Apple MacBook Pro Excellent 16" MVVK2LL/A Space Gray 2019
Equipped with a ninth-generation 8-core Intel Core i9 and AMD Radeon Pro 5500M graphics with 4GB of GDDR6 memory, this configuration delivers strong multi-threaded performance for demanding workflows. The 16-inch Retina display with True Tone and a six-speaker system with force-canceling woofers provide an immersive media experience, complemented by 64GB of RAM for heavy multitasking. This machine is best for developers compiling large codebases and creators working with complex audio projects who need maximum memory in a macOS environment.
Snapshot
The 30-Second Version
A 64GB RAM beast with a gorgeous 16-inch screen that's a steal if you find it near the $600 mark. The Intel i9 still has muscle but runs hot and loud, and battery life is mediocre. Buy it for memory-heavy pro work, not for portability or quiet operation.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- 64GB of RAM is a multitasking monster, perfect for developers and heavy workflows. 100th
- The 16-inch Retina display is still a stunner with its sharp resolution and color accuracy. 97th
- Build quality and that six-speaker system are genuinely top-tier, even years later. 91st
- Four Thunderbolt 3 ports give you incredible expansion flexibility. 90th
Cons
- Intel i9 runs hot and the fans get noticeably loud under sustained load.
- Battery life won't touch the 11-hour claim, especially if you push the dedicated GPU.
- It's heavy and not very compact, ranking in the bottom quarter of our database.
- You're locked into an older Intel architecture that Apple has abandoned for Apple Silicon.
What owners think
The Word on the Street
The proof
Performance
That 8-core i9 can still chew through compile jobs and heavy multitasking, landing in the 81st percentile for CPUs in our database, which is well above average. The real star here is the 64GB of RAM, sitting in the 90th percentile and making this thing a monster for virtual machines or massive creative projects. The Radeon Pro 5500M is a solid performer for a laptop of its age, but at the 71st percentile, it's merely good, not great, and will show its limits with modern 3D work or gaming. The 1TB SSD is snappy but its 68th percentile ranking means it's just middle of the pack by today's standards. And while the 16-inch Retina display is still stunning and in the 90th percentile, the thermal design can get loud when you push both the CPU and GPU hard.
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| Cores | 8 |
| Frequency | 2.3 GHz |
Graphics
| GPU | AMD Radeon Pro 5500M |
| Type | Discrete |
| VRAM | 4 GB |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 64 GB |
| RAM Generation | DDR4 |
| Storage | 1 TB |
| Storage Type | SSD |
Display
| Size | 16" |
| Resolution | 3072x1920 |
| Panel | IPS |
Connectivity
| USB-C Ports | 4 |
| USB Ports | 4 |
| Thunderbolt | Thunderbolt 3 |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ac |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.3 |
Physical
| Weight | 1.9 kg / 4.2 lbs |
| OS | macOS |
vs Competition
Stacked against something like the Lenovo Legion 5i, this MacBook Pro trades blows oddly. The Lenovo will crush it in gaming and GPU tasks with a modern RTX card, but the Mac's 64GB of RAM and superior screen make it a better pure workstation. An MSI Prestige or ASUS ProArt will be far more portable and have better battery life, but won't touch this RAM capacity at a similar used price. The real elephant in the room is any Apple Silicon MacBook Pro. Even a base M1 Pro model will feel snappier for everyday tasks, run silently, and last twice as long on a charge, though you'll pay more for one with this much RAM.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro Excellent 16" MVVK2LL/A | Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US | MSI Prestige PRE13EVOA2088 | ASUS ProArt PX13 | Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition | Acer Predator Helios Neo PHN16-73-95G8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i9 8-Core 2.3 GHz | Intel Core Ultra 7 255HX | Intel Core Ultra 7 258V | AMD Ryzen AI 9 HX 370 | Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite X1E-84-100 | Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX |
| RAM (GB) | 64 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Storage (GB) | 1024 | 1024 | 1000 | 1000 | 1024 | 1024 |
| Screen | 16" 3072x1920 | 15.1" 2560x1600 | 13.3" 2880x1800 | 13.3" 2880x1800 | 15" 2496x1664 | 16" 2560x1600 |
| GPU | AMD Radeon Pro 5500M | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 | Intel Arc Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 | Qualcomm Adreno | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home | Windows 11 Home |
| Weight (kg) | 1.9 | 2 | 1 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.7 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 80 | - | 73 | 66 | 90 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | CPU | GPU | RAM | Ports | Screen | Portability | Storage | Reliability | Social Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple MacBook Pro Excellent 16" MVVK2LL/A | 81.3 | 70.5 | 90.4 | 99.8 | 90.3 | 22.6 | 68.2 | 97.4 | 91.1 |
| Lenovo Legion 5i 83F00008US Compare | 93.4 | 88.5 | 87.5 | 97.6 | 94.3 | 54.5 | 80.7 | 80.4 | 90.4 |
| MSI Prestige PRE13EVOA2088 Compare | 63.8 | 64.7 | 80.9 | 80.9 | 91.5 | 96.3 | 73 | 59.5 | 87.4 |
| ASUS ProArt PX13 Compare | 89 | 78.8 | 91.2 | 75.4 | 95.3 | 92.7 | 62.9 | 59.5 | 95.1 |
| Microsoft Surface Laptop 7th Edition Compare | 98.9 | 26.6 | 80.9 | 64.5 | 89.2 | 57 | 80.7 | 80.4 | 95.1 |
| Acer Predator Helios Neo PHN16-73-95G8 Compare | 96.3 | 92.5 | 90.1 | 99.9 | 91.9 | 9.3 | 80.7 | 9.7 | 82.8 |
Price
Value & Pricing
Pricing is all over the place for this model, with a spread from $600 to $1280 across vendors. At the low end, around $600, this is a screaming deal for a 64GB RAM workstation with a killer screen and solid build. At the high end, over a grand, you're getting into used M1 Pro MacBook Pro territory, which will run circles around this Intel i9 in both performance and battery life while staying cool and quiet. If you can snag one at the bottom of that price range from a reputable seller, the value is hard to beat for RAM-hungry workflows.
Best Buy 2 offers From $1,280
Price History
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Overview
The 16-inch MacBook Pro from that Intel era is a bit of a throwback, but this specific configuration is still a beast for the right person. You're getting a ninth-gen 8-core i9, a massive 64GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD in a chassis that, honestly, still looks and feels premium today. It was built for pros who needed raw power and a gorgeous screen, and on those fronts, it mostly delivers. Just know you're buying into a platform Apple has since left behind for its own silicon.
Common Questions
Q: Can this Intel MacBook Pro run the latest macOS version?
It can run macOS Sonoma and will likely support the next release or two, but Apple is clearly phasing out Intel support, so its lifespan for new OS features is limited compared to Apple Silicon models.
Q: Is 64GB of RAM overkill for most people?
For browsing and office work, absolutely. This much RAM is specifically for professionals running multiple virtual machines, large-scale data analysis, or 8K video editing timelines where 32GB would choke.
Q: How does the Radeon Pro 5500M handle gaming in Windows via Boot Camp?
It can handle older AAA titles and esports games at 1080p with decent settings, but its 4GB of VRAM and aging architecture will struggle with modern, demanding games, putting it well behind current mid-range gaming laptops.
Who Should Skip This
Skip this if you value battery life or a quiet machine. The i9 drains the battery fast under load and the fans are a constant companion. Also, if you don't have a specific need for 64GB of RAM, a used M1 MacBook Air will feel faster for daily tasks, be completely silent, and last all day on a charge for around the same price.
Verdict
This is a niche powerhouse. If you are a developer running multiple Docker containers and VMs, or a creative who needs 64GB of RAM for massive After Effects projects and you're on a strict budget, this machine is a purpose-built tool that still has life left. For everyone else, the heat, fan noise, and aging Intel chip make it a tougher sell compared to newer options.
