The Apple M2 Chip Makes the 13-inch MacBook Pro a Better Ultrabook
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Despite its familiar looks, the latest 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro is a monumental addition to the tech giant's portable computer lineup. It's the first MacBook to hit the shelves with Apple's remarkable M2 chip — a follow-up to the groundbreaking M1 that altered my expectations about power and efficiency in the 13-inch MacBook Pro from late 2020.
Apple unveiled the MacBook Pro during this year's WWDC keynote alongside an all-new, thoroughly redesigned MacBook Air with the M2 chip. It has the same $1,299 starting price as the MacBook Pro that precedes it and is packed with a ton of exciting features that make it well worth its price.
Key Specs
• Apple M2 chip with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine
• 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone Technology, P3 color gamut
• 8/16/24GB of RAM; up to 2TB SSD
• Touch Bar and Touch ID fingerprint sensor
• Two USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 compatibility
Apple MacBook Pro with M2 chip
amazon.com
$1252.50
Save for the Apple M2 chip and a few invisible hardware upgrades, the look of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is identical to the M1 iteration. It has the same physical measures and instantly recognizable design, dating back to MacBook Pro computers from 2016. Apple gave its laptop lineup a significant refresh with a much better Retina display and keyboard in early 2020, and the setup has remained the same in the 2022 version.
By offering an industry-altering mix of high-level performance and long battery life, the MacBook Pro with the Apple M1 chip has been the best 13-inch notebook since its debut. After a week as my go-to computer, the sequel proved to be a fantastic product and, again, the best 13-inch laptop in its price range and well beyond. Throughout my testing, I focused on evaluating its hardware performance and battery life — and they did not disappoint.
The M2 Chip Explained
The M2 chip utilizes a new crop of the cutting-edge 5-nanometer technology, which allows Apple to pack 20 billion transistors — 4 billion more than those crammed into the revolutionary M1 — into a minuscule bit. The 25% transistor increase gives you a significant expansion in memory bandwidth, which improves the M2's multitasking capabilities, making products that rock the chip even more futureproof.
As a result, the M2 is more capable than the previous generation without sacrificing energy efficiency. Its machine learning-focused Neural Engine is also 40% faster, guaranteeing an improved experience with macOS apps — from productivity to gaming titles.
The beefier GPU, Neural Engine, and memory bandwidth of the Apple M2 chip improve the notebook's processing of high-resolution video streams, making it more proficient for editing video than the M1. The optional increase of unified memory by 50% (24 versus 16GB) also takes the M2's multitasking potential to a new level. The notebook can easily handle demanding workflows like compiling code or processing high-resolution photos and video, to name a couple, without interrupting another project you are working on.
Combined with a macOS platform tailor-made for Apple silicon, the M2 chip helped the starter MacBook Pro vanquish all the workflows I threw at it. It instantly opened apps and switched between 10-plus browser tabs, Slack, a document editor, email and Twitter clients, iMessage, and Pixelmator Pro. I also used the last-mentioned image editor to simultaneously process large image files without activating the notebook's cooling fans.
To discover how the Apple M2 chip stacks up against the competition, I sifted through specs to compare the component to the latest 12th-generation Intel Core i7 processor for mobile computers. The top-shelf PC component is developed via a less sophisticated 7-nanometer lithography, so it's not even close to the M2 in terms of memory bandwidth and energy efficiency.
Simply put, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is faster and mightier than any similarly priced PC, even in its entry-level spec.
Incredible Battery Life (Once Again)
The Apple M1-equipped MacBook Pro made a lasting impression while I tested it by delivering the longest mixed-use battery life in the business by an unsurmountable margin. Even though it brings significant power gains at unchanged battery capacity, the endurance of the M2-packing follow-up is just as incredible. After entire workdays of using the notebook without being mindful of its screen brightness, I was consistently left with at least 40% remaining battery — which is unparalleled to its competitors.
Like the M1 it replaces, the M2 chip has four performance and efficiency cores, allowing it to maintain an equilibrium between power and efficiency. Remarkably, you might even be able to skip daily charging sessions with this laptop, depending on your usage patterns.
Recharging the notebook's battery via its USB-C adapter is a speedy process. The bundled accessory has a 67-watt power output which is a tad higher than the 61-watt charger of the M1 MacBook Pro. Depending on your charging needs, you can opt for more compact third-party adapters and battery packs.
More Noteworthy Upgrades
Apple upgraded the 13-inch MacBook Pro’s stereo speakers with support for spatial audio playback. When I played Dolby Atmos-enhanced content on Apple Music while I tested the notebook, the new audio setup made it sound like a bigger device. However, its speakers are not on the same level as the multidriver setup of the much pricier 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Support for high-impedance wired headphones — a groundbreaking feature of the range-topping MacBook Pro notebooks — is hands down my favorite audio improvement of the 13-inch version. I enjoyed using a pair of Sony cans without having to use a USB amplifier. Of course, the laptop also offers support for spatial audio playback with AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max.
The trio of studio-quality microphones allowed the Pro to perform superbly during FaceTime, Webex, and Zoom calls. Still, the notebook lacks a Full HD FaceTime camera sensor, even though the cheaper MacBook Air with M2 chip has one.
The above hardware feature was notably missing in the 2020 MacBook Pro with an M1 chip. Thankfully, you will soon be able to seamlessly use your iPhone as a high-quality MacBook webcam with the upcoming macOS Ventura, so the lack of a Full HD sensor in the 13-inch Pro is not a dealbreaker.
Wrap-Up
Adding the Apple M2 chip made the latest MacBook Pro a better take on a fantastic product, so you shouldn't let its familiar design trick you. This is hands down the best 13-inch laptop for the money, and I'd recommend it in a heartbeat to anyone looking for an uncompromising amalgam of power and battery life.
I understand if you're torn between the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the slightly cheaper, sleeker, more colorful M2 MacBook Air with MagSafe and a better FaceTime camera. But remember that, as its moniker suggests, the Pro model is a better option for demanding users. Its active cooling system (a must for consistent high-level performance) and longer battery life make a strong case for choosing it over its shinier relative.
Available in silver or space gray, the $1,299 MacBook Pro comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage. You can double the latter for $200 more. Upgrading the RAM to 16 or 24GB will cost you another $200 and $400, respectively.
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