Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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GENERAL USE: Very Good—8.4/10
GAMING/AI: Fair—6.8/10
ENG/DESIGN: Very Good—8.2/10
SOFTWARE DEV: Very Good—8.3/10
CONTENT CREATION: Very Good—8.4/10
PORTABILITY: Very Good—8.5/10
BATTERY: Excellent—9.1/10
OVERALL SCREEN QUALITY: Excellent—9.3/10
OVERALL PERFORMANCE: Good—7.5/10
SIZE: 14.2"
Evaluation
Pros
- High-resolution 14.2-inch display
- Powerful Apple M1 Pro chip
- Long battery life
- Excellent build and speaker quality
- 3 USB-C / Thunderbolt ports
Cons
- Heavier than some competitors
- No facial recognition feature
- Lacks USB4 and Ethernet
- Limited repairability and upgradability
Ratings by Category
Build Quality:5.0
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, chassis rigidity, and overall reliability.
Our assessment of build quality includes many details that are difficult to quantify.
Our laptop experts use their best judgment to produce the final score.
General Use Screen Quality:4.9
The general use screen score is based on the screen technology, contrast ratio, resolution, brightness, color gamut and color accuracy. This score does not take into account specialized display features for specific use cases, such as high refresh rate for gaming.
Keyboard Quality:4.9
The Keyboard Quality score is based on the PerfectRec experts’ assessment of tactile feedback, typing comfort, keyboard reliability and typing noise.
Battery Life:4.8
PerfectRec’s Battery Life rating is based on hours of battery life in typical usage scenarios.
Portability:4.6
PerfectRec’s portability rating takes into account the volume and thickness of the laptop as well as its weight.
Operating Noise:4.6
PerfectRec’s Operating Noise Score is based on fan noise measurements. Laptops with a fanless design, such as Macbooks, receive the maximum score.
General Use:4.5
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has a powerful CPU and ample RAM that ensure swift performance in general use, while its Mini LED display offers exceptional screen quality with high brightness and wide color coverage. Its light weight and long battery life make it highly portable, complemented by a keyboard and speakers that are rated as some of the best, enhancing day-to-day user experience.
Engineering & Design:4.5
PerfectRec’s Engineering and Design Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for graphic design, CAD and 3D work.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Software Development:4.5
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software development.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Content Creation:4.5
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, and video editing work.
In addition to a strong emphasis on overall performance, this score also places very high importance on screen quality. Heat management, storage, keyboard and speaker quality are also incorporated, with fan noise rounding out this score.
Gaming & AI:3.8
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is good for 3D tasks because it features the Apple M1 Pro with a 14-core GPU, which provides robust graphics processing capabilities. Additionally, its Mini LED display with a high refresh rate of 120Hz ensures smooth visuals, which is beneficial for rendering 3D graphics and animations.
Full Specs
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
| Price | $1,905 | ||
Release Date | October 1, 2021 | ||
Overall Dimensions | 12.3'' x 8.7'' x 0.61'' | ||
Weight | 3.5 lbs | ||
Width | 12.31" | ||
Depth | 8.71" | ||
INTERNAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Processor | Apple M1 Pro (8C) | ||
RAM | 16 GB | ||
DDR Memory Version | 5 | ||
RAM Slots | 0 | ||
Storage | 512 GB | ||
BATTERY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Battery Life | 13.5 Hours | ||
Battery Capacity | 69.6 Wh | ||
SCREEN | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Diagonal Size | 14.2" | ||
Display Technology | Mini LED | ||
Resolution | 3024 x 1964 | ||
Refresh Rate | 120Hz | ||
Display Brightness | 479 nits | ||
RELIABILITY, APPEARANCE & ACOUSTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Build Quality Score  | 10/10 | ||
Portability Score | 8.6/10 | ||
Gaming Laptop Appearance | No | ||
Premium Business Laptop | Yes | ||
Fan Noise Score | 8.8/10 | ||
HARDWARE FEATURES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Keyboard Quality Score | 9.5/10 | ||
Speaker Quality Score | 10/10 | ||
Webcam | 1080p | ||
Fingerprint Reader | Yes | ||
Backlit Keyboard | Yes | ||
Number Pad | No | ||
CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
USB Type-A | 0 | ||
USB-C ports | 3 | ||
USB-C Charging | Yes | ||
Display Outputs | 2 | ||
Thunderbolt Version | 4 | ||
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
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NotebookCheck
Andreas Osthoff | January 2023
"In the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023, the M2 Pro is slowed down. From the improved 5nm process, the new M2 Pro is a very solid upgrade. Graphics performance has increased by about 25% in tandem with a clear improvement in efficiency. The processor has also seen a performance leap of up to 20%, but this is accompanied by an increase in consumption of up to 25%. Fundamentally, Apple its maintaining its advantage over AMD and Intel, particularly in optimized applications where the results are very good in view of the comparatively low power consumption."
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This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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About the laptop team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
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Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
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Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Craig Russell
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Craig is a UK-based laptops expert. Craig works in IT, where he recommends and supports laptops and PCs for clients and has been recommending laptops on Reddit for five years.
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