The newly announced MacBook Pro notebooks are tempting, but consider that before you whip out your credit card.
Image: Apple Inc.
When Apple introduced new MacBook Pro notebooks with Pro and Max versions of its self-developed silicone this week, I was both impressed and pained.
The new MacBook Pro machines (whose specs, TechRepublic writer Cory Bohon, broken down in his article M1 MacBook Pro 2021: Which Laptop Model Is Right For You?) Appear to be incredibly fast and packed with pro-level features . I’m particularly excited about the return of the magnetic MagSafe power connector (my current notebook was torn from the table more than once when a power cable was tripped over) and the SD card reader, unceremoniously removed from the MacBook “Pro” in 2016.
The 3.5mm jack supports high-impedance headphones, which is good news for audiophiles, while an HDMI port lets you hook up a TV or projector without having to lug around a dongle. Most importantly, the silly touch bar is gone.
But while all of these improvements are impressive, there isn’t a killer feature that would make me upgrade. I have a 2019 15-inch MacBook Pro that was almost maxed out when I bought it and comes with a 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 processor, 32GB of RAM, and an updated discrete GPU.
SEE: How to migrate to a new iPad, iPhone, or Mac (TechRepublic Premium)
Two and a half years after I bought it, it still rips everything I need including moderate video editing. Some of the keys on my keyboard are worn – I have to type extra hard with my left hand as the A, C, V and left Shift and Command keys are all noticeably worn. And the battery needs to be replaced even though it’s covered by AppleCare.
But it is far more than useful. It controls two 27-inch monitors (one of which is a 5K device) without complaint and, because it has Intel Inside, can run Windows when I need it.
Although the new MacBook Pro has:
- The new M1 Pro or M1 Max from Apple Silicon.
- A much improved screen with a refresh rate of 120 Hz.
- Massive SSD storage options up to 8 TB.
- Built-in HDMI and SD card.
- Greatly improved battery life.
- The new MagSafe 3 power cord with quick charge function.
None of this is a must-have for me, especially since the 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $ 1,999 and the larger 16-inch model starts at $ 2,499. Since my existing MacBook Pro still has an 18-month warranty, it’s just not worth it for me to switch to the new devices, no matter how tempting they are.
SEE: Why I am buying the new MacBook Pro from Apple (TechRepublic)
If you’re a creative professional who spends all day using photo or video editing software where time is literally money, none of this applies to you. Go ahead and acquire this beautiful new machine and use it in all its glory.
But what if you have an existing MacBook Pro that’s only a few years old? I don’t think this new machine is a must have. Perhaps it’s because computers (and smartphones) are now getting so advanced that the extra power alone isn’t the must-have it could have been 10 or 15 years ago.
If you’re just a regular user, even a power user like me, a two-year-old MacBook Pro is fine. And I’ll be spending my money on the new iPhone 13 Pro Max instead.
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