MacBook Pro: The biggest and baddest Mac laptops
Since the shift to Intel CPUs in early 2006, the MacBook Pro has been the brand designation for Apple's high-end laptop. Now that Apple has transitioned to its own silicon, the Pro name has stuck. Thanks to Apple's ARM-based silicon, the current fourth and fifth-generation Pro Apple notebooks offer significantly greater power, lower heat generation, and improved battery life. Continue reading for a look back at the line's history as well as a breakdown of the current lineup.
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MacBook Pro history
The first MacBook Pro was designed in the same way as the PowerBook G4 before it, but instead of PowerPC CPUs, it featured Intel processors.
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With a unibody enclosure, the second version of the MacBook Pro was the first to truly distinguish itself from previous models. The retina display and MagSafe 2 were both introduced with the third-generation MacBook Pro.
The fourth generation of the MacBook Pro is perhaps the most contentious. While the elimination of ethernet and the optical drive in the third generation drew some criticism, the fourth generation was a complete reworking of the device peripherals. There was no longer a MagSafe port, no longer a USB-A port, and only the 13-inch model retained the function keys. Instead, all Thunderbolt 3 connections and a headphone jack were included in this revised MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro now has an OLED Touch Bar in place of function keys. Apple debuted the M1 CPU and redesigned the 13-inch MacBook Pro in late 2020. The ARM-based processor reduced power consumption while also improving performance.
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Apple released the fifth-generation MacBook Pro in October 2021, featuring not one, but two improved versions of the M1 chip, the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The change reversed some of the previous generation's decisions, reintroducing an HDMI port, MagSafe charger, and SD card reader while deleting the Touch Bar.
The 2020 13-Inch MacBook Pro
Apple released the 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro as the next update to the fourth-generation MacBook in late 2020. The MacBook has the same design as previous MacBooks, but it now uses Apple silicon, like the MacBook Air and Mac Mini.
This was the first MacBook without an Intel processor, thanks to Apple's M1 chip, which brought ARM architecture to the MacBook range.
The M1 chip has an 8-core CPU and an 8-core CPU in a single design. Because the processor has on-board memory, the device can only have 8GB or 16GB of unified memory. The 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro has a Magic Keyboard instead of the troublesome butterfly keyboard and may be configured with 256GB to 2TB of storage.
13-inch MacBook Pro specs
13-inch MacBook Pro pricing
The 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro starts at $1,299 and goes up from there. The cost of upgrading this base configuration to 16GB of memory is $200. Similarly, each additional 256GB of storage — 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB – adds $200 to the cost. A 13-inch MacBook Pro with all of the bells and whistles would set you back $2,299.
Apple's website allows you to customize your own 13-inch MacBook Pro.
Current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro range received a totally new look in October 2021. The screen size of the 13-inch was raised to 14 inches, and the bezels on the 16-inch were decreased. Many of the previous generation's issues were rectified in this fifth-generation notebook. MagSafe made a comeback in the shape of an enhanced MagSafe 3, and the MacBook got an HDMI port and an SD card slot.
The Touch Bar is also no longer available. The regular row of function keys returns instead. The latest MacBooks also include a ProMotion display with a variable refresh rate and mini-LED backlight, which was initially debuted on the iPad Pro.
14-inch MacBook Pro specs
14-inch MacBook Pro pricing
The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a starting price of $1,999. The entry-level model comes with 16GB of RAM, 512GB of storage, and an M1 Pro processor with an 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU. The M1 Pro CPU comes in a variety of flavors, while the M1 Max processor costs $500 more and requires you to upgrade to 32GB of RAM, which is a $400 upgrade. You can set up to 64GB of memory with the M1 Max processor, which is a $800 premium.
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You can configure up to 8TB of storage in the 2021 14-inch MacBook Pro. Upgrade costs are as follows:
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1TB SSD Storage – $200
2TB SSD Storage – $600
4TB SSD Storage – $1,200
8TB SSD Storage – $2,400
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You can configure your own 14-inch MacBook Pro on Apple’s website.
16-inch MacBook Pro specs
16-inch MacBook Pro pricing
The 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,499 and goes up from there. There is just one M1 Pro processor available for the 16-inch MacBook, and it is the highest version of the M1 Pro processor, which has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU and costs $300 more than the 14-inch MacBook Pro. Of course, you can upgrade to the M1 Max processor, which comes with a 24-core or 32-core GPU and costs $200 and $400, respectively (and also requires the $400 RAM upgrade). All of the memory and storage options are identical to those found on the 14-inch MacBook Pro.
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You can configure your own 16-inch MacBook Pro on Apple’s website.
Differences between 13-inch,14-inch, and 16-inch models
The MacBook Pro lineup for 2021 is a welcome update. The additions of an XDR display and hardware acceleration for ProRes improve the experience but are more difficult to measure for the ordinary user.
