Apple MacBook Pro 2021 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop 2021 Apple M1 Pro Review
The 2021 MacBook Pro M1 Pro offers a premium Apple experience and a stunning screen for under $1,000, but its weak GPU and small storage are real compromises.
Overview
This 2021 MacBook Pro with the M1 Pro chip is a solid workhorse that's still kicking. It's got a killer screen and enough power for most professional tasks, all wrapped up in that classic Apple build. For under a grand, it's a tempting option if you're not chasing the latest silicon.
Performance
The 10-core M1 Pro CPU is still plenty fast for daily work and creative apps, landing in the 64th percentile. The 32GB of RAM is a huge plus for multitasking. The big catch is the integrated GPU, which scores in the 18th percentile. It's fine for basic stuff, but don't expect to game or do serious 3D work. The 512GB storage is also on the smaller side.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong reliability (96th percentile) 95th
- Strong screen (84th percentile) 87th
- Strong ram (70th percentile) 76th
- Strong port (68th percentile) 69th
Cons
- Below average gpu (18th percentile) 19th
- Below average storage (27th percentile)
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Apple M1 Pro |
| Cores | 10 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 32 GB |
| Storage | 512 GB |
Display
| Size | 14" |
| Resolution | 3024 |
Connectivity
| Thunderbolt | 3 x Thunderbolt 4 |
| HDMI | 1 x HDMI |
| Wi-Fi | WiFi 6 |
Physical
| OS | macOS |
Value & Pricing
At around $980, the value proposition is interesting. You're getting a premium Apple laptop with a great screen and a ton of RAM for less than a grand. The trade-off is you're buying older tech. The CPU is a few generations behind, and the storage is small. If those specs fit your needs, it's a decent deal.
vs Competition
Compared to a newer M4 MacBook Pro, you're giving up a lot of CPU and GPU performance for a much lower price. Against a Windows machine like the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s, you lose some upgradeability and raw power for the Apple ecosystem and that superior screen. The Asus Zenbook Duo offers wild dual-screen flexibility this MacBook can't touch, but the MacBook's build and screen are better. For gaming, forget it—the MSI Vector or Gigabyte AORUS will run circles around this.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro 2021 Apple MacBook Pro Laptop 2021 Apple M1 Pro | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M4 Max, Space Black) | ASUS ROG Flow ASUS ROG Flow - AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 AMD Radeon | Lenovo ThinkPad Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 16" UHD+ OLED Touchscreen | MSI Creator MSI Creator M14 A13V A13VF-081US 14" 2.8K Laptop, | HP ZBook HP 14" ZBook Ultra G1a Multi-Touch Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Apple M1 Pro | Apple M4 Max | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H | Intel Core i7 13620H | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 |
| RAM (GB) | 32 | 36 | 128 | 64 | 32 | 128 |
| Storage (GB) | 512 | 1024 | 1024 | 2048 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 14" 3024x1964 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 13.4" 2560x1600 | 16" 3840x2160 | 14" 2880x1800 | 14" 2880x1800 |
| GPU | - | Apple M4 Max 32-core | AMD Radeon 8060 | NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | AMD Radeon |
| OS | macOS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | Windows 11 Pro, English | Windows 11 Home (MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business) | Windows 11 Pro |
| Weight (kg) | - | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 72 | 70 | 90 | - | 74 |
Verdict
Buy this if you're a business user, student, or creative pro who needs a reliable, well-built laptop with an amazing screen for everyday tasks and light creative work. Don't buy it if you need serious graphics power, lots of storage, or want to play modern games.