Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
The M2 Pro MacBook Pro is a successful follow - up to the M1 Pro theoretical account . If you ’re still using an Intel - base MacBook Pro , it ’s time to upgrade . Heck , the HDMI 2.1 , Wi - fi 6E , and Bluetooth 5.3 climb may tempt M1 Pro MacBook Pro owners to endue .
Best Prices Today: Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M2 Pro, 2023)
In the surrender of 2021 , Apple’s14- and 16 - inch MacBook Prosmade a idealistic incoming into the Mac lineup , and made an instant impact , combine processing prowess with a sophisticated redesign . If you were aching for a fresh high - end MacBook Pro , the 2021 release offered soothing relief .
But maybe you adjudicate to wait a little longer . Maybe you reckon it would be wise to allow a coevals of Apple Si pass so the fellowship can knead out the kinks and app developers can catch up with aboriginal software . Or possibly you just were n’t convert this whole thing was really blend to work , despite Apple ’s preceding success with Si transitions .
Whatever the cause , let me secernate you , for most people , there is n’t a reason to wait any longer . The changeover has been suave for the most part , tons of aboriginal software from third - party developer are uncommitted , and the M - series SoC is here to stay .
Actually , you benefit from waiting , because the young M2 Pro / Max offer a dainty functioning encouragement over the previous M1 Pro and M1 Max machines . On top of that , you get a much - need acclivity for HDMI and futureproofing withWi - Fi 6Eand Bluetooth 5.3 – three features that might even be enough for current M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro owners to upgrade .
Foundry
This revaluation accept a look at the fresh 16 - inch MacBook Pro . Here ’s the lowdown of the specifications of our review unit :
This model takes the $ 2,499 standard configuration and upgrades the memory from 16 GB to 32 GB ( a $ 400 rise ) and the SSD from 512 GB to 2 TB ( another $ 400 ) . That brings the full monetary value of our review unit to $ 3,499 .
14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro: Brief overview
Apple offers the MacBook Pro with theM2 Pro and M2 Maxin different CPU , GPU , and memory setup , and it can get puzzling to separate out what ’s included with each chip at each received conformation . Here ’s an overview of what you want to experience :
The M2 Pro in our critical review unit has a 12 - pith CPU , which is fraction into 8 performance CORE and 4 efficiency CORE . In hisoverview of the M2 Pro and Max , Macworld ’s Jason Cross guide out that M2 Pro and M2 Max come along to be scaled - up adaptation of the M2 used in the new Mac mini , MacBook Air , and13 - inch MacBook Pro – these unexampled microchip do n’t use young manufacturing processes , GPUs , or anything else . The Saratoga chip that the M2 Pro replaces , the M1 Pro , had 10 CPU cores ; it had two few efficiency cores .
M2 Pro: Performance
These young laptops are all about the raw M2 Pro and M2 Max processors , so the focus of this review is mostly on the benchmark performance of the M2 Pro in our review unit . The M2 Pro ’s architecture is based on the M2 , but Apple makes enhancements to boost functioning .
Our benchmarks compare the M2 Pro ’s performance to the M1 Pro and M1 Max , as well as the M2 . For some tests , we were also able to include an older Intel - based 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
Apple proclaims a 20 percent advance for the M2 Pro over the M1 Pro , and our Geekbench 5 Multi CPU bench mark result attain that lame on the nose . Apple also say that the M2 Pro is twice as fast as the M2 , but we did n’t see that in Geekbench . In Geekbench ’s Single central processing unit bench mark , the M2 Pro had a similar grievance as the M2 , which is n’t surprising . This test call for a single CPU core , and since the M2 Pro and M2 basically have the same type of single cores , the termination will be the same .
The 20 pct melioration appears again in the Cinebench R23 Multi Core CPU tests . Cinebench , which do 3D modeling , is the kind of benchmark where flake with more CPU cores , the better . This bench mark is a honorable indicator of performance for the intended purpose of the M2 Pro MacBook Pro : graphics professional who put lumbering demands upon the CPU .
We used Handbrake to encode theTears of Steelvideo from 4 KiB to a 1080p H.265 file . When doing the encryption completely in software system using the H.265 ( x265 ) video encoder , the M2 Pro showed a 37 pct speed improvement over the M1 Pro . With Handbrake ’s H.265 ( VideoToolBox ) encoder , the app shoot reward of uncommitted ironware acceleration , so when VideoToolBox was used , the M2 Pro had a 20 percentage improvement .
With the M2 , Apple introduced sweetening to the medium engine in the CPU to better sound and video encryption and decode . The M2 Pro performed our iMovie 4 K video recording export at Best ( ProRes ) quality in half the clock time it took the M2 , but compared to the M1 Pro , the results were the same . This task involve writing to the SSD , which has an event on the improvement between the two Pro Saratoga chip . When export the same TV at High timber ( not ProRes ) , the performance was much the same between the M2 , M1 Pro , and M2 Pro .
Apple includes a USB-C to MagSafe cable and a 140-watt power adapter.
Before doing the iMovie exports , we measured the amount of clock time it lease to perform a stabilize rickety video purpose . The M2 MacBook Pro demonstrated a noticeable improvement of 28 percent over the M1 Pro .
The 20 pct melioration continues in the Blackmagic Disk Test write bench mark for the SSD . Interestingly , the 2 TB SSD in our brushup unit of measurement post a read score that was 7 percent slower than the 1 TB SSD in the 14 - inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro that we try – that ’s small enough to be scarcely detectable . The M2 Pro ’s SSD more than doubled the public presentation of the M2 13 - inch MacBook Pro , which we test with a 1 TB SSD .
We also ran theAmorphousDiskMarkbenchmark and the M2 Pro and M1 Pro post exchangeable read outcome of 6.71GBps and 6.77GBps , respectively , while the M1 posted a read evaluation of 2.4GBps . In another SSD bench mark tool , Stibium , the M2 Pro ’s read valuation was 7.89 GBps , while the M1 Pro post 7.05GBps , and the M1 ’s read was 2.06GBps .
The Liquid Retina XDR display on the 16-inch MacBook Pro leaves quite an impression with its amazing color and detail.
M2 Pro: Graphics performance
The M2 Pro MacBook Pro has some serious GPU business leader . ( If you require more , you could get more with the M2 Max . ) We ’re used to seeing burden in even number sets , so to see the M2 Pro has a 19 - core GPU which is left ( literally)–20 GPU core would make itexactlydouble that establish in the M2 .
salary increase of the Tomb RaiderandCivilization VIare former games written for Intel and not optimized for Apple ’s Metal graphics API , but these games still see a significant boost with the M2 Pro . At each biz ’s high resolution options , Tomb RaiderandCivilization VIboth saw jumps in framerate of 27 and 30 per centum , respectively . Tomb Raideron the M2 Pro double over its framerate from the M2 .
We can also see in this bent of test that the M2 Pro ’s 19 - centre GPU create more interval between it and the 8 GB AMD Radeon Pro 5500 M GPU in the 16 - inch MacBook Pro with an Intel 2.4GHz Core i9 8 - core CPU from 2019 . Granted , that AMD GPU is three age old and obsolete , but the margin the M2 Pro created is pregnant .
Apple upgraded the HMDI port to version 2.1, which expands the ability to connect an external display.
Geekbench 5 ’s Compute benchmark tests GPU performance using OpenCL or Metal genus Apis . In both of these tests , the M2 Pro and its 19 - core GPU were 20 percent quicker than the M1 Pro and its 16 - substance GPU . Considering that lead from 16 cores to 19 essence works out to about 19 percentage more core power , the 20 percent boost settle mightily in line .
I ran several other artwork benchmarks so as to compare the public presentation between the M2 Pro and M1 Pro . These mental test came out as expected , with the M2 Pro blazing past the M1 Pro , commonly by about 20 percent , but sometimes mellow . Here ’s a list of the tests .
16-inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro: Battery and charging
Apple claim a 22 - hour barrage biography with “ Apple boob tube app motion-picture show playback ” for the M2 MacBook Pro , which is an hour longer than the M1 model it replaces . To try this call on the 100 - James Watt - hour Li - polymer battery , I played a full - concealment video on a uninterrupted loop until the battery run out – which happened27 hourslater . ( Our test is done with the video display at 150 nits , which is dimmer than the “ 8 pawl from bottom ” brightness Apple sets its video playback run . ) If you ’re die to be doing more strenuous body of work on the MacBook Pro than watching telecasting – accumulate codification , rendering graphics , creating files , and so on , so you ’ll probably need to secure in before you reach out the twenty-second hour . But still , the stamp battery life is long enough to last a day no matter what you ’re doing .
Apple includes a 140 - James Watt USB - C power adapter with the 16 - in model , while the 14 - column inch good example has a 96 - watt transcriber ( you get a 67 - watt adapter if you buy the $ 1,999 14 - inch framework ) . When you use the 140 - watt adapter with the 16 - in MacBook Pro , Apple says thatfast chargingkicks in and fills the battery up to 50 percent in 30 minutes . When I debilitate the MacBook Pro ’s barrage to examine its life story , I find out that dissipated charging works just as Apple says it would – it got to 50 per centum in just under 30 proceedings .
Apple include a USB - speed of light to MagSafe cable and a 140 - W power adapter .
Apple did make one small-scale modification with the MagSafe cable : the Space Gray model derive with the Space Gray cable that was introduced with the MacBook Air . The premature model ’s cable came in silver , irrespective of what colour laptop computer you specified .
16-inch MacBook Pro: Everything else
When Apple introduced the Apple silicon MacBook Pro in 2021 , it not only ushered in the M - serial chips to Apple ’s high-pitched - terminal laptop computer , but the fellowship also unveiled a major redesign with a new display , keyboard configuration , and kick upstairs FaceTime television camera .
answer it to say , that was a lot of fresh stuff that Apple brought us two years ago , so it ’s not surprising to find out that Apple did n’t change much this time around . The designing and keyboard incline to mystify around for several generations , and Apple will promote displays when young technologies become more practicable at an low-priced scale , which think it takes a few years .
luckily , Apple did an excellent business with these features , which I covered in great detail in my review ofthe 14 - inch MacBook Proand summarized below .
The Liquid Retina XDR exhibit on the 16 - inch MacBook Pro forget quite an mental picture with its amazing colouring and detail .
Design : The typeface is made of recycled aluminum , and it feel great in your hand . It has the facial expression and feel of a sumptuousness production .
Display : The Liquid Retina XDR ( mini - LED ) exhibit is bright , provides fantabulous contingent , and supports ProMotion , which adjust the refresh rate based on what ’s on the screen . It ’s the good video display Apple has used on a laptop computer to engagement .
The display , however , still has a nick , a module at the center top of the display that put up the FaceTime camera . I ’ve never been bothered by it and it does n’t infringe on the workspace below it . While the iPhone 14 Pro uses itsDynamic Islandinterface with its display notch , the MacBook Pro does not . mayhap someday Apple will update macOS with a Mac version of Dynamic Island , but in the meantime , you could findutilitiesthat can hide or highlight the notch .
FaceTime camera : Since we were talking about the nick … this is the one exception to Apple ’s splendid job that I mentioned in the beginning . The 1080p FaceTime camera is the most disappointing part of what is considered Apple ’s Prime Minister laptop for professional . Its image quality is painfully miss compared to third - company cameras that are usable . If you have an iPhone 8 or XR or later , use Continuity Camerainstead .
Keyboard : It ’s the same as with the 2021 mannikin , with full - sized Function keys instead of the Touch Bar . If the Touch Bar is a make - or - bust feature film for you , your only pick is to go with the 13 - inch MacBook Pro with an M2 chip .
16-inch MacBook Pro: HDMI gets an upgrade
The new 14- and 16 - column inch MacBook Pro has the same ports as before : 3 Thunderbolt 4 / USB - C ports , a MagSafe 3 port , a headphone jack , an SDXC poster slot , and an HDMI port . However , Apple did upgrade the HDMI embrasure from supporting variant 2.0 of the spec to version 2.1 .
Apple upgraded the HMDI port to reading 2.1 , which expands the ability to connect an international display .
That small HDMI upgrade is a vainglorious deal because it let more flexibleness as to the kind of outside presentation you could use . With HDMI 2.0 , you could link up one display with up to 4 K solution at 60Hz and that ’s it . With the new HDMI 2.1 embrasure on an M2 Pro MacBook Pro , you could connect :
Since the MacBook Pro is used by mental object professionals , this new external display reenforcement is a key feature . Apple in all probability lost some potential MacBook customer due to subpar HDMI living . This rise could get those client back .
Should you buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro?
The original introduction of the M1 Pro / Max MacBook Pro over two geezerhood ago brought with it a net ton of exhilaration . It was n’t just a fresh manikin . With a new chip , new design , and new features , it was also a fresh imaginativeness for the intersection line .
Compared to that sacking , the unveiling of the M2 Pro climb is down - key – some might even say mundane . Maybe that ’s unjust since the 2021 edition was so good and Apple did n’t really need to change much . But there are still valuable update in addition to the new chip , such as HDMI 2.1 , Wi - Fi 6E , and Bluetooth 5.3 that make the new 16 - inch Pro an upgrade - suitable press release .
In short , the M2 MacBook Pro is a successful follow - up to the M1 model . If you ’re still using an Intel - base laptop and have the money to invest in a new MacBook Pro , there ’s only one expert reason why you should n’t upgrade : you have important computer software that wo n’t run natively on Apple silicon . And if that ’s the case , you demand to figure out what to do about it , because Apple silicon is here to stay . The earlier you may fall in the gyration , the in effect .
If you already invested in an M1 Pro or M1 Max MacBook Pro , you could plausibly wait for the M3 or M4 model to arrive , unless that 20 percentage performance rise is absolutely what you need . While the HDMI climb is crucial , you ’ve probably already adjusted to make your display setup oeuvre . And you wo n’t feel the motivation for Wi - Fi and Bluetooth upgrades for a while . But if you have a few thousand bucks saved and have been hold off for this generation to arrive , your money will dead be well spent .
For more help decidingwhich Mac to buyread ourBest MacBookadvice and ourcomparison of all the MacBook Pro models . And for the best damage be sure to tally out ourBest MacBook Pro dealsround up .
