Apple's REALLY tempting me... MacBook Pro 14" 2021
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Promos
Use code LINUS to get 70% off a 2-year Nordpass Premium plan with one extra month FREE at nordpass.com Get your Crucial P5 Plus NVMe SSD today at: crucial.gg Apple Silicon took the world by storm with M1, but now we’ve got the next generation: M1 Pro. The 14 inch MacBook Pro is the next major redesign and Apple has gone all-out to make sure it impresses… Mostly. Buy an Apple MacBook Pro 2021: geni.us Buy an Apple MacBook Pro 13 2020: geni.us Purchases made through some store links may provide some compensation to Linus Media Group. Discuss on the forum: linustechtips.com ► GET MERCH: lttstore.com ► AFFILIATES, SPONSORS & REFERRALS: lmg.gg ► PODCAST GEAR: lmg.gg ► SUPPORT US ON FLOATPLANE: floatplane.com FOLLOW US ELSEWHERE --------------------------------------------------- Twitter: twitter.com Facebook: @LinusTech Instagram: @linustech TikTok: @linustech Twitch: twitch.tv MUSIC CREDIT --------------------------------------------------- Intro: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High Video Link: youtube.com Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi Artist Link: youtube.com Intro animation by MBarek Abdelwassaa @mbarek_abdel Monitor And Keyboard by vadimmihalkevich / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mechanical RGB Keyboard by BigBrotherECE / CC BY 4.0 geni.us Mouse Gamer free Model By Oscar Creativo / CC BY 4.0 geni.us CHAPTERS --------------------------------------------------- 0:00 Intro 0:51 Tempting industrial design 2:36 Notch your dad's MacBook 3:57 It has how many speakers? 5:08 That new display tho 6:28 Benchmarks! 9:24 Games. 10:11 Thermals and skin temperature 11:22 Battery life 12:20 Let's pop the hood 13:34 That's a lot of good... Let's talk bad 14:54 Recommendations and conclusion
The video opens with Linus detailing the unprecedented access he and his team have had to Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro line, specifically the 14 inch model. He immediately highlights the design shift toward flattened, edge-to-edge aesthetics, noting how this new silhouette enables more internal functionality compared with earlier, curvier generations. The host then pivots to the keyboard and MagSafe redesign, arguing that traditional function keys and the detachable MagSafe connector improve usability, charging safety, and overall daily practicality, while also addressing some of the criticisms around the notch display. Throughout the first major segment, Linus emphasizes how Apple’s choice of materials, build quality, and port selection,Thunderbolt 4, HDMI, SD card, and a reliable headphone jack,shape the user experience, especially for power users and professionals. He also teases the not-yet-fully-optimized media engine and discusses how the webcam and microphone fare, noting the notch housing a 1080p camera with skin-smoothing effects that can be troublesome but is overall serviceable. The discussion then shifts to the display, with praise for the 120 Hz Pro Motion panel, high brightness and mini-LED backlighting, and how this screen positions the MacBook Pro as a strong productivity and creative tool, albeit not a perfect 4K target for everyone. In the middle segment, the video dives into performance benchmarks across Cinebench, Geekbench, and various encoding tasks, illustrating that the M1 Pro models compete strongly with high-end mobile GPUs while delivering standout CPU efficiency, especially in code compilation and media processing. Linus also compares to Windows rivals like the Zephyrus and Surface Laptop Studio, noting where Apple leads and where Rosetta-based software can hinder real-world gaming performance. The latter parts explore thermals, battery life, and internal maintenance, with measurements showing hotspots under load and practical strategies to manage throttling and cooling when pushed hard. Finally, the host rounds out with a frank look at value, upgrade paths, and the trade-offs of soldered memory and storage, recommending a balanced config around 32 GB RAM and 2 TB storage for longevity, while acknowledging the steep price relative to some competitors. The video closes with a sponsor message and a nod to ongoing coverage, inviting viewers to follow future tests and chassis comparisons in the series, underscoring that Apple silicon remains compelling though not without caveats for all users.
Topics · technology · hardware reviews · consumer electronics · computers · laptops · industry analysis
Questions answered
- What are the key design changes in the 14 inch MacBook Pro 2021 according to the video?
- The video highlights flattened edges, the return of physical function keys, MagSafe charging, and a notch housing a 1080p webcam, with emphasis on improved build quality and port selection.
- How does the display performance compare in the MacBook Pro 14 2021?
- The display uses a mini LED backlight with a 120 Hz Pro Motion adaptive refresh rate, high brightness up to 1600 nits, and strong color and contrast suitable for professional work.
- What do benchmarks indicate about the M1 Pro in this model?
- Benchmarks show competitive CPU performance with strong encoding and code compilation results, placing it ahead of several mobile rivals and close to desktop-class workloads in some tasks.
- What are the main caveats mentioned about value and connectivity?
- Caveats include the high starting price, soldered memory and storage limiting upgrade paths, and some software compatibility issues under Rosetta for certain apps.