Isn't the actual macbook pro always like $1800 or more? It's been confusing since they were selling two different computers both called the macbook pro for so long, but the workhouse with dual fans was always this much and that wouldn't even get you the RAM bumped up to 16" specs iirc.

In addition, the MBA's minimum power draw is much lower than with the new MBPs. The M1 chip has four high efficiency cores where the M1X have only two.

However, mind that the screen brightness is much lower at 400 nits vs. 1000 nits on the new MBPs. Hence, using the laptop in the sun might be less convenient in comparison.

you get +8 GB of RAM, +256 GB SSD, a much faster CPU, and a 120 hz display for the extra $1000

These things don't cost anywhere near $1000 combined. It's a "pro" tax with the standard Apple tax on top. That extra RAM costs, what $50? The extra SSD space is maybe another $100? The display is the only wildcard here and you'll have a hard time convincing me that's an $800+ component upgrade.

If you want the M1 chip and/or want to be in the Apple ecosystem the price is probably reasonable, but in comparison to the price points of previous-gen MacBook Pros stacked against competitors, this one seems overpriced.

>That extra RAM costs, what $50? The extra SSD space is maybe another $100?

I have had this told to me endlessly. And then I see the laptops these people buy and its the cheapest machine with the highest numbers on the sales page. The laptops are abysmal quality and fail in every single metric not directly listed on the spec sheet.

There is so much more to an SSD than capacity. Along with every other component. Also take in to consideration that these components are all on the same chip which makes them significantly faster and harder to produce than the average m.2 drive as the more components on the same chip, the more likely there will be errors so those top spec chips are the top of the production batch.

Much better mic, much better camera, much better speakers, much better battery. There’s a lot more in this 2k Pro compared to Air.

On top of the speaker and battery as mentioned, the extra RAM actually has better bandwith (the M1 probably has 16x1, M1P at 8x2). Still a hefty price tag, I agree. But not out of line from their previous "true" Pros (2 fan variety).

I agree that you get a lot, and that the new laptops are great. If I was going to be using this full time as my work computer I would get it, but as my personal/fun computer the upgrades don't make sense for me.

I can't wait for my work to upgrade me to one of these :)

Is the CPU actually faster on the entry level? Both M1 and the M1 Pro have 8 cores.

Different kinds of cores. M1 has 4 performance (high power) cores and 4 efficiency (low power) cores. M1 pro base SKU has 6 high power and 2 efficiency, higher SKUs have many more performance cores

Hark to justify 2k for 512 GB of storage. I think I will go the macbook air route too. Just upgrade the storage. For the price difference I can get a mavic air 2s drone.

I’d love to have it, but OSHA requires that we don’t work too much on the laptop. So, I would need a keyboard, a large screen and a mouse…

I must not be the right audience. But would a videographist really mount videos on his laptop?

It’s a desktop replacement. Someone does all their work on it and sometimes takes it with them - it’s how I use mine.

And this can drive my four monitors so it’s a candidate for an upgrade.

Different priorities for different people.

13" and 14" are unusable for me. They're just too small.

I used to love that form factor when I was running through airports in a different country each month, which is why I'm typing this on an 11" Air. But in today's world, a bigger screen is more important.

This one has 16.2 inches, which is almost as big as the old 17-inch Mac laptops, so I've ordered one.

If I ever get back to traveling a lot, it'll be the 16" at the hotel, and then just take an iPad to the client. No need to drag a whole computer with me anymore.

It was kind of confusing the way Apple did it but with the Intel 13" Macbook Pro. There was the "2 Thunderbolt 3 ports" which started at $1299 and the "4 Thunderbolt 3 ports" model which started at $1799. Other than the ports the 4 port model had an entirely different generation CPU and the Touchbar. When you compare it to the "4 Thunderbolt" model it is replacing it is a slightly more palatable $200 increase. They are keeping the 13" M1 Macbook available as an entry level Macbook pro.

It was obvious for me when apple released the m1 13 inch pro next to the air that the 14 inch would land at the higher price point. That’s why I immediately bought the air. If I were buying a new macbook today, I would be tempted by the 14 inch pro but I would probably still buy the m1 air.

The air is still a very nice laptop. It is really fast, faster than the 9600K in my imac. And it has a beautiful screen with rich colors that I never use at max brightness indoors.

Same - I am quite glad I went for the Air

Exactly this. I use cloud VMs for heavy lifting. But if I used a laptop for even an hour every day, I would snap this $2k machine.

I just wish they had a $1000 M1 laptop with ports.

Honestly, same. I was afraid I'd regret purchasing my M1 Air last year, but my needs for a personal laptop have gotten simpler as time goes on. I want a small, thin, and light laptop that's easy to travel with. I've got a big gaming PC if I need power.

My work will probably upgrade to these when it's time to refresh our work machines, but for my own personal use the M1 Air just hits all the sweet spots.

Well, the Macbook Air at $1.0k is still better than any Macbook Pro ever made before now

I agree but coming from the perspective that the M1 Air is absolutely crazy value if you aren't constantly doing intensive tasks and if you don't mind paying less to have dongles.