Skip to main content

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Apple quietly launches unprecedented price cuts to its best MacBook Pros

Apple’s top of the line MacBook Pro 16-inch and 14-inch models are some of the best laptops the company has ever made — but they’re extremely expensive machines that rarely come down in price.

However, Apple has quietly dropped the price on these sought-after laptops with some surprising price cuts.

The back lid of the MacBook Pro.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Spotted by MacRumors, Apple slashed pricing on the refurbished 14 and 16-inch models with both the M1 Pro and Max variants. Specifically, the prices have been reduced by about 15% off the regular pricing for brand-new units. MacRumors points out that previous refurbished M1 MacBook Pro models were about 10% off. And yes, while these are not brand new products, Apple’s refurbished product program still come with warrantees and even brand new packaging.

Recommended Videos

A base 14-inch model is going for $1,709 (normally about $2,000) while a refurbished M1 Max equipped 16-inch MacBook Pro is now going $2,989 (normally about $3,500). That’s a drastic price decrease and may entice anyone who was on the fence about getting one.

For comparison, the refurbished 14-inch is about the same price as adding the 16GB memory option to a brand new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip. Mind you, the base 14-inch comes with 16GB out of the box while having a better GPU, webcam, bigger screen, and overall design. It’s almost a no-brainer to go with the 14-inch if you’re shopping for a pro-level MacBook.

A side profile of the 2021 MacBook Pro.
Digital Trends

The price reductions could mean an update to the 14/16-inch MacBook Pro models is right around the corner. Though the year is winding down, there’s still time for Apple to release M2 Pro/Max variants of the high-end MacBook Pro models, and they could launch as soon as early November. That said, it may not be the best idea to wait for the M2 models for now, given some of the speculation.

Even if Apple updates the 14/16-inch models with M2 Pro/Max chips, the performance on the 2021 MacBook Pro models was outstanding and would likely accomplish most professional tasks with ease (and save you a bit of money with these discounts).

Additionally, the new models will likely retain many of the design features of the 2021 models such as the screen, port selection, and overall design. Apple doesn’t usually change the design for several years.

David Matthews
Former Digital Trends Contributor
David is a freelance journalist based just outside of Washington D.C. specializing in consumer technology and gaming. He has…
The MacBook Air proves you don’t need AI to create a world class laptop
Apple MacBook Air 13 M4 front angled view showing display and keyboard.

Our review of the M4 MacBook Air has just dropped, and it’s fair to say it’s one of the best laptops money can buy. For the first time ever, we gave it full marks and a five-star score, with our reviewer dubbing it “as close to perfect” as any laptop they’d seen. There’s no question that it raises the bar for thin and light laptops.

You name it, the MacBook Air has it: impressive performance that belies its lightweight design, build quality that will stand the test of time, a quiet and fanless operation that ensures you can work in peace, a comfortable keyboard and expansive trackpad, and so much more.

Read more
I went hands-on with Apple’s M4 MacBook Air and the app performance blew me away
M4 MacBook Air

Apple is marching in with new products for the spring, including a new MacBook Air featuring the M4 chip, a new iPad Air, uniquely featuring the M3 chip, and a new Mac Studio desktop, with M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip options. While enthusiasts await the launch of the coveted M5 chip series devices, including the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year– the tech brand has brought in the expected refresh of its early-year devices. Notably, the MacBook Air and iPad Air see yearly upgrades, while the Mac Studio is getting its first revamp since 2023.

While largely maintaining their external designs, most changes to the devices can be found by way of hardware and AI support upgrades. Apple is looking to showcase Apple Intelligence app integration as functional and accessible to users. The brand is competing on the market with many on-device AI experiences, such as Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs and Chromebooks inundated with Google Gemini. 

Read more
10 years ago today, Apple launched a revolutionary MacBook that failed spectacularly
An Apple 12-inch MacBook on a desk.

Ten years ago today, Apple unveiled the 12-inch MacBook to the world, claiming it had “reinvented the notebook” for the better. The laptop almost instantly divided opinion, with fans and detractors at each other’s throats from the start. And sure, it was by no means perfect, but look a little closer and I think you’ll find a device that has had a monumental impact on the world of computing -- not just on Apple, but on the industry as a whole.

The 12-inch MacBook is often seen as a flop and as a product emblematic of the excesses of Apple’s Jony Ive era, where the design guru’s penchant for thinness and lightness ruled all. The fact that this MacBook was discontinued after just four years is seen as proof of this idea.

Read more