Apple unveiled the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro M1 Pro and M1 Max 2021 laptops at its “Unleashed” event. The new laptop features a new design with smaller bezels, a new screen, new ports, new Apple silicone, and more. Here are the main details of the MacBook Pro. You can order Apple’s new MacBook Pro laptops, but check with third-party retailers for special price offers. We have an article that tracks sales of Apple products for the holiday season.
Apple has completely revamped its business laptop.
MacBook Pro 2021 M1 Pro and M1 Max: Processor, RAM, Graphics
The M1 Pro and M1 Max are Apple’s 2021 newest system on a chip (SoC), following the M1 released last year. Here’s what’s available for each model:
14-inch MacBook Pro
- M1 Pro: 8-core CPU with six performance cores and two efficiency cores or 10-core CPU with eight performance cores and two efficiency cores; 14 or 16 core graphics processor; 16-core neural motor; 200 Gbit / s memory bandwidth
- M1 Max: 10-core CPU with eight performance cores and two efficiency cores; 24 or 32-core GPU; 16-core neural motor; 400 Gbit / s memory bandwidth
- 16 GB unified memory, configurable to 32 GB (M1 Pro) or 64 GB (M1 Max)
16-inch MacBook Pro
- M1 Pro: 10-core CPU with eight performance cores and two efficiency cores; 16-core GPU; 16-core neural motor; 200 Gbit / s memory bandwidth
- M1 Max: 10-core CPU with eight performance cores and two efficiency cores; 32-core GPU; 16-core neural motor; 400 Gbit / s memory bandwidth
- 16 GB unified memory, configurable to 32 GB (M1 Pro) or 64 GB (M1 Max)
MacBook Pro M1 Pro and M1 Max 2021: Display
The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are Apple’s first laptops to use mini-LED displays, which Apple calls Liquid Retina XDR. Used in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, the mini-LED is a backlight technology that features several more LEDs than are currently implemented. This results in better backlight control, better image contrast, and greater dynamic range.
These laptop screens are also the first to support a 120Hz refresh rate using ProMotion technology, previously only available on Apple iPhones and iPad Pros.
Apple’s specifications for the display include a contrast ratio of 1,000,000: 1, 1,000 nits of full screen brightness and 1,600 nits of peak brightness. The 14 inch model has a native resolution of 3024 by 1964 at 254 pixels per inch, while the 16 inch version has a native resolution of 3456 by 2234 at 254 pixels per inch. The displays also support the P3 color gamut and True Tone.
MacBook Pro M1 Pro & Pro Max 2021: Layout and Colors
The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros feature a new aluminum case design that makes the laptop smaller than previous models. The 14-inch MacBook Pro is 0.61 inches and weighs 3.5 pounds, while the 16-inch model is 0.66 inches and 4.7 pounds. Here are the full dimensions:
- 14-inch MacBook Pro: 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches; 3.5 lbs
- 16-inch MacBook Pro: 14.01 x 9.77 x 0.66 inches; 4.7 lbs
The bezel (the border around the screen) has been greatly reduced, so much so that the MacBook Pro logo is no longer at the bottom of the screen, but at the bottom of the laptop. The top of the screen has a notch for the FaceTime camera, just like the iPhone. Apple made the notch the same depth as the menu bar so that it doesn’t encroach on your workspace.
Apple offers the MacBook Pro in two colors, Silver and Space Gray.
MacBook Pro 2021 M1 Pro and M1 Max: Ports and Power Adapter
The MacBook Pro comes with three Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports. Apple also includes an SDXC card slot, an HDMI 2.0 port, and a headphone jack that supports high impedance headphones.
The AC adapter connects to a new MagSafe connector on the laptop. It is similar to the older MagSafe adapter from the pre-USB-C MacBooks. However, the wattage of the adapter depends on the model you buy:
- 14-inch 8-core MacBook Pro: 67 watts
- 14-inch 10-core MacBook Pro: 96 watts
- All 16-inch MacBook Pro configurations: 140 watts
You can choose to purchase a higher wattage adapter for $ 20. The new MacBook Pros support faster charging with the 96-watt 140-watt adapter for the first time, charging up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
MacBook Pro 2021: Battery Life
Battery life has improved significantly, based on Apple testing:
14-inch MacBook Pro
- Up to 17 hours of movie playback with the Apple TV app
- Up to 11 hours of wireless internet connection
- 70 watt hour lithium polymer battery
16-inch MacBook Pro
- Up to 21 hours of movie playback with the Apple TV app
- Up to 14 hours of wireless internet connection
- 100 watt hour lithium polymer battery
MacBook Pro 2021: Front Camera
That notch at the top of the screen houses a new 1080p FaceTime HD camera. Apple eventually replaced the 720p FaceTime camera, and the new camera should result in better image quality. This FaceTime camera is similar to the one on the 24-inch iMac M1, but it is not ultra-wide and does not support Center Stage like the iPad.
MacBook Pro: Audio
Apple has upped its game when it comes to audio playback and recording. The new MacBook Pro has a six-speaker system, with four tweeters and two woofers. The woofers are forcibly canceled, and Apple claims they deliver 80% more bass than before.
The speakers also support spatial audio when playing music or videos with Dolby Atmos. And if you use the laptop with the new third-generation AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods Max, there is spatial sound with dynamic head tracking.
Apple calls the built-in three-microphone array “studio grade – and they have a high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming.” The headphone jack also supports high-impedance headphones.
MacBook Pro: No More Touch Bar
Apple introduced the Touch Bar in 2016 to replace the function keys with “a bright Retina-grade multi-touch screen,” but it’s been a defining feature, to say the least: Those who don’t like it are expressive enough. , while the people who love him don’t say much (at least it seems they do). Apple seems to have been conquered by users who do not like the Touch Bar, as it has disappeared in the new MacBook Pro M1 Pro, replaced by function keys. These function keys are not half height keys, they are full size. There is a Touch ID button at the top right of the keyboard, as on previous MacBook Pro models, but it has a circular ring like on the iMac keyboard.
MacBook Pro 2021: Price and Launch
The MacBook Pro M1 Pro order is now available. Due to supply chain issues, some shipping dates have already started to slip back.
Apple offers two standard configurations of the 14-inch MacBook Pro:
- $1,999: 8-core M1 Pro CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- $2,499: 10-core M1 Pro CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Apple offers three standard configurations of the 16-inch MacBook Pro:
- $2,499: 10-core M1 Pro CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD
- $2,699: 10-core M1 Pro CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD
- $3,499: 10-core M1 maximum CPU, 32-core GPU, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD
Apple also continues to sell the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1, which starts at $ 1,299.
