Best Prices Today: Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)
Apple ’s 14- and 16 - inch MacBook Pro sit down at the high terminal of the company ’s laptop computer card . These laptops sport the high - level Mobile River processors , displays , and features for the most demanding users . Apple introduced the Pro and Max version of the M1 processor in October 2021 and followed that up with the M2 Pro and M2 Max in January 2023 .
If you have an sure-enough model , you might be thinking of upgrading . Or maybe you ’re attempt to decide between a lot on an elderly model versus a full - price newer one . This clause count at the differences between the M2 Pro / Max and M1 Pro / Max versions of the laptop to help oneself you understand what you ’re getting when you make the investiture . For a more in - depth look at the new MacBook Pro , you canread our full review .
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: The features that are the same
The 2023 MacBook Pro is an incremental upgrade to the 2021 variation , so most of the feature are the same . Here ’s a list of what did not change between the two laptops :
Best Pricing Today: Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: Processor
The major difference between the 2021 and 2021 MacBook Pro poser is the chip inside them . The M2 Pro and M2 Max processor in the 2023 models offer more power than the previous generation , with more cores and bandwidth .
Apple claim a 20 percent increment in CPU public presentation for the M2 Pro / Max over the M1 Pro / Max , which matches the benchmarks we ran in our revaluation . What does that mean from a user perspective ? If you ’re a professional who ’s forever doing CPU - intensive chore , a 20 percent increase is in all likelihood deserving a mickle of time and money . If you dabble in pro apps but mostly apply consumer - level software , you may not notice the difference as much because your tasks are n’t as demand .
On the graphics side , Apple say that the M2 Pro / Max provides a 30 percent GPU improvement over the M1 Pro / Max , and in our testing , we discover increases between 20 and 30 pct . Just as with the CPU , if you ’re presently using an M1 Pro / Max as a professional and you ’re using high - conclusion graphics software to do some serious rendering , the improvement will be noticeable . For everyone else , the M1 Pro or M1 Max will be skilful enough .
The M1 Pro (left) uses 8GB memory modules, while the M2 Pro (right) uses 4GB modules.
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: Memory
The memory configuration , as noted in the table in the CPU section , are similar between the M1 Pro / Max and M2 Pro / Max . The Pro models can have 16 GB or 32 GB , while the Max model have 32 GB or 64 gigabit .
Apple also offers a 96 GB memory configuration for the first meter , but only if you corrupt the highest - end M1 Max model with a 38 - gist GPU . That will be at least $ 4,099 for the 14 - column inch model or $ 4,299 for the 16 - inch model .
The storage used by the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips is installed in 4 GB random-access memory module , which is dissimilar from the 8 GB module used by the M1 machines . Apple made this alteration likely because of supply chain issues , and it does n’t have a noticeable effect on performance .
The M1 Pro (left) uses 8GB memory modules, while the M2 Pro (right) uses 4GB modules.
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: SSD
Apple did n’t change the SSD shape with the M2 update . The entry - level M1 Pro model have a 512 GB SSD while the M1 Max modelling commence at 1 TB . Upgrades are available for 2 TB , 4 TB , or 8 TB choice .
However , like with the remembering , Apple changed the contour of the cow dung it use for its entry - story SSDs . In the 512 GB mannikin , Apple uses two 256 GB module alternatively of four 128 GB manikin . These large faculty have in mind that few data channels can be used in parallel , which results in slower functioning . Several retail store have report that the entry - level 14 - column inch MacBook Pro ’s SSD is slow than the comparable M1 Pro model .
The in force intelligence is that most people wo n’t detect the performance hit during everyday manipulation . And if you buy a 1 TB modelling you wo n’t see a performance hit . Since most MacBook Pro users who would notice the slower speeds are probable produce at least a terabyte of computer storage anyway , it probably wo n’t be an result . But it ’s emphatically a downgrade over the anterior poser .
The 2023 MacBook Pro’s HDMI port has been upgraded to version 2.1.
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: External display support
While the 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pros have fantabulous displays ( which are unchanged from the 2021 model ) , you’re able to also connect one or more international displays using Thunderbolt and HDMI . Things have changed a bit from the older model :
bolt only
HDMI only
Thunderbolt and HDMI
The limited HDMI 2.0 in the M1 Pro / Mac MacBook Pro was a big knock against the laptop computer , specially in a professional workstation frame-up . With the 2023 MacBook Pro , Apple upgrade the HDMI carrying out to variation 2.1 , which allows for additional displays at higher solving and refresh rates . If you call for display flexibility , the upgrade is a welcome change .
The 2023 MacBook Pro ’s HDMI port has been upgraded to version 2.1 .
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2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: Wireless connectivity
Apple exchange the Wi - Fi 6 in the 2021 MacBook Pro withWi - Fi 6Ein the 2023 models . Just based on the name of the new Wi - Fi , it may not seem like much of an upgrade – and in practical use decently now , there is n’t a immense reward to having it . But Wi - Fi 6E can get at the raw spectrum in the 6GHz range , which mean better focal ratio . However , Wi - Fi router and hotspot have to be 6E compatible , too , for the extra speeding to kick in .
Apple also replaced Bluetooth 5.0 in the M1 MacBook Pro mannequin with Bluetooth 5.3 in the M2 version . reading 5.3 proffer good performance , stableness , and security than version 5.0 . A Bluetooth machine must have translation 5.3 to take full reward of it , but Bluetooth 5.0 machine will influence fine .
Wi - Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 are characteristic that assist future tense - proof the M2 Pro and M2 Max MacBook Pro . gadget that use these engineering are not far-flung now , but they will be for more mutual in the coming calendar month . And when that happens , the 2023 exemplar will be quick to take vantage .
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: Battery
Thanks to efficiency improvements in the M2 chip , the 2023 MacBook Pro has a barrage life that ’s one hour longer than the electric battery in the M1 models . The shelling life was already long enough to last a daylight , so an extra 60 minutes may not be enough to sway a buying decision one way or another , but longer is always better .
2021 vs 2023 MacBook Pro: Verdict
The 2023 MacBook Pro is n’t a huge upgrade over the 2021 framework , but it does bring some nice additions . Basically , you should postulate yourself three questions before you make a decisiveness :
If you answer yes to any of these , then you should consider an M2 exemplar ( and springiness for more storage than 512 GB ) . Otherwise , you ’ll be happy keep your M1 MacBook Pro for another year or saving a few hundred bucks when you buy one .
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you may line up the best price for the 2021 14 - column inch MacBook Pro and the 2021 16 - inch MacBook Pro below . We also recommend you take a flavor at ourMacBook Pro bargain round upfor deals on every exemplar , new and old .
14 - in MacBook Pro , 2021
16 - in MacBook Pro , 2021
For more help pick the best MacBook for you read ourBest MacBookguide , we also equate the three MAcBook Pro models , see:13 - inch , 14 - inch and 16 - inch MacBook Pro compare .
