Apple has launched the latest versions of its MacBook Pro range, equipped with the much-anticipated M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. There’s also the surprise return of some key ports and the removal of the problematic Touch Bar.
The new MacBook Pro, available in 14 and 16-inch, has been redesigned with a whole host of new features and upgrades, proving Apple has been listening to users’ bugbears.
Both laptops feature an advanced 1080p FaceTime HD camera, XDR display a six speaker sound system.
The new MacBook Pro models can be pre-ordered today via the Apple website or the Apple Store app and will be arriving from Tuesday 26th October. Prices start at £1,899 for the 14-inch and £2,399 for the 16-inch.
Read the Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 review to see how the laptops compare
What are the Apple M1 Pro and M1 Max chips?
The M1 Pro processor has 10 cores with Apple claiming they are 70% faster compared to M1 predecessors. The 10 cores are split into eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores for tasks that require less energy.
It supports 32GB of unified memory, with up to 200GB/s of memory bandwidth, which Apple claim enables creatives to do more on the go than ever before.
The M1 Max chips are a more powerful version of the M1 Pro. They share the same core processors, but the Max has double the bandwidth speed and up to 64GB of unified memory.
Read our thoughts on Apple’s previous M1 chip.
MacBook Pro: Other features
The new models don’t have a Touch Bar on the keyboard, which we’re sure will be music to many Apple fans ears. However, they do feature a Touch ID ring on the power button for a faster and more secure way to unlock your Mac.
Apple is also restoring three ports that users missed after they were removed five years ago: the HDMI port for connecting to displays and TVs, an SDXC card reader for transferring photos and videos and MagSafe 3 for charging. In addition, there are also three USB-C ports, which support Thunderbolt 4 connections and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Battery-wise, the 14-inch model has up to 17 hours video playback and up to 11 hours for wireless web browsing. The 16-inch model has an impressive 21 hours and 14 hours respectively.
Travel smart – get our free Travel newsletter and start planning better holidays
Which? verdict
Apple laptops are typically expensive, but our tests have proven that they can be worth it if your budget can stretch. Look out for our full tested review of the new Apple MacBook Pro to see if it’s worth the investment.
source https://www.which.co.uk/news/2021/10/apple-releases-two-new-macbook-pros-with-new-and-improved-chips/