New MacBook Pro Reviews: Hands-On Look at Performance and Upgraded Specs - MacRumors
The new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will start arriving to customers and launch in stores this Tuesday. Ahead of time, the first reviews of the laptops have been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.
Powered by Apple's latest M2 Pro and M2 Max chips, the new MacBook Pros offer up to 20% faster performance and up to 30% faster graphics. The laptops can be configured with up to 96GB of RAM, compared to a max of 64GB previously. Other improvements include Wi-Fi 6E, an upgraded HDMI 2.1 port with support for up to an 8K external display, and an extra hour of battery life over the previous generation.
The new MacBook Pros have the same design as the previous models released in October 2021. The laptops can be pre-ordered on Apple's online store, with pricing starting at $1,999 for the 14-inch model and at $2,499 for the 16-inch model.
Geekbench results from last week revealed that the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips offer up to around 20% faster performance and up to around 30% faster graphics compared to the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, in line with Apple's advertised claims.
Jason Snell shared additional benchmarks in his Six Colors review:
Written ReviewsThe Verge's Monica Chin said the 16-inch MacBook Pro continues to provide the "best combination of performance and efficiency" in a high-end laptop:
CNET's Lori Grunin achieved faster wireless speeds with Wi-Fi 6E:
Engadget's Devindra Hardawar said the new 14-inch MacBook Pro provided nearly three hours extra of battery life compared to the previous generation:
TheStreet's Jacob Krol said the new MacBook Pro remains a powerhouse for performance-intensive tasks like 4K or 8K video exporting:
Ars Technica's Samuel Axon said the new MacBook Pro models are overkill for most customers and recommended the MacBook Air:
More Written Reviews Video Reviews and UnboxingsIf this review seems short, that’s because there's not too much to talk about; this is essentially the 2021 MacBook Pro but 20–30 percent faster at some tasks, and with a few connectivity options upgraded to better match what is expected from a pricey laptop like this.
And that’s OK because the 2021 MacBook Pro was excellent. The 2023 version is the same but slightly better. The M2 Pro and M2 Max's performance and efficiency make them attractive devices for many people.
That said, you shouldn't spend this amount of money if you don't need this much performance, and let's be real: most people don't. The MacBook Air or one of a few particularly strong Windows ultrabooks like the Dell XPS 13 will meet many folks' needs just as well, and for a lot less money—plus, they provide more portability.
