Apple completely changed the game for Mac computers during its “Unleashed” event, introducing new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs. Both models come with a 1080p camera, the best battery life, an improved audio system, a Liquid Retina XDR display, a macOS Monterey release date announcement, and much more. And yes, the rumors are true: Apple promises to find back a full-size SD card slot, HDMI port, and the MagSafe charging connector, which will permit fast charging for the first time in a MacBook.
On pro systems, the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs deliver unrivaled performance with best-in-class performance per watt and industry-leading power efficiency. Before we get into the specifics of what’s new in the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros, let’s take a look at what the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs have to offer.
The new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips are up to 70% quicker than the old M1 chip in terms of CPU performance. In addition, the GPU in the M1 Pro is up to 2x faster than the M1, and the M1 Max is up to 4x faster than the M1, allowing professional users to breeze through even the most demanding graphics workloads.
The M1 Pro supports up to 32GB of unified memory and has a memory bandwidth of up to 200GB/s. M1 Max supports up to 64GB of unified memory and has a memory bandwidth of up to 400GB/s, which is 2x that of M1 Pro and roughly 6x that of M1.
Both the M1 Pro and M1 Max use the 5nm manufacturing technology; the M1 Pro has 33.7 billion transistors, almost twice as many as the M1 chip, while the M1 Max has 57 billion transistors, which is 70 percent more than the M1 Pro and 3.5 times more than the M1 chip.
Both the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips have a 10-core CPU with eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores that are 70 percent faster than the M1 chip. When compared to the latest 8-core PC laptop chip, the M1 Pro delivers up to 1.7x more CPU performance at the same power level and achieves peak performance using up to 70% less power.
The M1 Pro has a 16-core GPU, which is 2x faster than the M1 and 7x quicker than the integrated graphics on the most recent 8-core PC laptop chip. When compared to a strong discrete GPU for PC notebooks, the M1 Pro delivers up to 70% better performance while utilizing 70% less power. The M1 Pro can be configured with up to 32GB of fast unified memory and a memory bandwidth of up to 200GB/s.
The M1 Max, on the other hand, has the same 10-core CPU as the M1 but adds a hefty up to 32-core GPU for up to 4x quicker graphics performance than the M1. GPU provides performance comparable to a high-end GPU in a compact pro PC laptop while using up to 40% less power, and performance comparable to a high-end GPU in the largest PC laptops while using up to 100 watts less power. This means less heat is generated, fans run silently and less frequently, and the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros have incredible battery life.
The 14-inch model offers up to 17 hours of video playing, which is seven hours longer than the previous generation, while the 16-inch model offers up to 21 hours of video playback, which Apple claims is the longest battery life ever on a Mac notebook. And whether the MacBook Pro is plugged in or running on battery power, new MacBook Pro models give the same performance.
The new MacBook Pro 14- and 16-inch models include all-new aluminum casings that maximize internal space and performance. The enclosure, on the other hand, is meticulously machined around an upgraded thermal system that allows it to circulate 50% more air than the previous version, even at lower fan speeds.
By removing the Touch Bar, the latest MacBook Pro models include Magic Keyboard and full-height function keys.
The 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro versions have Liquid Retina XDR displays and mini-LEDs, similar to the iPad Pro. The Liquid Retina XDR display has a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 1,000 nits of brightness, full-screen brightness, and an astonishing 1,600 nits of peak brightness. New Pro versions now include a ProMotion display with a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate that adjusts automatically according to the programs that users use, allowing them to save battery life.
The new MacBook Pro 16-inch model has a 16.2-inch display with 7.7 million pixel colors, while the new MacBook Pro 14-inch model has a 14.2-inch display with 5.9 million pixel colors. The corporation has narrowed the upper border but has left the little borders around the camera, which we refer to as the “notch” for the time being.
Apple has added extra connectivity options to the new Pro models, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports (one on the right side and two on the left), a full-size SDXC card slot, an HDMI port, and an improved headphone jack that now supports high-impedance headphones. In terms of connectivity, the new M1 Pro chip supports up to two Pro Display XDRs, while the M1 Max supports up to three Pro Display XDRs as well as a 4K TV. Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6 are also available on both new versions.
For both new models, the company has included a magnetic MagSafe charging connection. In addition, the MagSafe charging connector on both MacBook Pros now supports fast charging, which can give up to 50% charge in just 30 minutes.
In addition, for both new models, the company has doubled the resolution of the FaceTime HD camera; the new models now have a 1080p camera with low-light capability. In the M1 Pro and M1 Max, the ISP and Neural Engine are used to create a computational video that improves video quality.
The company has also improved the audio experience in MacBook Pro models, with studio-quality mics that reduce noise in calls and speech recordings. Two tweeters for a better soundscape and four force-canceling woofers for 80 percent more bass make up the high-fidelity six-speaker sound system. The sound system also supports spatial audio, which provides a rich, three-dimensional listening experience.
Both the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models come with macOS Monterey, which Apple debuted at the WWDC 2021 keynote. Starting on October 25th, 2021, eligible Macs will be able to get the new macOS Monterey as a free software update.
14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro price and availability
The new 14-inch MacBook Pro model costs $1,999 (Rs.1,94,900) for a normal buy and $1,849 (Rs.1,75,900) for an education purchase, while the new 16-inch MacBook Pro costs $2,499 (Rs.2,39,900) for a regular purchase and $2,299 (Rs.2,15,900) for an education purchase.
Both variants are currently available for order at Apple Store, with shipping set to begin on October 26th, 2021. Both models may be customized with specific specs, as well as the ability to choose between the M1 Pro and M1 Max processors.
