macbook pro m1

MacBook Pro 13 M1 review

MacBook Pro 13 M1 Specs

Header Cell	Column 0
Battery life	16:32 of web browsing (M1, tested) | Up to 20 hours (Apple M1, claimed) | 10:21 (Intel, tested)
Ports	2 x Thunderbolt 4 ports
Weight	3.0 pounds
Processor	Apple M1 (8-core)
Dimensions	12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
Webcam	720p FaceTime HD camera
Wi-Fi	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Screen	13.3 inches (2560 x 1600)
Memory	8GB, 16GB, 32GB
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 5.0
Storage	256GB to 4TB
Starting price	$1,300

MacBook Pro M1 review

 

       MacBook Pro M1: A Marvel Wrapped in Confusion, Where Power Meets Paradox

The beginning of a technological odyssey? Or just another chapter in Apple’s relentless march to computing dominance? Enter the MacBook Pro M1, where innovation collides with familiarity, and expectations explode into a kaleidoscope of possibilities. Released on November 17, this machine is priced starting at $1,299—a gateway into the Apple Silicon universe. Yet, beneath its unassuming aluminum exterior lies a labyrinth of power, precision, and, dare I say, potential pitfalls.

Let’s unravel the layers, shall we?

 

Release Date and Price: A Contradiction in Accessibility

$1,299 is the ticket price to the future—or is it merely the baseline? For that sum, you receive the much-hyped M1 chip, featuring an 8-core CPU and GPU combo, paired with 8GB of unified memory and a humble 256GB of storage. But wait—doesn't the word “Pro” suggest more? More RAM, more storage, more everything? Perhaps. For $1,499, you can double the storage to 512GB, while leaping to 16GB of RAM requires another $200 investment. Oh, and if you dare to dream of 1TB or 2TB, be prepared to surrender an extra $400 or $800, respectively.

But here's the kicker: is the price a barrier or merely a provocation? With whispers of the MacBook Pro 2021 promising revolutionary updates like MagSafe charging, SD card readers, and no Touch Bar, does this iteration already feel like yesterday’s news?

 

Performance: 

Let’s talk about power—no, performance. Or better yet, alchemy. The MacBook Pro M1 doesn’t just compute; it obliterates. The days of watching Chrome tabs drag your soul into the abyss? Gone. I tested 61 tabs (yes, I counted) with Slack buzzing in the background and Spotify serenading me. Did it flinch? Not even once.

But stuttering? That rare specter appeared when iOS apps joined the chaos. The laptop—a machine that felt invincible—briefly reminded me of its mortal coil.

Benchmarks tell their own stories:

          On Geekbench 5.1, the MacBook Pro M1 scored 5,945 (multi-core). Compare this to the Dell XPS 13 (5,319) or the Asus ZenBook 13 (5,084). Machines armed with 11th-gen Intel Core i7 chips—left in the dust.

        The Handbrake test, which demands transcoding 4K video to 1080p, painted an even starker picture. The MacBook Pro M1 finished in 7:46, nearly halving the XPS 13's 18:22.

Time-saving or life-changing? You decide.

 

Battery Life: A Challenger Appears

If performance is the heart, battery life is the soul. The MacBook Pro M1 doesn’t endure; it conquers. Clocking in at 16 hours and 25 minutes during continuous web surfing at 150 nits, it outpaces its predecessors and obliterates the competition. The Intel-based MacBook Pro 2020? A paltry 10:21. The Dell XPS 13? Just 11:07.

Even its sibling, the MacBook Air M1, falters slightly at 14:40. This is no longer a laptop; it’s a fortress of productivity.

 

Graphics and Gameplay: Beyond Expectations

A Pro laptop that can game? Blasphemy! Yet, here we are.

·       Civilization VI: Gathering Storm runs at 38 fps, leaving the ZenBook 13 in the dust.

·       Rise of the Tomb Raider, on very high settings, manages 26 fps. While not exactly buttery, lowering the settings opens up smoother horizons.

Can this replace your gaming rig? No. But as a sideline warrior, it holds its ground admirably.

 

The Magic Keyboard: Redemption at Your Fingertips

Typing on the MacBook Pro M1 is like diving into a cloud of marshmallows. Okay, maybe that’s hyperbolic, but the Magic Keyboard feels like an apology—a heartfelt one—for the trauma inflicted by the Butterfly layout. Typing speed remains consistent (72 wpm in my test), but errors? They retreat into the shadows.

The touchpad is as responsive as ever—swiping, pinching, and zooming with a finesse that makes other laptops feel downright clunky. And yet, the Touch Bar? A gimmick that overstayed its welcome.

 

The Retina Display: Vivid, But Constrained

The screen is a masterpiece yearning for freedom. At 439 nits of brightness, it dazzles, but those thick bezels? They suffocate. Watching Netflix’s Warrior Nun felt cinematic, yes, but imagine the immersion if Apple dared to trim the edges.

Color accuracy impresses with a 79.2% DCI-P3 gamut, holding its own against rivals like the MacBook Air (80.9%) and surpassing the Dell XPS 13 (69.4%). Yet, as you marvel, a question lingers: Is this peak display, or is Apple holding back?

 

Audio: Symphonies in Aluminum

The speakers don’t just play sound—they craft experiences. The acoustic brilliance of Portugal. The Man’s Feel It Still resonated with clarity and depth. Then came A-ha’s Take on Me—haunting and ethereal. If you’re an audiophile, these speakers are a revelation.

 

Webcam: A Relic with a Twist

720p in 2020? Laughable. Yet, Apple’s M1 chip elevates even this antiquity. Side-by-side with older models, the improvements are undeniable—brighter, sharper, and less noisy. But why stop here, Apple? The future deserves 1080p.

 

Design and Ports: A Familiar Disappointment

Same chassis, same complaints. The aluminum unibody remains sleek but uninspired. The absence of a touchscreen feels egregious in a world embracing hybrid devices.

And the ports? Or rather, the lack thereof. Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports and a headphone jack—is this minimalism or just stinginess?

 

macOS Big Sur: A Bridge to the Future

Big Sur is a bold evolution, blending macOS familiarity with iOS flair. From the Control Center to revamped Safari tabs and enhanced Messages, it feels like the operating system is finally catching up to its hardware. Yet, quirks remain—like the convoluted process of finding iPhone apps.

 

Verdict: A Dichotomy of Desire and Pragmatism

The MacBook Pro M1 is a paradox—a machine that wows with its performance and endurance, yet frustrates with its stagnant design and limited ports. At $1,299, it’s a beacon for power users, but for many, the MacBook Air M1 may suffice.

MacBook Pro M1 pro 

14-INCH MACBOOK PRO 2021 spesc
Starting Price	$1,999 — An Investment in Brilliance!
Screen	14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display Resolution: 3024x1964 pixels, 254ppi
Processor	M1 Pro: 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU OR 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU Optional M1 Max: Up to 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU
Memory	16GB to 64GB
Storage	512GB to 8TB SPACE FOR EVERYTHING: Your creative playground with no constraints.
Ports	Thunderbolt 4 (x3), HDMI, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, SD memory card slot UNMATCHED VERSATILITY: Stay connected and productive, always!
Webcam	1080p FaceTime HD Camera CRYSTAL-CLEAR CONNECTIVITY: Video calls that look as sharp as reality!
Battery Size & Life	70Wh Battery Claimed Life: Up to 11 hours of web surfing over Wi-Fi LASTS AS LONG AS YOU DO: Work and play with zero interruptions!
Dimensions	12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches SLIM BUT POWERFUL: Compact, portable, and robust!
Weight	3.5 pounds
Wi-Fi & Bluetooth	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.0
EXPERIENCE THE 14-INCH MACBOOK PRO 2021: WHERE INNOVATION MEETS PERFORMANCE!

 MacBook Pro 14 2021 Design :

The 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 isn’t simply an incremental improve—it’s a recreation-changer. Apple, recognised for its meticulous design updates, has absolutely redefined its flagship pc. Gone are the times of subtle refreshes and minor tweaks. The 2021 version introduces a flat top, ditching the tapered lid of previous fashions, or even engraves "MacBook Pro" onto the lowest. A new identification, proper there.

The actual celebrity here, although, is the display. Apple has slashed the bezels, bringing them all the way down to a jaw-losing 0.1 inches, a miles cry from the 0.5-inch top and 0.3-inch side bezels that plagued earlier versions. The MacBook Pro 2021 shares this minimalist design with the Dell XPS thirteen OLED, which has further compact bezels thanks to its InfinityEdge panels. But, Apple did some thing unexpected. A notch. Yes, the notorious iPhone notch now sits at the top-center of the show. It’s zero.4 inches tall and undeniably substantial at first glance. But, oddly sufficient, it’s something you’ll in the end come to include. Apple cleverly tucks the Menu Bar into the freed-up space, and the notch best dips into that segment.

However, the notch isn’t universally cherished. Some customers, like tech enthusiast Quinn Nelson, have suggested troubles with the Menu Bar. When the icons at the left and right hit the notch’s area, chaos ensues. But worry no longer! Apple’s operating on a restore through an OS replace, set to roll out quickly.

Now, permit’s communicate length and weight. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is fairly heavier than the 13-inch M1 model but lighter than the Razer Blade 14 and Dell XPS thirteen OLED. It weighs in at 3.Five pounds and measures 12.Three x 8.7 x zero.6 inches. But here’s the kicker—in case you degree all of the way down to the millimeter, it’s just slightly thinner than its predecessor, 1.55cm vs 1.56cm. It’s hard to tell the distinction with the bare eye, although.

In assessment, the Razer Blade 14 (3.Nine kilos) and Dell XPS thirteen OLED (2.Eight kilos) offer greater compact, mild-weight alternatives, at the same time as the sixteen-inch MacBook Pro 2021 (4.7 kilos) towers over them all. Don’t neglect the Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio and Dell XPS 15 OLED—large, heavier, and packing more punch.

Apple keeps the shade options easy: silver or Space Gray. But permit’s be honest, maximum folks will cover the lid with stickers except. It’s not about what’s on the outdoor; it’s the inner that counts.

MacBook Pro 14 2021 : Ports Galore, but Where’s the USB-A?

Ah, the 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021—Apple has listened! The days of USB-C-only "dongle life" are over, replaced by a glorious return to the ports that pros actually need. Almost.

On the left, the star of the show is MagSafe—yes, it’s back! Apple fans rejoiced at its return, a magnetic power connector that releases with a gentle tug. No more fearing your laptop flying off the table when someone trips over the cable. Finally, some peace of mind! Alongside it, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, plus a headphone jack that’s upgraded to handle high-impedance headphones.

Flip to the right side, and things get even juicier. Another Thunderbolt 4 port (because why not?), plus two essential ports: HDMI and SD card reader. These are the ports professionals begged for. HDMI for external displays, SD card support for photographers and videographers, no more dongles required—just plug and play. Well, almost. The SD reader’s UHS-II format is decent, but not as fast as UHS-III. You’ll need UHS-II or III cards to see the difference, and trust me, those aren’t always easy to find.

But here’s the kicker: no USB-A. Seriously. Everyone has a device that needs USB-A. I know I do—my Blue Yeti mic, my wireless mouse, and keyboard. Why, Apple? Why make me carry around another dongle for that?

The Razer Blade 14 and XPS 13 come close with their port selection, even throwing in a USB-A port and HDMI. And Dell? They throw in a USB-A adapter, which Apple should definitely do. At least there’s an option to get a Plugable docking station for multi-monitor setups—but it shouldn’t have to come to that!

MacBook Pro 14 2021  : Display Brilliance, Smooth as Silk

The 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021—in which do I even begin with this show? A mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR panel that defies perception. Brighter? Oh, sure. Sharper? Absolutely. Watching Scott Pilgrim vs. The World, Mission: Impossible - Fallout, and Us in 4K HDR felt like a visible revelation. The contrast? Unreal. Every shadow, every burst of purple, each seaside scene popped with intensity—beautiful, beautiful evaluation. The clarity within the very last Scott Pilgrim combat, the toilet brawl in Fallout, the beach tones in Us—this display screen just offers reality like in no way earlier than. It’s like a person became the brightness of my lifestyles as much as eleven.

But the visual magic doesn’t forestall there. Enter ProMotion, Apple’s 120Hz refresh price that makes the whole lot smoother. Scrolling via the Apple News app? Effortless. The speedy-paced Mission: Impossible scenes? Jaw-droppingly fluid. Text? Perfectly crisp as it zips with the aid of—who knew words should appearance so sharp? But here’s the capture: now not each app is prepared to play ball with 120Hz but. Safari, even though? Yes. More apps are rolling out soon, so put together for smoothness overload.

Speaking of numbers—this display is a color beast. The 14-inch MacBook Pro hits 109.6% of the sRGB gamut. Impressive, right? Well, it’s practically neck-and-neck with the 16-inch MacBook Pro (109.3%), and better than most competitors, like the Surface Laptop Studio (105.6%) and Dell XPS 13 (117.3%). It even outshines the 3.5K OLED Dell XPS 15 (120.1%) in brightness, hitting 487.8 nits. Apple claims 1,600 nits at peak brightness, but even without reaching that, the display is dazzling in every way.

So, sure, maybe it’s not 1,600 nits, but is this screen amazing? Yes. Absolutely.

MacBook Pro 14 2021: Performance That Shatters Limits

Hold onto your hats because the 14-inch MacBook Pro, powered by way of the M1 Pro chip, is without a doubt obliterating expectancies. When I thought, "how a great deal quicker could it virtually get?"—the ten-core CPU and 32GB RAM configuration tore via benchmarks like a hurricane thru paper. Multitasking? A breeze. Opening dozens of Chrome tabs? No sweat. Watching the Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer even as splitting the display screen? Piece of cake. The performance is sort of a rapid-charged rocket blasting into every other measurement.

 

On Geekbench 5, the 14-inch MacBook Pro scored an insane 12,477. Just for context, the M1 Max-powered 16-inch MacBook Pro did a smidge better at 12,683, however those numbers tower over the measly 7,571 from ultimate 12 months's M1 MacBook Pro (2020). It's like evaluating a jet fighter to a tricycle.

Razer Blade 14? Dell XPS 15? Forget about it. Their rankings of seven,471 and 7,477, respectively, crumble underneath the sheer force of the M1 Pro. Even the Surface Laptop Studio can't keep up, lagging in the back of with a 5,820 rating. The competition? Just looking to capture their breath.

Let’s talk video encoding. The M1 Pro tore via Handbrake, transcoding 4K to 1080p in only 4 minutes and fifty one seconds. The sixteen-inch M1 Max? A fraction quicker at four:forty eight. The rest? Struggling, with times like 7:forty six and 8:10. SSD speeds? Out of this international. Read speeds of 5,322 MBps and write speeds of 5,377 MBps. Other laptops? Stuck inside the dust with numbers within the low hundreds.

Bottom line: The M1 Pro does not just set the bar—it smashes it. Speed? Unmatched. Storage? Blazing. The competition? Outclassed.

MacBook Pro14 2021: Graphics and Gaming

Apple’s M1 Max GPU sits in a shadow, casting doubts on what many thought was the dawn of a new graphical era—yet it’s the 14-inch MacBook Pro (with its M1 Pro) that’s giving competitors the eye of a lion. Rise of the Tomb Raider on ultra-settings? A cold, icy expanse on-screen and Lara fighting the wind’s biting sting felt fluid like a dream when running at 39 frames per second on the 14-inch. Yet, just when I thought this was the beast unleashed, the 16-inch version soared like a mountain hawk, touching 73.87 frames with ease. Welcome to the paradox: both are MacBooks, both are supposed to provide the same experience, yet one whispers at 39fps, while the other roars.

But wait. There's more to this cryptic tale of frame rates. The resolution increases, and suddenly the 14-inch begins to stutter and wheeze, coughing up only 17fps at a demanding 3024 x 1964, while the 16-inch barely clears 30fps, making you think twice before picking a side.

Sid Meier’s Civilization VI? Oh, the 14-inch pushes through at 46fps, leaving the XPS 13 (Intel Iris Xe) in its dusty wake, stumbling at a mere 22fps. But let’s talk about The Dark Souls of graphics tests: 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited. What happens? Here, the M1 Pro, with its puny 16-core GPU, finds itself as a minor player, barely crossing the finish line with 10,386 points. Meanwhile, the M1 Max (32-core GPU) doesn’t just cross—it flies, racking up 20,220 points. The question isn’t whether it’s better—it’s whether the M1 Max is destined to dominate.

MacBook Pro 14 2021: Battery Life

Let’s pivot. No longer do we need to talk about endless charging cables or clunky, aged tech. This MacBook Pro 2021 14-inch is a marvel of endurance. Fourteen hours and nine minutes on our test, where it effortlessly breezed through web browsing at 150 nits. Don’t bother comparing it with Intel-based MacBook Pros from years ago. The numbers speak for themselves: 10:21 hours on the 13-inch Intel, and 10:55 on the 16-inch Intel. The 14-inch MacBook Pro slays the competition, with its unyielding stamina. Even its larger siblings, the M1-based 16-inch MacBook Pro (15:32), don't manage to stretch as long.

Take that, OLED. The Dell XPS 13 OLED only manages 7:59 before gasping for breath. The Razer Blade 14 and its powerful AMD chips? Don't even think about it—6:02.

MacBook Pro 14 2021: Webcam Quality: 

We’re all trapped in the video call matrix, aren't we? Apple understood the assignment with its 1080p camera on the MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch). No more grainy, underwhelming shots. A glimpse at selfies taken on this camera and you’ll see your reflection in pristine clarity—your hair’s texture, the vividness of your skin, the detail in your glasses—all of it shines through. The 2020 MacBook Pro? Ha! Not even close.

Oh, and don't even think of comparing it to the 720p horrors found in the Dell XPS 13 or the 2020 MacBook. That’s not even competition anymore—it’s a land where clarity is a myth.

MacBook Pro 14 2021: Keyboard and Touchpad: 

Apple’s Magic Keyboard is no longer a dream; it’s reality. The satisfying click of the keys makes typing feel like you’ve tapped into a secret dimension. Comfort? Absolutely. Speed? You’ll find yourself racing against time, pulling off 77 words per minute, just shy of your external keyboard’s 80 wpm benchmark. Meanwhile, the glass Force Touch trackpad is a buttery-smooth dream—there’s no jerky scrolling here, no “where did my cursor go?” confusion.

But what truly shakes the tree is the removal of the Touch Bar. FINALLY! That tragic little OLED strip is gone, replaced by good old-fashioned, reliable function keys. No more accidental triggers. No more pain.

Macbook pro 14 2021:Audio 

Apple’s audio engineers have done something miraculous: a six-speaker array that feels like it should belong in an oversized sound system, not a laptop. “Swim Good” by Frank Ocean? The bass kicks in and suddenly, you’re lost in the sound. The built-in microphones? Top-tier—crystal-clear recordings that could rival professional setups. When Apple goes for audio, they don’t just hit the mark—they shatter it.

Heat Management: The Subtle Art of Staying Cool

I’ve seen it all—the loud fans, the intense heat. But the MacBook Pro 2021 (14-inch)? It’s like a Zen master. After streaming HD video, I never saw it rise above 95°F. You’d think it was playing it cool. The underside? A mere 89.5°F. That’s remarkable in the world of power-hungry laptops. Don’t expect it to fry eggs anytime soon.

macOS 12: Stability, Yet Something Missing

macOS Monterey—stable, solid, dependable. Yet, two massive features—SharePlay and Universal Control—are delayed like a distant memory. But let’s talk about the real star: LiveText. Ever dreamed of copying text from an image? Apple just handed you that magic. The future is here, and it’s mind-boggling.