In September of last year, Apple has announced the new and improved MacBook Pro lineup, and people are very happy about it. For this generation, Apple brought some long-awaited changes to the MacBook Pro that already convinced a lot of people to update from their old MacBook, and maybe even convince you. we have come to compare the new options from Apple to help you decide if you want one too.
Sizes: 14″ vs. 16″
Even with the new CPU chips, the new MacBooks are coming with, the size of the device makes a big difference for the use case and target audience. The new MacBooks come in two new sizes: 14 and 16 inches. Some of the changes are noticeable, but there is no denying that they are very similar.
Similarities
The displays on both are Mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR, with 1600 nits peak brightness and 120hz ProMotion. Ports and microphones are the same, and so are the webcam and configurable memory and storage. Also, both come in Silver and Space Gray colors and feature the return of the beloved MagSafe with its 3rd iteration.
Differences
here, the common ends – and each of the models flexes their benefits. The 16″ has, obviously, a much bigger display, and a larger battery to accommodate its beefy size. It is much heavier than the 14″ with 4.7 pounds of weight (2.1 KG), and is also 0.66″ in thickness(1.68 mm). The starting chip has a 10-core CPU and 16-core GPU, snd defaults to a 140W included power adaptor. The built-in speakers are also bigger and much more powerful than on the smaller 14″. The 16″ MacBook Pro has a $2,499 starting price for the base M1 Pro model.
Get the 16″ MacBook Pro 2021 on Amazon / Apple
The 14″ is smaller, lighter, and does have a smaller battery to fit inside its small chassis. It is a bit thinner than its bigger brother with 0.61″ thickness (1.55 mm), and weighs 3.7 pounds (1.6 KG). With the base M1 pro model, you will get an 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU chip, a 67W power adaptor – with the option to upgrade to 96W, and a price of $1,999.
Get the 14″ MacBook Pro 2021 on Amazon / Apple
If you are looking for the most powerful horse on the market – the 16″ is the way to go, and with its “power Mode” while connected to the wall you can get near-like desktop capabilities (but you do need an M1 max chip to power it). The 14″ on the other hand, has portability in mind. So, if you travel a lot and want a capable machine that won’t fail you, it is your best option and has nearly the same abilities as its bigger brother.
Chips: M1 Pro vs. M1 Max
After you decide which size to go with, it’s time to choose your chip and memory configuration. This will be much easier: if you need power, get a strong chip that can handle your daily used applications. if you use memory-hungry apps or a lot of apps at the same time – go with more RAM so you can use them smoothly. As for storage, it will not affect the performance of your laptop, so choose according to your needs. Also, think of the option of buying external SSDs if you don’t need the speeds.
As for the M1 MacBook Pro, you shouldn’t go for it unless you MUST have a Touchbar. It has nearly exactly the same screen, battery, and dimensions as the Air – but for $300 more, without any justifications.
Other Options
If you are new to Mac and want to buy one without the big risk of the expansive models, or just don’t have the money for it – the 2020 M1 MacBook Air is still a great option. It has a very capable chip, and for its price gives excellent value, especially compared to the older generations and other PC laptops on the market.
The regular M1 is very comparable to an i7 intel chip and has great efficiency for its thin and compact design, and although you can get it with only 16GB of memory – it will be more than enough for casual users. For $999, you can get a powerful and very reliable laptop for a great price, and we are talking about Apple here.
Get the 13.3″ M1 MacBook Air 2020 on Amazon / Apple
No matter what model you choose, the current generation of laptops is excellent and will provide you with the spectacular user experience Apple is so well-known for. Apple’s transition to an in-house built silicone provides for crazy efficiency and battery life, and if rumors are true, Apple is set to release up to 7 new Mac products until the end of the year.