It comes with 256 GB of storage, but you can upgrade to another model with an extra graphics core and 512 GB. Unless you need more storage, the extra core isn’t worth the jump in price. Instead, spend $200 more for 16 GB of RAM, which will let you run a greater number of apps simultaneously without slowdowns. My biggest gripes with this machine? The 720p webcam isn’t great. M1 and M2 Macs also natively support only one external monitor.
For Power-Hungry Port Lovers
Want the most powerful MacBooks with Apple’s silicon? Look no further than the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends)—if you can stomach the $2,000 starting price. You can choose to outfit either with Apple’s new M2 Pro or M2 Max processors.
Both models have the same chassis as their predecessors, which come equipped with mini LED screens (providing deeper blacks and rich color like on the iPad Pro), a 120-Hz refresh rate for smoother-looking screens, a physical row of function keys in place of the Touch Bar (complete with a Touch ID button), a 1080p webcam, and a six-speaker sound system. You'll also get a variety of ports including an HDMI 2.1, three USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4, an SD card slot, a high-impedance headphone jack, and a MagSafe charging port. Apple also added Wi-Fi 6E support along with Bluetooth 5.3.
The two processor choice options are significantly more powerful than most people need. If you’re mostly working through a web browser and typing up documents, these machines are overkill, and you should stick with a MacBook Air. Editing 4K videos? Rendering 3D models in CAD? Producing music? That’s what these machines are intended for.
WIRED reviewer Adam Speight tested the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max chip. He put the device through its paces by adding 4K footage, 3D effects, and image files to a project in Adobe Premiere Pro. The result? Smooth playback (without the need to reduce the quality of the footage to avoid stutters) and a speedy export time—proving that it's an excellent device for handling intensive, graphically-demanding production work. The 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro processor also delivered smooth performance when put through a slightly similar stress test (such as editing RED raw footage via Final Cut) with zero stuttering or hiccups.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Max does have exclusive access to a High Power Mode, which enhances performance for more graphics-intensive projects like editing 8K footage. Its larger chassis lends itself to better airflow and cooling, and it also trumps the 14-inch model in battery life. During intensive workloads, the 14-inch MacBook Pro lasted two hours on battery while the 16-inch reached three to four hours. With web browsing, we experienced about 12 hours on the bigger MacBook while the smaller model only hit about half that.
If you're stuck on the exact combination to go with, we recommend the 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M2 Pro chip for those who want a big display and more battery life. For intermediate content creators, the M2 Pro coupled with either size will suffice—the 14-inch MacBook Pro is similar in size to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, making it easier to travel with, but the 16-inch MacBook Pro might feel ginormous. We suggest you stay away from the 14-inch model with an M2 Max chip—the smaller battery coupled with the power-hungry processor won't result in the best battery life.
If You Want the Touch Bar
The 13-inch MacBook Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) with M2 sits in an awkward spot. It has the same processor that's in the MacBook Air (our top pick) and doesn't offer any major hardware upgrades (except for the fact that it has a fan, which I'll get to in a second). It still comes with the same 13.3-inch display, a 720p webcam, and two Thunderbolt USB-C ports. One small change? There's support for high-impedance headphones in the audio jack, so you can get slightly more fidelity if you have a nice pair of corded headphones.
What makes this machine unique from the MacBook Air is the fan, which allows the processor to get a little warmer and eke out more power over a longer period of time. This helps if you’re working on pro-level tasks like video editing but can’t spend the premium that Apple charges for its bigger Pro models. Other advantages include slightly longer battery life over the Air and a Touch Bar at the top of the keyboard (if that's your thing). It’s the only MacBook that Apple now sells with the Touch Bar. The laptop is slightly heavier (3 pounds versus 2.7 pounds), but it matches the Air’s size and is still slim.
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