use it.
 
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teh_hunterer said:
You can turn off Apple Intelligence altogether if you really want to. It's one slider in the settings.

You seem a bit out of the loop to be making these kind of grand proclamations about what's safe and what isn't.

The privacy feature of Apple's implementation is that all the data it uses stays encrypted on your device and can't be utilised by anyone (even Apple). But if you don't like it you can just go Settings > Apple Intelligence and turn it off.

Apple has no business case to invade your privacy or collect your data. They simply don't collect it so they have never developed way to use it.
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I think you misunderstood me. I was talking about Windows PC. I have Apple Intelligence turned off on both my iPhone and previously tested MacBook Pro. That is why I wrote I don't mind visiting bank's website and do online banking on the Mac. That of course could change in the future versions of MacOS.
 
Steve Adams said:
I smell a ProArt P16 in YOUR future! ha ha.
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Actually, between this year's ProArt P16 (H7606) with AMD HX370 and Lenovo 9i Aura with Ultra 9 386H, which is better? If I understnad correctly, the ProArt has a matte 4K OLED screen and the 9i Aura has a 2.8K Tandem OLED screen which is reflective but may have less chance of burn in. Not sure which is more dead silent in quiet mode and quieter in other modes and have better battery life in practice. From youtube review videos, the Tandem OLED screen is crazy reflective. Not sure how it looks like in person. Can't find it in local stores. In general, is it better to get Tandem OLED rather than OLED for durability?
 
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hajime said:
I am talking about some integrated internal programs within the OS that monitor the user's typing and usage. Then do something to tailor to the user. On the Mac, I don't mind visitng bank's website and do online banking. I am a bit hestitate to do that on a Windows/Linux PC. Actually do I have to worry? I think somewhere I read that CO-Pilot took some screenshots regularly? Has this been stopped?
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This was never a thing if you didn't have an ARM processor (it was called Windows Recall), and you could shut it off anyway. Something to always have to watch for the future though.
 
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hajime said:
Actually, between this year's ProArt P16 (H7606) with AMD HX370 and Lenovo 9i Aura with Ultra 9 386H, which is better? If I understnad correctly, the ProArt has a matte 4K OLED screen and the 9i Aura has a 2.8K Tandem OLED screen which is reflective but may have less chance of burn in. Not sure which is more dead silent in quiet mode and quieter in other modes and have better battery life in practice. From youtube review videos, the Tandem OLED screen is crazy reflective. Not sure how it looks like in person. Can't find it in local stores. In general, is it better to get Tandem OLED rather than OLED for durability?
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I have the 9i Aura but Lunar Lake which has the regular 14 inch 4k OLED display and I love it. I think that laptop makers are going more the 2.8K and fewer 4k options which I think is a shame. The ProArt is a specialty creative laptop so they can justify it and people will pay for it.

I would personally prefer the Intel processor given what they've done with Lunar Lake and with the overall better support that Intel provides for laptop OEMs compared to AMD. That and I heard that there were CPU oddities with Strix Point when they launched. They may have been fixed by now.
 
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I was suggesting the ProArt because it's probably the closest laptop in comparison to the MBP 16 that he has. I have not seen or used any Lenovo laptop besides the super cheap stuff and cannot comment on the 9i. It does get great user reviews however.
 
Steve Adams said:
I was suggesting the ProArt because it's probably the closest laptop in comparison to the MBP 16 that he has. I have not seen or used any Lenovo laptop besides the super cheap stuff and cannot comment on the 9i. It does get great user reviews however.
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An AI query on Strix Point shows a lot of problems that you wouldn't expect from AMD. They also run hotter than expected. Lunar Lake had far fewer issues and I haven't run into any of them. This is what I've found from reading the Lenovo subreddit - nothing at all to do with Asus. Just people reporting more problems with AMD laptops than Intel laptops.

I tend to agree on the issue with cheaper Lenovo laptops. I see complaints about the cheaper lines and even the 7i models but don't see complaints about the 9i models. Both are supposed to be premium but there seems to be a qualitative difference between 7i and 9i.
 
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hajime said:
The current MacBook Pro M5 Pro’s battery lasts much longer than needed. They should have made it last shorter and lighter. If a Windows laptop can handle about 10 hours for web browsing and YouTube video playback, that would be good enough.
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Sounds like you'd be happy with a MacBook Air.
 
pshufd said:
An AI query on Strix Point shows a lot of problems that you wouldn't expect from AMD. They also run hotter than expected. Lunar Lake had far fewer issues and I haven't run into any of them. This is what I've found from reading the Lenovo subreddit - nothing at all to do with Asus. Just people reporting more problems with AMD laptops than Intel laptops.

I tend to agree on the issue with cheaper Lenovo laptops. I see complaints about the cheaper lines and even the 7i models but don't see complaints about the 9i models. Both are supposed to be premium but there seems to be a qualitative difference between 7i and 9i.
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Do you have a link to your model? it' sounds interesting, I want to have a look for myself.
 
Steve Adams said:
Do you have a link to your model? it' sounds interesting, I want to have a look for myself.
Click to expand...

From Z.ai:

Screenshot 2026-07-06 072038.png


Screenshot 2026-07-06 072058.png



Screenshot 2026-07-06 072129.png
 
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pshufd said:
The ProArt 16 was discussed so I'd assume that the OP wants a high density display.

The pixel density of the ProArt 16 is 283. The pixel density of the MacBook Air 15 is 224. The MacBook Pro 16 is 254. It's 315 for my Lenovo Yoga 14 4k.
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Larger screen at high resolution. If it were not the weight, 17-18” inches would be better. I chose 16” because those are the ones below 2kg.

Air 15” is not suitable. Tried already.
 
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hajime said:
Larger screen at high resolution. If it were not the weight, 17-18” inches would be better. I chose 16” because those are the ones below 2kg.

Air 15” is not suitable. Tried already.
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The LG Gram had a super lightweight 17.3 with a 4k display many years ago. But they dropped it pretty fast.

I need a high-resolution screen myself so I keep an eye on the DPI stats.
 
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pshufd said:
The LG Gram had a super lightweight 17.3 with a 4k display many years ago. But they dropped it pretty fast.

I need a high-resolution screen myself so I keep an eye on the DPI stats.
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I need 500 or above nits. Even on the MacBook Pro M5 Pro 16”, I set the brightness to the max or two bars below.

Didn't have good experience with their customer support in the past.
 
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