MacBook Pro (2021) vs. MacBook Pro (2022): Clear choice?
M1 Pro and M1 Max arrive
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
Pros
New design
Choice of SoC
More CPU, GPU, and everything else
Cons
Doesn’t have a Touch Bar
Less battery life
Expensive
Heavier
The 14-inch MacBook Pro is a beast with all of the latest Apple laptop features. Still, it’s going to cost you at least two grand to get started, which is much more than the 13-inch model.
Still a powerful choice
13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)
Pros
Decent starting price
Comes with Apple M2 SoC
Has Touch Bar
More battery life
Cons
Inferior camera
Storage limits
Less of everything except battery life
Display size isn’t the only thing separating this model from the 14-inch model. That doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t consider this one, however. Still, it’s probably not the best choice for most.
There has been some big changes made to the MacBook Pro lineup in recent years thanks to the introduction of Apple silicon in 2020. Two of those changes are presented here. On one side you have the 14-inch MacBook Pro that was introduced in 2021. On the other, the 13-inch 2022 MacBook Pro. Though both include the “Pro” label, only one of these deserves it as you’ll read below. Both laptops are among our favorite Macs on the market.
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) vs. 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022): Breaking it down
When it comes to the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021), nearly everything is better than the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022), from its display size and quality to its system-on-a-chip to its memory and storage options. The result is perhaps one of the biggest jumps between two MacBook Pro models in the history of the product.
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)
Cost
From $1,999
From $1,299
Display
14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display
13.3-inch Retina
Resolution
3024×1964 pixels
2560×1600 pixels
Security
Touch ID
Touch Bar with Touch ID
CPU
Up to 10-core
8-core
GPU
Up to 32-core
10-core
Memory
16GB M1 Pro
32GB M1 Pro
64GB M1 Max
8GB M1
8GB M2
16GB M2
24GB M2
Storage
512GB
1TB
2TB
4TB
8TB
256GB
512GB
1TB
2TB
Ports
Three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports
HDMI port
SDXC card slot
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
Camera
1080p FaceTime HD camera
720p FaceTime HD camera
Audio
High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers
Stereo speakers with high dynamic range
Headphone jack
3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones
Dimensions
0.61 x 12.31 x 8.71 inches
0.61 x 11.97 x 8.36 inches
Weight
3.5 pounds
3.0 pounds
Battery Life
17 hours
20 hours
MagSafe & Fast Charging
Yes
No
On the 14-inch model, you’ll find an M1 Pro or M1 Max, including CPU up to 10-core and GPU up to 32-core. This compares to 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU on the smaller model. Moving onto memory and storage, the 2021 model offers 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of memory vs. 8GB, 16GB, or 24GB on the 13-inch model. Storage sizes on the larger version include 512GB, 1TB, 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB. On the other, your choice comes down to 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 4TB.
Despite being a few months older, the 14-inch MacBook Pro offers significant exhancements not seen on the other one. Starting with the display, 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) has the first Liquid Retina XDR display on a MacBook Pro with a resolution of 3024×1964 pixels. On the 13-inch model, it’s a general Retina display with 2560×1600 pixels. The 2021 MacBook Pro also includes a better FaceTime camera system. And yes, MagSafe is back on this model, alongside three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, an HDMI port, and an SDXC card slot.
There are a few areas where the 13-inch MacBook Pro bests the 14-inch model. First, the newer version is 0.5 pounds lighter. Second, it also offers three more hours of battery life between charges. However, it’s the older model that comes with MagSafe, which provides fast charging up to 50% in just 30 minutes.
Finally, there’s Touch Bar, a long-suffering MacBook Pro feature that’s not found on either 14- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, but remains on the 13-inch version. It’s up to you to decide whether this is a pro or con.
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) vs. 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022): Which should you buy?
It’s obvious which of the two MacBook Pro models is better — and it’s not the 2022 version. From a more prominent and better display to significantly improved internals, the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) is a cutting-edge beast that is now (along with the 16-inch model) the best MacBook Pro on the market.
And yet, there’s no denying the cost of admission is much higher for the 14-inch model. At the entry point, you’ll save $700 by going a little bit smaller. For that, you’ll still receive an M2 series SoC and one excellent laptop.
Who should buy the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)?
For most folks, spend the extra cash and go with the newest model. As a result, you’ll own the latest and greatest and have more ways to customize your purchase. Yes, you’ll be spending more, but if more speed, memory, and storage are needed, it will be worth it.
Who should buy the 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)?
If you’re looking to save some cash, don’t need 4TB or 8TB of storage or increased memory, and really like Touch ID, go with the 13-inch MacBook Pro. You’ll get better battery life, which is the most important factor for some buyers.
Powerful computing for all
14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
The best, period
From $1,999 at Apple
From $1,999 at B&H Photo
From $1,799 at Best Buy
The 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021) comes with an M1 Pro or M1 Max SoC that’s fast, secure, and available with the most memory and storage options. Did we mention that incredible display and that it comes with MagSafe?!
More budget-friendly
13-inch MacBook Pro (2022)
There’s still reason to love
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (2022) offers better battery life, Touch Bar, and significant savings versus the newer other model. It comes down to what you want and how much you wish to spend.
