The MacBook Pro 13 is a forget fry , the only remaining Cartesian product in Apple ’s notebook folk without a redesign physical body and upgraded spectacles . Besides receiving a fresh central processing unit , this latest mannequin was exit untouched . As such , this review is as much about Apple ’s M2 chip shot as it is about the newest version of the MacBook Pro 13 — what gains the central processor lend are the only noted differences between this laptop computer and the mannequin we retrospect in 2020 .
Back then , we considered the MacBook Pro 13 a worthwhile upgrade for microcomputer user recollect of make the substitution or owners of late Intel - based Mac notebooks . But oh , how the prison term have change . Since the foundation of theMacBook Pro 14and MacBook Pro 16 , this entry - level model has miss some luster . And when a newMacBook Airstole its limelight at WWDC this class , we raise our eyebrows and started wondering what purpose the MacBook Pro 13 served now that there is a similarly price model with arguably better characteristic .
I ’m not quick to rule this contender out only , but the hearing for the entry - level Pro is constringe . What was once the clear option for originative pros need a truly portable system can now only be recommend to those who either do n’t want to splurge on a MacBook Pro 14 , ask the absolute longest barrage spirit , or run demanding labor for extended periods .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
MacBook Pro 13 ( 2022 )
Apple ’s MacBook Pro 13 is buoy by a speedy M2 processor but most users are better off jumping ship for the unexampled MacBook Air .
What is it ?
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Apple ’s debut - level ' Pro ' laptop computer
monetary value
scratch line at $ 1,299 ; reviewed at $ 1,899
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
pro
Blistering performance , category - leading battery life , Great keyboard / trackpad , Outstanding build quality , Slim design , Bright display
con
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Meh 720p webcam , Few ports , thick bezels by today ’s standards , What ’s the Touch Bar still doing here ? Some out-of-date specs , New MacBook Air is a better choice for most
MacBook Pro 13 price and configurations
The MacBook Pro starts at the same $ 1,299 price point as the previous model . That fundament configuration gets you the M2 CPU with a 10 - core GPU , 8 GB of RAM , and a 256 GB SSD . Jumping to 16 GB of RAM ( which I recommend doing ) costs another $ 200 , and the 24 GB version cost another $ 200 on top of that . Similarly , replicate depot capacity cost an extra $ 200 for each upgrade .
The configuration Apple sent me , with an M2 , 16 GB of RAM , and a 1 TB SSD , costs $ 1,899 , or $ 100 less than a groundwork MacBook Pro 14 with an M1 Pro check , the same amount of tup , and half the storage ( 512 GB ) . You ’ll expend $ 2,199 on the MacBook Pro 14 with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD .
We need to talk about MacBook Air pricing as well . Apple still betray the M1 variant for $ 999 , or you’re able to pay $ 1,199 for the novel M2 edition . At its base price , you get an M2 chip but only with an 8 - center GPU . It ’s another $ 100 to get the 10 - centre processor , in effect making the unexampled MacBook Pro and MacBook Air the same price .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Similar engine, two more cylinders
I wo n’t neutralize your prison term : the M2 central processor power the MacBook Pro 13 is a solid upgrade over the M1 chip . But unlike that first attempt , this is no Apocalypse . Remember , the M2 is essentially a refresh , and proceed to be position below the M1 Pro , M1 Max , and M1 Ultra .
On paper , the M2 is quite similar to the M1 : a 5 - nanometer processor sporting an eight - core CPU dissever between four performance cores and four efficiency inwardness . Improvements include two extra GPU cores , support for up to 24 GB of store ( up from 16 GB of RAM ) with 100GB / s of retention bandwidth ( a 50 % raise ) , and a faster neuronal engine . Apple claim these enhancement leave in 18 % faster CPU performance and 35 % faster GPU amphetamine over the M1 . That ’s purportedly enough oomph to playback 11 4 K or two 8 kelvin streams at the same time ( because why the hell not ? ) , whereas the M1 could do about five 4 K stream before trammel .
Our tests confirm those claims , with the M2 buffalo chip propelling the MacBook Pro 13 to a Geekbench 5 grievance of 8,603 , or about 15.2 % above the old model ( 7,470 ) . While nowhere near the MacBook Pro 14 ( 12,663 ) with M1 Max or the beefier AMD poker chip found in gaming laptops like theAsus Zephyrus G14(9,830 ) , the MacBook Pro outmuscled peers like theMicrosoft Surface Laptop 4(6,643 ) andLenovo Yoga 9i(7,259 ) with the latest Intel Core i7 - 1260P.
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Rendering a 3D prototype in the Blender app , the M2 need 4 minutes and 35 seconds using the central processor and 4:36 using the GPU . That ’s a great resolution overall , coming in at nearly a minute and a one-half faster than the Yoga 9i ( 6:00 ) and outpacing the rapid Surface Laptop 4 ( 4:48 ) . For reference , the MacBook Pro 14 needed only 3:32 and the Core i9 - equippedZenbook 14X OLEDwrapped up in 3:26 .
For some reason , Apple ’s M - series processors do n’t do well on our video transcoding mental test , which is when we convert a 4 special K clip to 1080p using H.264 . It took the MacBook 17 second and 7 seconds , a tedious answer by any measure . After some inquiry , I changed the picture encoder to H.264 ( Video Toolbox ) and the MacBook Pro zipped to a fourth dimension of 4:03 . That ’s one of the firm times we ’ve ever clocked , behind only the Zephyrus G14 ( 3:03 ) , a succinct gaming laptop . Video ToolBox , by the way , is Apple ’s downhearted - level framework that provide lineal access to hardware encoders and decoders .
During everyday economic consumption , the MacBook Pro 13 with 16 GB of RAM and a 1 TB SSD was a speedy fellow . Apps opened instantly , the high - res pic I edited for this recapitulation rendered in moment , and my embarrassing pitiful browser app tab direction did n’t affect the MacBook Pro 13 as much as it did my mental state of matter . The organisation never stuttered , and the voiced whine of the fans was only audible during my GPU examination . If I ’m nitpick , the MacBook Pro 13 now only abide up to 24 GB of RAM ( up from 16 GB ) , which is still short of the 32 GB bump on some personal computer contender .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
I used the MacBook Pro for four day , both during work and while spending a weekend on the lounge . The only hiccough I happen were — go figure — related to gaming . First , Steam would n’t plunge and it ask operating instructions posted by ahelpful Reddit userto get it go again . Once I was in , I assay the Civilization VI benchmark , only to rule that it does n’t play well with Retina displays and sets the maximum resolution to 1440 x 900 pel ( unless you mod it ) .
I was go to altercate the bench mark totally , except that even at the lower answer , the secret plan act at only 22 frame per second . Similarly , the MacBook Pro 13 play Total War : Warhammer II at 1920 x 1200 result on Ultra at only 27 fps . And so the age - previous advice is repeat : Macs are n’t nifty for gaming despite strong GPU performance for an integrate root and Apple ’s title of the M2 Macbook Air being capable to lean Resident Evil Village natively at 1080p ( something I have n’t tested yet ) .
Excellent inputs…and oh look, a Touch Bar
We all have keyboard preferences , and mine place the MacBook Pro 13 toward the top one-half of its class . My fingers straight off felt at home on the traditional layout and the dedicated invert - T pointer cay were easy to find without moving my heart from the sieve . Much better from the dreadful Butterfly switch of old , these paint are fairly well-situated thanks to their clicky feedback and snappy reactivity . As a snob about these sort of things , I should point out that the key are fairly shallow and not as bouncy and well-to-do as those on Microsoft ’s Surface Laptop 4 . Regardless , on a standardized online typewriting psychometric test , I hit 118 words per bit at a 97 % accuracy , both of which match my average .
As always , this Mac trackpad is splendid . While modern personal computer have narrow down the gap , the large , silklike quiet surface on the MacBook Pro is one of the best . Apple maximized the palm balance place to drum in the enceinte possible aerofoil , a monumental rectangle that valuate 5.2 x 3.25 inch . medallion rejection is gracefully true and gesture are action instantly . Force Touch , the tactile , pressure sensor - based engineering threaten my predilection for tactile inputs ; I ’ve become a full convert over the year – the model clicks ( which can be executed from anywhere on this surface ) are convincing and postulate just the proper amount of personnel to activate .
Above the keyboard is a familiar enemy : the Touch Bar . Likely catch one’s breath its last before being replaced with traditional key fruit is the slim rectangular OLED video display pose above the number row . Introduced to us in 2016 , the Touch Bar is arguably the most avant-garde – and divisive – feature of speech Apple had ever bring to the MacBook .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Though it has some advantages over standard keys , the Touch Bar has n’t caught on , and Apple has leave it to pine on most products . As much as I like using the skidder to change volume or screen brightness , I jibe with the majority here : the Touch Bar needs to go — lower your eyes from the screen to fumble with canonical controls is an annoyance we do n’t take in our lives .
Next to the keyboard is a power button that doubles as a little fingerprint sensing element . It swiftly and reliably log me into the system but is n’t as effortless as the facial recognition technology found on most modernistic personal computer . For whatever reason , not even the redesign MacBooks with nick have Face ID .
Wrinkles are starting to show
The MacBook Pro 13 has aged like fine wine-coloured , but this past year has contribute on a slightly turned taste . After the MacBook Air was remodel with a more modern design , the MacBook Pro 13 became Apple ’s only laptop with an older physical body . That means thick video display bezel , point aeromechanics , no notch , a smaller covert , and two familiar ( you guessed it : atomic number 47 and space grey-headed ) colouration options .
Although it has n’t been relate since 2017 , the MacBook Pro still feel like a agiotage product . A sturdy , precision - crafted machine made with a seamless unibody recycled aluminum , the MacBook Pro 13 is an attractive , extremist - portable organization that weigh just 3 pounds and measures 12 x 8.4 x 0.6 inch .
There are even thing I like about the old figure , including the tapering shape that make the MacBook Pro 13 come along slimmer than it really is . Also , the counterpoint keys look better , to my eyes , than the all - black keyboard on the young releases . Then there is the pass on the redesigned manikin , which looks like a bad haircut even if it is n’t as distracting as some folks say .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
On the other hired hand , the MacBook Pro 13 has fewer port – two Thunderbolt 4 and a headphone jack – than its larger siblings , and while it has a clean , straight - border fade , the thick - rim bezel surrounding its screen are out of fashion .
Blah on paper, good in person
To me , appearance is less of a concern than screen size . When Apple clip the bezels from its other model , it expound the screens without compromise portability . lamentably , this MacBook Pro keeps its 13.3 - inch display , which is now the smallest on any Apple notebook computer . Size apart , the 2560 x 1600 - pixel Retina display is a well one – even if it ca n’t tally the standards of today .
Everything from the college baseball World Series and the sci - fi flick Spiderhead to Google Docs and this webpage looked crisp and vivacious on this laptop computer . color popped and the screen was bright enough to use on a cafe patio on a gay day in Texas . When I got back home , my colorimeter clocked an outstanding peak brightness of 515 nits . While that ’s up there with some of the top performers , it does n’t hold a standard candle to the 1,600 nits the MacBook Pro 14 and Pro 16 are capable of reaching when playing certain HDR content . Keep in judgment that those magnanimous models will hunt at a goop of 500 nits when playing stock content .
Owners of the MacBook Pro 13 will be satisfied until they gaze at the mini - LED panels on the larger mannikin or the OLED screens becoming popular on premium personal computer ( like the Yoga 9i ) . Compared to those , this IPS screen does n’t have the same dividing line , bleak horizontal surface , or colour range . And with the MacBook Pro being stuck at 60Hz , you also pretermit out on ProMotion , Apple ’s variable refresh rate system that goes up to 120Hz on the large Pro model . This is a good display bear out by age technologies that make me question Apple ’s utilization of the condition “ Pro . ”
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Not-so-‘Pro’ specs
The same idea apply to the speakers . While the twin stereo speaker unit on the MacBook Pro sound fine , they are n’t as impressive as the quad or six - speaker systems in the other role model ( even the MacBook Air now has four speaker unit ! ) . fortuitously , Apple ’s good engineers did some wakeless lifting , tuning these dual driver to be fairly balanced . When I listened to The Head And The Heart ’s “ Paradigm , ” the midrange was crisp and the birdcall was gaudy enough to fill my home office without distorting .
However , Jessie Reyez ’s “ IMPORTED ” reveal serious limit , including a watery low end , thin midrange , and at metre piercing threefold . Fortunately , I could stop up in my Sennheiser HD650 and delight marvellous sound timbre thanks to the MacBook Pro ’s high - impedance 3.5 mm earpiece jack , which is as close as you could get to a consecrated DAC / AMP .
Another expanse where the MacBook Air has an reward over this Pro is video timbre . The MacBook Pro 13 keep on its 720p HD camera , whereas the Modern MacBook Air agree the more expensive Pro models with a 1080p webcam . I have n’t tested the Air yet , but we can assume Zoom and FaceTime calls are more detailed and less noisy than those on this 13 - inch Pro model . Even with a studio apartment light crystallize my role , the above selfie I snapped has a shroud of ocular noise . It ’s hunky-dory for casual use but that ’s about it .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Marathon winner
Price aside , the best reason to bribe the MacBook Pro 13 over the more expensive fashion model is for its record - breaking shelling life sentence . The thing just does n’t die . In fact , the battery dribble so tardily that I had to break our test to finish this review in time for the embargo . I ’m going to rebroadcast the examination and update this clause with more definitive upshot presently .
In the meantime , the laptop set down to 25 % after 11 hours and 50 minutes . Quick math puts the barrage fire life sentence at around 15 hours and 47 minutes , or well-nigh twice that of the MacBook Pro 14 ( 8:39 ) and another time of day and 45 minutes forwards of the MacBook Air ( 14:02 ) . Simply put : the barrage life is astonishing , with only the IdeaPad Slim 7 ( 17:27 ) topping that answer .
Unlike the other MacBooks , the Pro 13 charge via a standard USB - C cable instead of MagSafe . For me , this is both good and tough . While MagSafe rid up another USB - atomic number 6 port wine , it ’s dainty to be able-bodied to charge all of my gadgets using the included USB - nose candy adapter or else of being stuck with a proprietary connection . I do wish the cable system were n’t so unforesightful and the plug end so chunky .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
Should you buy the MacBook Pro 13?
see in a vacuity , the MacBook Pro 13 is a great laptop with outstanding performance and unbeatable battery biography , characteristics that put it forrader of some of its personal computer rival . Zoom out and it ’s hard to see where this simulation match within Apple ’s portfolio . The most direct rival to this incoming - level Pro is n’t the more premium variant , but rather , the MacBook Air . Not only does the Air have a broken start damage , but it has a larger display , a adept webcam , musculus quadriceps femoris speakers , more interesting color choice , a slimmer chassis , and the benefit of a traditional shortcut words .
You have to squint to see the advantage of the MacBook Pro 13 , which include slightly longer battery life , studio - quality mics , and a notch - free designing . And so we get to the bosom of this revue : why should anyone buy the MacBook Pro 13 ? It ’s all about the fans . I do n’t mean the diehards – I’m verbalise about those twirl things in the Qaeda of the MacBook that keep it nerveless under a profound workload . Need to take to the woods intensive labor for hours on end , with a budget that does n’t transcend $ 2,000 ? Then the MacBook Pro 13 is your best option if only by process of reasoning by elimination .
What ’s clear is that this entry - stratum Pro model does n’t find so “ Pro ” any longer . To put it bluntly , Apple should either contrive a major update for next year or let the new MacBook Air take its place .
MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
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MacBook Pro 13 with M2Photo: Phillip Tracy/Gizmodo
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