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Following the reports on the new Mac mini, the first reviews of the M2 MacBook Pro have now appeared. Everyone agrees that it is a great device. But many are wondering whether it is too much Mac for the target group.
Despite a surprising number of critics complaining about the lack of a touchscreen, there is one common denominator: the older M1 models are more than enough computers for the vast majority of people, even video professionals.
Gizmodo saysthat it feels like a stopgap solution and offers only incremental changes over the M1 model.
Unlike the M2 MacBook Air, which received a Pro-like redesign with the new generation, the biggest change in the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro is the new chip. This makes the notebook a difficult sell for most since the M1 Pro was already so impressive. While it's a bigger change than the M1 series, after the disappointment of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2, the MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and Max fill a niche for power users. You can finally use the latest generation of Apple's own silicon with a fan and a modern, sleek chassis. The result is a notebook that runs through most productivity benchmarks in around two and a half minutes. Transcoding a 4K video to 1080p with Handbrake? Two minutes and 32 seconds. Rendering a BMW with Blender? Two minutes and 22 seconds, regardless of whether the laptop's CPU or GPU was used.
Laptop Mag says, it is an impressive device but too much for almost everyone, even for most video professionals.
I'm wondering if I or you should spend another $2,499 to $6,499 on Apple's latest MacBook. The answer for me and most others is a resounding no. Just because a company releases a new, shiny fruit while we're still holding the last piece they sold us doesn't mean it's time to throw our partially used fruit in the trash—and once again empty our bank account or sell an organ. I'm a content creator who likes to use a 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 chipset connected to two 4K monitors via a dock. And I can tell you that most people don't need to upgrade unless they do a lot of work for Disney, Pixar, or a major movie studio or TV network. If you have a 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or a 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2, you're safe. Take a deep breath and maybe even giggle when your friend unboxes the latest shiny MacBook Pro M2 Pro or Max. It may be shiny but you still have your kidneys, your boyfriend and can afford to feed your dog this week. You just have a new shiny laptop.
M2 MacBook Pro available from 2,399.00 euros
Loud Macworld This is the device that will make everyone who still relies on Intel switch to Apple Silicon.
Maybe you thought it would be smart to let a generation of Apple Silicon pass so the company could work out the bugs and app developers could catch up with native software. Or maybe you just weren't convinced it would work, even though Apple has successfully switched to silicon in the past. Whatever the reason, I can tell you that for most, there's no reason to wait any longer. The transition has been mostly smooth, there's plenty of third-party native software, and the M-series SoC is available long-term. In fact, it's worth the wait, as the new M2 Pro/Max offers a decent performance boost over the previous M1 Pro and M1 Max models. You also get a much-needed upgrade to HDMI and future-proofing with WiFi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3—three features that might be enough for owners of a current M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro to upgrade.
Prices for the new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro start at 2,399.00 euros. The smaller MacBook can cost up to 7,379.00 euros depending on the features. The 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro is available from 2,999.00 euros. The high-end model can cost up to 7,599.00 euros depending on the features. Delivery starts on January 24th. (Image: Apple)
- M2 Mac mini reviews: The “Mac Studio Junior”
- Next generation: Apple unveils M2 Pro & M2 Max chips
- M2 Pro & M2 Max: Apple announces new MacBook Pro models
