The 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 was unveiled with its bigger brother, the MacBook 16-inch 2021, on October 18th during an Apple event 2021. More ports, sharper screens, and the all-new M1 Pro and M1 Max processors, which promise incredible power, are among the features offered by both devices.
MacBook Pro 14-inch vs MacBook Pro 16-inch: A Full Comparison has all the details, but the 14-inch model is particularly noteworthy since it is the first 14-inch MacBook Pro to be released by Apple.
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- Additionally, purchases for the MacBook Pro 2021 have already been postponed until December.
Almost everything we suspected was confirmed after months of rumors. There are now two more powerful versions of Apple’s amazing M1 processor available: the M1 Pro and the M1 Max, two hefty new bits of Apple silicon in this updated 14-inch MacBook Pro. It has the same beautiful mini-LED display as the iPad Pro 2021 (12.9-inch).
Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro with silicon seems to be much superior than the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1. If it lives up to Apple’s expectations, it’ll take the top position on our list of the best laptops.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 cheat sheet: What’s new
- A brand-new enclosure made of 100 percent recyclable aluminium that provides better cooling performance
- Function keys have taken the position of Touch Bar on the MacBook Pro.
- MagSafe charging has returned, although Thunderbolt ports are still available for charging.
- Not including the notch, which houses the new 1080p FaceTime camera, screen bezels are said to be 20% smaller, with a 60% thinner top border.
- Liquid retina XDR display with ProMotion adaptive refresh rate up to 120 Hz and a mini-LED display similar to the stunning iPad Pro 2021
- The new spatial audio 6-speaker sound system has four tweeters and two woofers.
- New M1 Pro/M1 Max processors outperform older Core i9 16-inch Pro models by up to two times.
- Apple claims a battery life of 17 hours while watching videos.
- Pre-orders for the $1,999 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 are being accepted now (in silver or space grey) ahead of its release next week.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Specs
| 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 | 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $1,999 | $2,499 |
| Screen | 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3024×1964 pixels, 254ppi) | 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display (3456×2244 pixels, 254ppi) |
| Processor | M1 Pro (8-core CPU, 14-core GPU or 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU), with optional M1 Max with up to 10-core CPU and 32-core GPU | M1 Pro (10-core CPU, 16-core GPU) | M1 Max (10-core CPU, 32-core GPU) |
| Battery size | 70Wh | 100Wh |
| Battery life (claimed) | Up to 11 hours of web surfing over Wi-Fi | Up to 14 hours of web surfing over Wi-Fi |
| Storage | 512GB to 8TB | 512GB to 8TB |
| Memory | 16GB to 64GB | 16GB to 64GB |
| Ports | Thunderbolt 4 (x3), HDMI, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, SD memory card slot | Thunderbolt 4 (x3), HDMI, MagSafe 3, headphone jack, SD memory card slot |
| Webcam | 1080p FaceTime HD camera | 1080p FaceTime HD camera |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 | 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Dimensions | 12.3 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches | 14 x 9.8 x 0.7 inches |
| Weight | 3.5 pounds | 4.7 pounds (M1 Pro) | 4.8 pounds (M1 Max) |
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Price and release Date
The $1,999 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 is now available for purchase on Apple’s website. It will be available in Silver or Space Gray starting on October 25.
The $1,999 M1 Pro processor has an 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB shared memory, and a 1TB SSD.
It boasts a beefier 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB of unified memory, and 1TB SSD storage for $2,499.
To get the new M1 Max CPU, you need to pay more for a 14-inch MacBook Pro with 10 cores or 32 cores, 64GB of unified memory, and 8TB of storage.
Forewarning: if you want everything, expect to pay at least $5,899.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Design
Unlike earlier MacBook Pro models, the 14-inch model’s chassis is made of 100 percent recyclable aluminium. When it comes to performance, it’s a heavyweight, but its dimensions and weight belie that. It weighs 3.5 pounds.
According to Apple, the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s bezels are 20% thinner on the sides and 60% thinner on the top than on the previous model. To make up for the missing webcam, Apple included a new 1080p FaceTime camera with Apple silicon’s image processing capability in the top bezel of the iPhone 6.
Apple’s newest MacBook Pros don’t have the Touch Bar, thus the keyboard deck has a normal row of physical function keys.
In 2021, the MacBook Pro 14-inch model will no longer be available with a touch bar.
The reintroduction of MagSafe charging to the MacBook Pro series is marked by the presence of a new MagSafe 3 charging connector on the left side. Fast charging is now available as well, with Apple claiming that you can recharge your phone’s battery by up to 50% in only 30 minutes.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Display
The 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021 has one of Apple’s latest Liquid Retina XDR screens. We were impressed by the 12.9-inch iPad Pro’s mini-LED display technology, and it’s now on a MacBook for the first time.
The mini-LED display on the MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 model has a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
There are 254 pixels per inch on this 14.2-inch mini-LED panel, making the resolution 3024x1984p. Display refresh rates of up to 120 Hz are possible thanks to Apple’s ProMotion adaptive technology. With a display brightness of 1,600 nits, Apple claims the 14-inch MacBook Pro’s display will be as bright as the iPad Pro 2021’s mini-LED display at 1,000 nits of continuous brightness or 1,600 nits of peak brightness.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Ports
Ports on the 14-inch Pro are just as plentiful as those on the bigger model. There are three Thunderbolt 4/USB4 ports, one HDMI port, one SDXC card slot, and a headphone jack in total.
But perhaps most significantly, Apple has restored the MagSafe charging system with a new MagSafe 3 charging connector located on the left side. However, you can still use the 14-inch Pro’s Thunderbolt connections to charge it if you must.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Performance
Apple surprised us by announcing two additional products in addition to the MacBook Pro: the M1 Pro and the M1 Max.
With additional CPU cores, a stronger Media Engine, and greater memory bandwidth than the M1, the M1 Pro is the next step in the evolution of Apple’s very capable M1 processor. Macbook Pros coupled with the M1 Max are being marketed as the ultimate mobile video workstation by Apple.
When it comes to hardware specifications, the M1 Pro features a 10-core CPU with a 16-core GPU, and it also includes a 16-core Neural Engine. The M1 Max features a 32-core GPU and double the memory bandwidth of the M1 Max, but it costs more to install in your new 14-inch MacBook Pro 2021. It has two video encode engines and two ProRes encode/decode engines, so it should be a powerhouse in the video editing room.
Check out our Apple M1 Pro versus M1 Max face-off for a detailed comparison of the two processors.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Webcam
The 14-inch MacBook Pro’s display has a new 1080p FaceTime camera built into the top bezel. The 1080p camera in the Apple iMac 2021 (24-inch) uses the same Apple silicon-powered sophisticated image processing, so pictures and video should be sharp, bright, and colourful.
In addition, the camera may stand out more than other MacBook webcams due to Apple’s removal of the top bezel around the webcam housing, which leaves a tiny notch covering a small part of the screen. Even if it looks more like an iPhone, the MacBook Pro 2021 is less likely to have usability problems as a result.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Battery Life
According to Apple, the new MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021 can watch video for up to 17 hours on a single charge, which is a big boast. Even yet, Apple’s battery life promises have been more accurate than those of the majority of laptop manufacturers, so you should expect this laptop to last well over 10 hours when it is brand new.
Fast charging is supported as well, with Apple claiming that up to 50% of a battery charge may be delivered in 30 minutes. There is a 67W USB-C power adapter included with the 14-inch Pro, but for an additional $20, you can upgrade to a 96W converter. If you equip your new MacBook Pro with an M1 Pro processor that boasts at least a 10-core CPU and 14-core GPU, Apple will offer you the more powerful 96W charger by default.
MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021: Outlook
It seems like Apple’s first 14-inch MacBook Pro may be one of the most powerful 14-inch laptops to reach the market in 2019. Due to its new Liquid Retina XDR display, the MacBook Pro should be one of the most vibrant and eye-catching models ever.
We’re thrilled about the new 2021 MacBook Pros because of their powerful M1 Pro/M1 Max processors and mini-LED screens, but don’t forget to look at the tiny but welcome improvements Apple has made to the design to make these MacBooks more comfortable to use! Replaced with more functional (if standardized) physical function keys, the Touch Bars of the past are no more. Because of this, media professionals should have an easier time transferring files between computers now that there are more relevant ports available. And don’t ignore the promising battery life: 17 hours on a single charge is nothing to scoff at, and Apple is more honest than most when it comes to battery life claims.
Before we can verify Apple’s claims and certify these new MacBook Pros as the finest ever, we need to get our hands on a few for testing. Watch this space for updates!