Apple’s M1-equipped MacBook Pro is as zippy as
we expected, delivering all of the features we appreciated from the updated
MacBook Air. But even though it’s a bit faster, it may be a hard sell for many
professional users who require rock-solid compatibility and a lot of RAM.
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1) Specifications
|
CPU |
Apple M1 (4 performance cores,
4 efficiency cores) |
|
Graphics |
8-core GPU on SOC |
|
Memory |
16GB LPDDR4X-4266 |
|
Storage |
1TB NV Me SSD |
|
Display |
13.3-inch, 2560 x 1600, IPS,
Retina display |
|
Networking |
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0 |
|
Ports |
2x Thunderbolt 3 / USB 4, 3.5
mm headphone jack |
|
Camera |
720p FaceTime HD webcam |
|
Battery |
58.2 Wh |
|
Power Adapter |
61 W |
|
Operating System |
macOS 11.0 "Big Sur" |
|
Dimensions (WxDxH) |
12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches (304.1 x
212.4 mm x 15.6 mm) |
|
Weight |
3.0 pounds / 1.4 kg |
|
Price (as configured) |
$1,899.99 |
The real change here is that the MacBook Pro is
among the first computers that Apple has built using its own silicon. The Apple
M1 is a system on a chip that is also found in the latest MacBook Air and the
Mac Mini desktop.
It's an 8-core processor based on the Arm
architecture, and it’s built on a 5-nanometer process. The memory, 8-core GPU, and a 16-core neural engine are also built into the SoC. Four of the processor
cores are high-performance cores while the other four are designed for
efficiency, tackling less power-hungry tasks.
The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1,
2020) is the second big refresh for Apple’s smallest MacBook Pro this year, and
while the earlier one represented a rather minor specs bump, this new release
promises to be revolutionary.
The only variant appears to be in the MacBook
Air, where the entry-level version has a 7-core GPU. Also, in the MacBook Air,
the M1 is run fanless for silent operation. In the MacBook Pro that we're
reviewing here, as well as the Mac Mini, there are fans for cooling.
The M1 also takes over the duties of Apple's
T2 chip. The "secure enclave" is now on board the M1, powering
security operations like Touch ID.
So, now that we know how it
works, the big question is how it performs. The short
answer? Damn well. We tested the 13-inch MacBook Pro with an Apple M1 SoC with 16GB of RAM
and a 1TB SSD along for the ride. We pitted it against three premium laptops
that all use the Intel Core i7-1165G7, one of Intel's best 11th Gen "Tiger
Lake" processors. Anecdotally, I saw a great performance, from light tasks
like web browsing up to complex tasks like video editing.
There's a section in the App
Store for iPhone and iPad Apps or you can filter results by them. I've found
that each that I've tried worked well from a performance standpoint, but not
all of them feel at home on a desktop operating system (with no touch support)
just yet.
Overcast, my favorite podcast app on my iPhone, is an excellent addition to macOS. The iPad version
is the one available on the App Store, and while I can still see its
touch-based roots clearly, it's easy to navigate with a mouse, especially as
it's something I often leave in the background.
There
is an interesting alternative. Apps have access to "Touch
Alternatives." The trackpad, after all, can support a fiver-finger touch.
One of those is to hold the option key and then use the trackpad as a virtual
touchscreen. I found this frustrating in Among Us because I
couldn't always hit the spot I wanted to hit. However, in the Reddit client
Apollo, it enabled the swipe-based gestures that I love on my iPhone.
Not every iPhone and iPad app are available.
Developers need to opt into this program. Even after they have, they need to
verify that it works as intended, or a warning is listed that the developer
hasn't done so yet.
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