The new 2021 MacBook Pros have started shipping, one week after they were announced. Reviewers have just gotten their hands on these new products and have started giving their thoughts on the new changes. Let’s walk through some early impressions of Apple’s 2021 MacBook Pro.
As expected, the new MacBooks are considerably bulkier than their previous counterparts. For instance, Apple says the 2021 MacBook Pro (14-inch) weighs about 0.5 pounds more than the M1 13-inch model from the previous year, and roughly the same weight difference is apparent in the 2021 MacBook Pro 16-inch model compared to its 2019 counterpart. The 14-inch model is also noticeably thicker than the 13-inch model (by about .35 inches). The retro-looking unibody build is also noticeably squared off and is reminiscent of Apple’s pre-2013 Pro laptops and the PowerBook.
As we saw in the October event, the new Pro laptops have seen the return of function keys, which are now full-sized. The new keyboard also has a black coated sink, but the speakers and trackpad are pretty much the same as last year’s in terms of looks. According to reviewers, the keyboard feels considerably better than last year’s magic keyboard iteration. But Apple did not announce any updates to the keyboard.
The new displays are 120 Hz (ProMotion), Liquid Retina XDR, mini-LED displays and the refresh rate automatically adapt to their workflow.
Also expected was the MacBook Pros’ performance jump. Apple’s flagship laptops absolutely obliterate speed tests when it comes to use with Apple’s own software offerings. So, apps like Xcode, Final Cut and so on get substantial gains over last year’s already quick M1 Macs. What still remains to be seen, though, is the MacBook Pro’s performance in third-party software, and of course, gaming. But, still don’t expect these Macs to give you peak PC performance when playing compatible titles. Apple Arcade also does not offer huge game titles that could push tests to the limits, and frankly, gamers should not be looking at macs (You’re probably better off with Netflix!)
MacBook Pro Battery life comparison charts (tested by Dave2D)
However, what most users have unanimously declared as the flagship feature for these new Macs is energy efficiency. According to Engadget’s review, the 14-inch lasted 12:35 hours, while the 16:24 hours on the 16-inch version. The numbers have largely varied with different reviewers using different performance metrics.
It is still important to note that the M1 Macs still have far better battery efficiency in most cases (due to the fact that the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are beefy and considerably more powerful).
That’s a wrap for MacBook Pro 2021 impressions, but stay close to see our breakdown of the best new features on Apple’s recently released macOS Monterey.