After announcing the next-generation 2023 MacBook Pro with new M2 Pro and M2 Max last week, the new 14-inch and 16-inch models will arrive to customers on Tuesday, Jan 17. Ahead of their arrival, the first round of reviews of the new 2023 MacBook Pro models is out from tech bloggers and YouTubers who, unanimously, praise the improved CPU and GPU performances, and longer battery life.
2023 MacBook Pro models feature the same design language as the 2021 models but they are powered by advanced M2 Pro and M2 Max chips which deliver up to 20% faster performance, can be configured with up to 96GB, HDMI 2.1 port, longer battery life, and support an 8K external display.
2023 MacBook Pro reviews: “Best combination of performance and efficiency”
Here are the reviews round-up of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2023):
TechRadar reviewed the new 16-inch model with M2 Pro and was greatly impressed by its high performance which did not drop through “all manner of tasks” and 20 hours of incredible battery life which did not need to the plugged in throughout the day.
The M2 Pro delivers such great performance that the reviewer wondered if its M2 Max was really necessary. However, the bulkiness of the laptop and its high price tag were the only two “cons” of the new 2023 MacBook Pro. Their verdict:
The MacBook Pro 16-inch (2023) is another triumph from Apple. The company is clearly comfortable with making its own chips, and while the 2023 model isn’t the gaming-changing revelation that the 2021 model was, it remains an incredibly powerful workstation laptop with an industry-leading screen and battery life.
Tom’s Guide reviewed the new 14-inch model with M2 Pro chip and was blown away by the laptop’s “blistering” performance, its mini-LED display, battery life, faster Wi-Fi 6E, and great battery life and applauded the inclusion of HDMI and SD card ports.
However, the reviewer also found the laptop to be pricey, its notch distracting, and lamented the lack of Face ID. Their verdict:
The new MacBook Pro 14-inch 2023 raises the bar for laptop performance, with the M2 Pro chip delivering incredible speed in our testing. The M2 Max is even faster, especially when it comes to graphics performance. You also get a stellar mini-LED display, plenty of ports and over 14 hours of battery life. Yes, it’s pricey, but the new MacBook Pro cannot be beat.
The Verge reviewed the new 16-inch model with M2 Max and found the next-generation “powerful” chip to be the only “significant” upgrade because of its design, keyboard, touchpad, and other features same as the 2021 model.
Having said that, the laptop’s incredible performance, battery life, “gorgeous display” and speaker got a high 9 out of 10 score and is years ahead of Windows laptops. Their verdict:
If I ran a Windows laptop company, I wouldn’t be too scared of the MacBook Pro 16 with M2 Max. What I’d be terrified of is the backlog of M1 Max and M1 Pro laptops that are about to go on big-time sale.
Even with performance aside, the MacBook Pro 16 is far ahead of most Windows laptops in areas like screen quality, audio, touchpad size, and build. And there are just so many compromises that today’s Windows workstations ask when it comes to battery life, efficiency, noise, and heat — and if you can get your hands on one of these 16-inch MacBooks, you just don’t have to worry about any of them anymore.
TechCrunch reviewed the new 14-inch model with M2 Max and said that it is a great laptop but mostly for professionals, the M2 MacBook Air is sufficient for most users. Their verdict:
It’s a reaffirmation of the “Pro” in MacBook Pro: chunky, heavy, blazingly fast, full of ports and packed with the best the company has to offer. And they’re decidedly not for everyone — not even most. I’m still going to recommend the Air for nine out of 10 people (if not more) who ask me which MacBook to buy in the coming year. If you’re that 10th person, you almost certainly already know.
Read More:
- Here are the prices of 2023 MacBook Pro and Mac mini models
- Here is the cost of AppleCare+ plan for 2023 Mac mini with M2 and M2 Pro chips
- Apple releases macOS Ventura 13.2 to all users
- Apple releases iOS 16.3 and iPadOS 16.3 to all users
- Apple releases watchOS 9.3 with Unity Mosaic watch face and more
