Will the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) fit my old case?

Macbook Pro 2021 Lifestyle (Image credit: Apple)

Will the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) fit my old case?

Best answer: If you have been using a form-fitting hardshell case, then you'll need a new one for the 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021). However, if you're using a sleeve, your new MacBook Pro will most likely fit just fine.

What's new?

The 2021 MacBook Pro has a brand new M1 Pro or M1 Max system-on-a-chip (SoC), making it one of the best MacBooks yet. It also boasts many other new features, such as a Liquid Retina XDR display, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality mics, and spatial audio. Apple has also brought back new versions of old favorites: MagSafe charging, an SDXC port, an HDMI port, and a row of physical function keys in lieu of the Touch Bar.

What about size?

With the introduction of its newest model, Apple has bucked its own trend of going lighter and thinner with each iteration. The 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro was 0.64 inches (1.62 centimeters) in height, 14.09 inches (35.79 centimeters) wide, and 9.68 inches (24.59 centimeters) deep. In contrast, the slightly larger 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro measures 0.66-by-14.01-by-9.77 inches (1.68-by-35.57-by-24.81 centimeters).

Not that it matters as far as a case is concerned, but the 2021 16-inch MacBook Pro also gained a little bit of weight, going from 4.3 pounds (2.0 kilograms) to 4.7 pounds (2.1 kilograms). The screen went from 16 inches (measured on the diagonal) to 16.2 inches.

So will the new 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021) fit my old case??

If you had a hardshell case on your 2019 or older MacBook Pro, it will not fit your 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021). You are going to need a new hardshell case for your 2021 MacBook Pro. However, if you've been carrying your older 16-inch MacBook Pro in a sleeve, the slight difference in dimension probably won't matter. Your 2016-2020 MacBook Pro sleeve will fit the new MacBook Pro just fine unless it's already an extremely tight and precise fit.

Powerful laptop

16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

Monster machine

This is Apple's most powerful portable computer yet. It's powered by the new M1 Pro or M1 Max chip and boasts a host of improvements all around.

Karen is a contributor to iMore.com as a writer and co-host of the iMore Show. She’s been writing about Apple since 2010 with a year-long break to work at an Apple Store as a product specialist. She's also a contributor at TechRadar and Tom's Guide. Before joining iMore in 2018, Karen wrote for Macworld, CNET, AppAdvice, and WatchAware. She’s an early adopter who used to wait in long lines on release days before pre-ordering made things much easier. Karen is also a part-time teacher and occasional movie extra. She loves to spend time with her family, travel the world, and is always looking for portable tech and accessories so she can work from anywhere.