MacBook Pro Review

November 2022
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'You have something which is unlike any computer I have ever used before.'

After waiting years for the rumored MacBook Pro redesign, I can say I am really happy with the overall product and my decision to wait for it. The outgoing design remained unchanged from 2008, and coupled with the lackluster, hot-running Intel chips, it left quite a lot to be desired. So here’s my take on the not-so-new 2021 MacBook Pro after having mine for nearly a year.

By far the biggest change is that at long last, Apple made a drastic change from their previous design. With the 2021 MacBook Pro, they have created a more square design that is somewhat thicker. However, I'm sure you are familiar with the appearance of this device, so I'm just going to mention the things that I find important.

Most notably are the square edges, they tend to dig into your wrist in a rather painful way when you use the palm rests. This is probably the most annoying aspect of the whole laptop.

The thickness of this device does not bother me at all, as it is still portable while allowing for the new MagSafe 3 connector, which is amazing. It has unrivalled strength, which, if you pull it straight, you can have a tug-of-war, and it won't come out. I actually did this.

Magsafe


The new keyboard on the MacBook Pro is the best I have ever used. The backlight complements the black shell really well. There is a much-improved tactile feel to the keys over the infamous 'butterfly' keyboard, and it has decent key travel.

The new screen is absolutely phenomenal; the colours are amazing, and the high pixel density means you will never see a pixel. The standout feature is the variable refresh rate, which goes up to 120Hz.

This makes the MacBook feel like something else.

The MacBook Pro no longer feels like a computer. Everything you're used to changes with this device. The high refresh rate means that moving through the operating system has never felt so fluid, animations are graceful, and prolonged use is effortless. Couple this with the high-speed Solid State Drive, and you have something unlike any computer I have ever used before. I cannot stress this enough; when you're used to ghosting windows, spinning wheels, and long loading times, the MacBook Pro is a breath of fresh air.

Manolis Poniris 2024