Here’s a non-pro look at how the new 14” MacBook Pro stacks up

By: Han Black | 14.05.2022, 22:45

In November, Apple launched the 2021 MacBook Pro. Available in two sizes (14- and 16-inch), the company also introduced two new chips, the M1 Pro and the M1 Max. While I thought this new Mac would be overkill to me – I didn’t need the ports, ProMotion, miniLED, or the processor – I recently broke my 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro and needed a replacement.

Between buying the entry-level 2020 M1 MacBook Air and the new 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro, I decided to go with the latter. Here’s my review of this computer from a heavy but non-pro user perspective.

First impressions on the design of the 2021 MacBook Pro

At first, the MacBook Pro’s notch was not something I liked. The entire black keyboard was also strange to me when it arrived in the shop. In addition, I really used to love the Touch Bar (for the wrong reasons – it’s so convenient to send emoji with that). As the days pass, however, I find myself just as obsessed with this design.

Coming from a 16-inch to a 14-inch is not that big of a deal. I can open Safari from two different windows and still work. Not only that, but the weight was super important in my decision, and the 14-inch is way lighter than my previous Intel Mac.

I find the trackpad and keyboard to be very reliable. Touch ID works well and this LED display is really appealing with ProMotion. It’s just really smooth to switch between my iPhone 13 Pro and this Mac.

Last but not least, the reason why I’m not typing from the Intel Mac anymore is that I stumbled over the charger and completely destroyed the computer. With the new MacBook Pro, it adds back the MagSafe connector, and wow, I didn’t realize how much I missed this feature that was once available on my 2010 MacBook Pro.

Is the entry-level M1 Pro enough for me?

As I told you at the beginning of the article, I was between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. The difference is wild: MacBook Air comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, while the M1 Pro Mac comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD.

If Apple had already introduced the rumored new MacBook Air, I would have probably gone with that instead, but between these two existing models, I decided it was worth spending an extra $1,000 to have the latest and greatest tech with the new MacBook Pro.

I am not a professional user but I do use it a lot. This is why I recommend Jeff Benjamin’s review on the 2021 MacBook Pro (if you wanna talk specs). Let me give you a view from someone who writes all day, edits photos with Pixelmator Pro, uses iMessage, Mail, Slack, WhatsApp, and needs to keep them open at all times.

For these tasks, it’s easy to see that the powerful computer makes everything run like a breeze. It’s quiet, does not get hot, and can open everything in just a few seconds.

It’s important to say that I’m pretty sure that I would be able to do the same with the M1 MacBook Air, but I would probably upgrade it with double the RAM and storage to feel more secure with it throughout the years. These were my reasons for not buying the Air version .

  • Old design;
  • Lack of MagSafe connector;
  • Terrible webcam;
  • The display looked a bit too small.

Last question: does this MacBook Pro has an all-day battery?

While the first batch of M1 MacBooks was praised for the everlasting battery life, I was worried that a Pro chip would consume way more energy and I would need to keep charging the Mac more than once during the day.

To my relief, the entry-level 2021 MacBook Pro holds up very well when I’m using it for the tasks I mentioned above. That said, it can last easily handle 10 hours of nonstop usage, but I do think it’s possible to stretch it a bit more to 12 hours.

Having both MagSafe or USB-C charging options for this machine makes it even more convenient.

Wrap up and final considerations

There’s a lot I don’t mention in this mini-review of the entry-level 2021 MacBook Pro. The reason is simple: we already reviewed this machine. You can get a more detailed look at the machine here.

For this piece, what I’m trying to answer is whether this MacBook Pro is a good deal for a heavy (but not a pro) user. This is what I answer: Yes. It’s stunning. You honestly don’t even pay attention to the notch – just like when Apple introduced the iPhone X. Having more ports is great, although having a MagSafe connector is the big deal. Keyboard, trackpad, and Touch ID are reliable as ever. Last, but not least battery life is great, which works out well for me since this was another feature I really needed.

Will I change my mind when Apple releases a new MacBook Air? Maybe. But as we can’t predict when or exactly what this MacBook Air will feature, I can say that, right now, if you need a machine and want it to last for years to come, the entry-level M1 Pro MacBook is more than enough.

Tweak it if needed, but I rely heavily on iCloud, and use only the essential apps. I don’t see any reason why I should need additional RAM or storage right now or over the next few years.

You can find the 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro here at Apple’s Amazon store.

Do you own this computer? Or are you planning to buy one?

Do you have this computer? If so, what are your thoughts?

Related:

  • MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Which should you buy in 2022?