The MacBook Pro 13 was the only so-called Pro machine to get the new Apple-designed M1 chip and it's used it to outperform its Intel-powered predecessor in more than a few tasks.
The 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU Apple M1
helps the MacBook Pro 13 to build code in Xcode up to 2.8x faster than the
Intel 13-inch Pro, also render a complex 3D title in Final Cut Pro up to 5.9x
faster, perform ML tasks up to 11x faster and play full-quality 8K ProRes video
in DaVinci Resolve without dropping a frame. Apple hasn't specified whether
they compare to the quad-core or the dual-core 13-inch MacBook Pro - devices
with vastly differing GPU capabilities.
But a much more interesting comparison
would be between the M1-equipped MacBook Pro 13 and the M1-equipped MacBook
Air. Naturally the chipset is the same, but the Pro has a cooling fan, whereas
the Air is fanless. That alone could prove a major difference in performance.
The Pro boasts a touch bar, a brighter screen (500 vs 400 nits), better stereo
speakers, higher ("studio") quality microphones and better battery
life.
Battery life on the MacBook Pro 13 is
actually the best on any Apple laptop to date and twice that of the
Intel-equipped predecessor. Apple promises 17 hours of web browsing (2 more
than the new M1-powered MacBook Air) and 20 hours of Apple TV app movie
playback (2 hours more than the Air).
The MacBook Pro 13 with an M1 chip is on
pre-order today, starting at US$ 1,299/€ 1,413 for an 8/256GB model and US$ 1,499/€ 1,637 for the 8/512GB model. Shipments begin next week.
