Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Computing
  3. News

Be honest. The new MacBook Pro looks great, but you don’t need it

Luke Larsen
By

The new MacBook Pro looks incredible. Nearly every aspect of the device has been redesigned or updated, and in many ways, it’s a return of the pre-2016 MacBook Pro that we all loved.

But it starts at $2,000. And for most people, it’s a waste of money.

Lifestyle image of someone using the new Macbook Pro 2021.
Image used with permission by copyright holder

I understand the temptation. We all love the idea of owning the latest and greatest gadgets, especially on the Apple front. You want the slickest design and the most cutting-edge technology.

Recommended Videos

And between the Liquid Retina XDR screen, the extended port selection, and improved webcam, there are some quality-of-life benefits that almost everyone will appreciate.

I don’t want to downplay those features, but if you’re like me, you don’t actually need a MacBook Pro as much as you might pretend you do. I spend most of my time in a web browser, not in Blender or even Adobe Premiere Pro. I don’t usually even connect to more than one external monitor.

Related

That’s where the MacBook Air comes into play, which is $1,000 cheaper than the new MacBook Pro. Thanks to the M1, the MacBook Air is a surprisingly powerful little laptop, especially if your workflow doesn’t involve heavy creative applications. And for the occasional dips into Photoshop or even Logic, the MacBook Air is surprisingly adequate at handling the workload — all while being completely fanless.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

This isn’t how things used to be. Before the M1, the MacBook Air was a sadly underpowered device. Even a Zoom call would get the low-wattage CPU all flustered. That couldn’t be different with the M1 MacBook Air. It remains so good that it even undercuts the 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 that Apple still sells.

The old 13-inch MacBook Pro was always one of Apple’s hottest sellers because it attracted the hobbyist or student audience. It didn’t actually have the performance to back up the “Pro” label — but it was an aspirational product that made the hobbyist or student feel like they were playing in the big leagues. This type of laptop is important — in fact, it’s key to Apple’s entire ethos.

The only thing that’s changed? That audience can now safely buy the much cheaper MacBook Air, and find everything they need in a laptop.

From the looks of it, Apple has finally made the MacBook Pro a true “Pro” laptop. And for most of people, that means it’s not for you.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Luke Larsen
Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
Here’s why people are raising concerns about the M3 Pro MacBook Pro
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 Max chip seen from behind.

I published my review of the M3 Max MacBook Pro earlier this week, and suffice it to say, I was pretty impressed. I'm fond of the Space Black color, and the GPU performance in particular blew me away.

But one configuration of the new MacBook Pro went a bit more under the radar -- the M3 Pro model. Apple wasn't keen on sending this exact unit out to reviewers, instead leading with its much stronger foot, the M3 Max. And while the M3 Max and Pro were a bit closer in performance in the M2 generation, this time around, it seems as if there's more of a disparity.

Read more
A new iMac Pro could still launch. Here’s what I want from it
An Apple iMac Pro in a dark room flanked by two monitors, one on either side of it.

A week ago, a shocking report emerged: Apple apparently had no plans for a larger iMac, potentially meaning the iMac Pro was dead and buried. However, opposition voices soon emerged, and the consensus now seems to be that Apple has only ruled out the 27-inch iMac, not the idea of a larger all-in-one entirely.

In fact, just yesterday, Bloomberg Mark Gurman reiterated his previous claims that a larger iMac is still in the works. That’s an exciting rumor because I’ve felt for years that the iMac isn’t quite living up to its potential. If a larger, more powerful version really is still in development, it could be a seriously impressive device. Here’s everything I want to see from it.
More raw power

Read more
The MacBook Pro M3 doesn’t have a memory problem — it has a pricing problem
The MacBook Pro open on a table in front of a couch.

Apple just upset everyone, claiming that the 8GB of Unified Memory available in the base MacBook Pro M3 is "probably analogous to 16GB on other systems."

The MacBook Pro M3 has already come under fire for only including 8GB of Unified Memory in its base configuration, which runs $1,600. MacWorld recently ran a story criticizing the 8GB of memory in the MacBook Pro M3, saying, "If 8GB will be a bottleneck for many today, imagine the performance of that non-upgradeable laptop in a few years’ time."

Read more