The MacBook Pro is Apple’s high-end laptop. The latest MacBook Pro design features Apple’s best and brightest Mac displays, powerful Apple silicon chips, and a plethora of ports to plug in peripherals. It runs macOS, Apple’s desktop computer operating system.
The latest model is the 2024 M4 model. The 2025 M5-based models are likely going to be announced this November.
It originally launched in 2006 when it replaced the PowerBook G4. It also marked the transition from PowerPC to Intel processors. Now, it runs on Apple silicon chips, giving it industry-leading performance and battery life.
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The MacBook Pro runs macOS, Apple’s desktop operating system. It integrates well with other Apple devices and services, like syncing data over iCloud; running all the same apps like Safari, Mail, Messages, Calendar and Reminders; and Continuity features that talk to your iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
What sets the Pro above the MacBook Air is its advanced display, higher specs, extra ports and connectivity.
The MacBook Pro is the choice for those who want Apple’s greatest amount of power features in a portable form factor.
The Mac has had function keys since the mid-90s to match PCs. With the PowerBook G4, Apple started using the function keys for special controls like brightness and volume, and later, the backlit keyboard. In early 2008, they added buttons for controlling media playback, evoking Exposé and Dashboard (later changed in 2011 to Launchpad).
When the function keys returned after the Touch Bar, the functions were tweaked once again. Not only are the keys full-size, but they were changed to reflect modern macOS features. Launchpad was changed to Spotlight, and the keyboard backlight controls were replaced with Siri and Do Not Disturb; the keyboard backlight is accessible through Control Center.
The MacBook Pro Touch Bar was introduced on the 2016 models. It was a thin display above the alphanumeric keys on the keyboard, replacing the function keys. It could play and pause media, adjust brightness and volume, and more. In third-party apps, it could take on special controls: switching tabs in Safari, picking emoji, scrub through a video and more.
The Touch Bar was met with a somewhat mild reaction. It removed the muscle memory of hitting keys for specific functions. Apple eventually added a physical Escape key back to the left of the Touch Bar to alleviate some of the criticism.
The redesigned M1 Pro and Max models in 2021 removed the Touch Bar in place of larger function keys. It was retained on the entry-level M1 and M2 laptops, which continued the same design as the models from 2016, until the M3 model was updated to match the higher-end configurations.
The M5 MacBook Pro is expected to be announced this fall, in either October or November. This has been the pattern for the last few years (with the exception of the M2 models, which were delayed).
The M4 MacBook Pro from 2024 is the latest model. It features numerous significant upgrades over the previous version.
On the M4 Pro and M4 Max models, the ports on the side are Thunderbolt 5 instead of Thunderbolt 4. This latest-generation port is twice as fast at data transfer and supports higher-resolution (and higher-frame rate) displays.
It also upgrades the front-facing camera to a 12MP Center Stage camera. That means that on a video call, it can dynamically zoom in and out to make sure everyone is perfectly framed.
It can also be ordered with a nano texture display. This adds a matte finish to the screen to prevent screen glare and reflections, without compromising the color and contrast.
The M3 MacBook Pro from 2023 was a smaller update. The M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chips inside moved to a three-nanometer process. The Pro and Max models were the first to come in the new Space Black aluminum finish.
It also brought the entry-level M3 model in line with the higher-end models, so all three share the same display and design.
Delayed from fall 2022 to January 2023, the updated models with M2 Pro and M2 Max brought more power and once again raised the maximum amount of built-in memory to 96 GB.
Introduced alongside the M2 MacBook Air at WWDC22, this model was a simple spec bump of the prior M1 model. It was the last model with a Touch Bar. It raised the maximum amount of unified memory from 16 GB to 24 GB.
The M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBook Pro from October 2021 introduced a new design that brought back many favorite features from the past. It reintroduced function keys, removed the Touch Bar, introduced MagSafe 3 and brought back the dedicated HDMI port and SD card slot.
It also came with a larger, edge-to-edge display with a notch for the camera. It’s also significantly brighter, and brought ProMotion technology for higher refresh rates.
Before the introduction of the Mac Studio, these MacBook Pros were briefly the most powerful Mac sold by Apple. This is thanks to the speed of Apple silicon, and the 64 GB of unified memory available to order.
The M1 MacBook Pro from 2020 was one of the first three Macs to transition to Apple silicon, alongside the M1 MacBook Air and M1 Mac mini.
This model predated the M1 Pro chip, so its performance was very similar to the lower-end M1 MacBook Air. However, both brought a dramatic speed boost compared to the outgoing Intel models with unbelievable battery life. It also had a larger and brighter screen, a Touch Bar and an internal fan for prolonged performance.
The MacBook Pro is currently available in two display sizes, 14.2 inches and 16.2 inches. These screen sizes replaced the long-standard 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch displays that had been used since 2009.
From 2004 to 2012, Apple produced a model with a 17-inch display. Originally sold as a PowerBook, this biggest model had an expansive display bigger than any other Apple laptop since. It was affectionately called the “lunch tray.”
The model with a 14.2-inch display is the entry-level model. It’s a little cheaper. The smaller laptop used to have worse specs than the larger one in the Intel era, but that is no longer true — both can be configured with the same level of power and will perform pretty similarly.
The 14-inch model is smaller and lighter, which is handy for travel.
It has a display resolution of 3024 × 1964. Being a Retina display, it has the effective screen space of 1512 × 982. The display goes to the edge of the lid with a very slim bezel and has a notch on the top for the camera.
It has a ProMotion display, which can run at refresh rates up to 120 Hz. It can also match the frame rate of content you’re watching at 48, 50 and 60 Hz, or lower the frame rate to save battery power.
The model with a 16.2-inch display costs an extra $500. The larger laptop used to be the only one with a dedicated GPU, but now both sizes have similar specs and performance.
The 16-inch model is larger and heavier, but the extra screen real estate can be handy for getting serious work done on the go.
It has a display resolution of 3456 × 2234. Being a Retina display, it has the effective screen space of 1728 × 1117. The display goes to the edge of the lid with a very slim bezel and has a notch on the top for the camera.
It also has a ProMotion display, which can run at refresh rates up to 120 Hz. It can also match the frame rate of content you’re watching at 48, 50 and 60 Hz, or lower the frame rate to save battery power.
This is a compact, 3-port GaN fast PPS wall charger for MacBook Pro/Air, Pixelbook, Dell XPS, iPad Pro, iPhone 15 Pro/14, Galaxy S23/Note20, Pixel 8, Steam Deck and more.
The MacBook Pro can be charged in two different ways. Models from 2016 onwards can be plugged in via any USB-C port to a charger. The 14- and 16-inch models from 2021 onwards can also be charged with MagSafe 3 to a charger. Every MacBook comes with a color-matched MagSafe cable in the box, and replacements can be ordered online from Amazon.
Ugreen produces a line of USB-C wall chargers. These come in different power levels to keep it charged up whether you have the entry-level model or a powerful Mac with a Max chip.
This display matches the 27-inch size and 5K resolution of the Apple Studio Display for much less. It also features bright P3 color that’s been tested for accuracy.
It also features a built-in Thunderbolt 4 dock, for adding a plethora of ports to your setup within easy reach, and better build quality than other displays we’ve tested.
Our top pick for a third-party monitor is the ViewSonic VP2788. It matches the size and resolution of the Apple Studio Display, but at under $1,000 instead of $1,600. Its body is plastic, but has good build quality. It surpasses Apple’s offering with a 75 Hz refresh rate and a greater selection of ports with its built-in Thunderbolt 4 dock.
Another monitor we’ve tested includes the Asus ProArt PA27JCV, which is cheaper still, but has a creaky and wobbly plastic case and fewer ports. The BenQ DesignVue PD2730S is another option in this price range, but is much chunkier and heavier with fewer benefits.
And of course, there’s also the Apple Studio Display itself. It has a premium aluminum and glass enclosure. It also plays nicely with a Mac, automatically turning on and off, and adjusting brightness from the keyboard. However, it comes at a premium cost — and lacks USB-A ports on the back for plugging in older peripherals.
While the entry-level has the same chip as the MacBook Air, the Pro has a number of other advantages. The Pro features a bigger, brighter display. It has many more ports; it adds an extra Thunderbolt port, an HDMI port and SDXC card slot.
It can be upgraded with much higher specs than the MacBook Air as well. The M4 Pro and M4 Max chips aren’t available on the MacBook Air. These chips have more CPU and GPU cores for faster performance in intense tasks like video editing, gaming, compiling code, 3D modeling and more.
It can also be configured with more memory and storage space than the MacBook Air and supports more external displays.
However, the MacBook Air is noticeably lighter. The smaller MacBook Air is 2.7 lbs. compared to 3.5 lbs. The larger MacBook Air is 3.3 lbs. compared to 4.7 lbs.
The iPad Pro and MacBook Pro run similar apps made by Apple, like Safari, Messages, Mail, Photos and more. A lot of third-party apps run on both, like Microsoft Word, Google Docs, Notion, Slack. Even advanced apps like Photoshop, Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro have iPad versions, although they aren’t as advanced as their MacBook counterparts.
While the iPad Pro can handle the basics in much the same way, like web browsing and working on documents and files, a Mac can do more advanced tasks. While iPadOS 26 brings some power features like app windowing, local audio and video recording and the Preview app, there will still be some features only possible on a MacBook.
An iPad Pro is still a single-user device, while every Mac supports multiple users. Only a Mac can write code with Xcode or the Terminal.
The iPad Pro supports touch input with your fingers and pen input with the Apple Pencil, where the MacBook Pro does not support either. However, the MacBook Pro supports more external displays and third-party accessories.
Apple's midrange laptop fits a colorful 120Hz display, acres of space with 1 TB storage and 24GB memory, and all-day battery life in a compact size.
Apple's flagship laptop packs a roomy 16-inch 120Hz display, powerful internals with 24GB memory, and all-day battery life.
The MacBook Pro is often on sale with good deals on Amazon. You can find bigger deals on the more expensive configurations. However, Amazon has a limited number of premade configurations, and does not allow you to fully build-to-order a Mac.
Replacing the battery on a MacBook Pro can give it a new lease on life.
You can get your battery replaced at an Apple Store, but it may cost a pretty penny. Apple also only works on MacBooks that are under seven years old.
Replacing it on your own is certainly manageable, but is not an operation for the faint of heart. The bottom case easily unscrews, and the battery is mostly unobstructed. You will, however, need to remove the trackpad from the inside to get full access to the battery. The battery is also held in with a lot of glue that can be tricky to remove.
You need to properly reset your MacBook Pro before you trade, sell or pass it down. That way, the new owner will be able to set it up as brand new, with none of your data left on it.
First, make sure that a recent Time Machine backup is in place. You can check this in System Settings > Time Machine. Make sure that “Backups” shows a recent date and time. Otherwise, right-click on your Time Machine and click Back Up Now.
After setting up your new device, go to System Settings > General > Transfer or Reset, click Erase All Content and Settings and follow the instructions.
You can trade in an old MacBook Pro you’re ready to ditch through the Cult of Mac Buyback program. You can get some cash back for an old laptop you have that you can put towards a new purchase.
Don’t worry about packaging — put your device in the box you’ll get in the mail and use the included return label to send it back for free. You don’t have to send back your charger, either; keep it for yourself.
You can get your money back by a printable e-check, ACH deposit or even a check through the mail.
Apple guards its upcoming products with extreme secrecy. However, a major leak in October 2024 saw the Russian YouTuber Wylsacom unboxing the M4 MacBook Pro weeks before its official release.
The same story now unfolds with the upcoming M5 iPad Pro. Wylsacom unboxed and showcased the device a few days ago, again weeks before launch. And another Russian YouTuber did the same the next day. So how do Russian YouTubers manage to grab unreleased Apple products so early?
The Federal Communications Commission accidentally exposed Apple’s plans for several unreleased products, including an updated Vision Pro headset, new MacBook Pro models and refreshed iPad Pro tablets, on Tuesday. The FCC leaks of Apple products mark the latest in a series of premature disclosures from the regulatory agency that have frustrated Apple’s typically secretive product launch strategy.
MacBooks make you faster, sharper and more productive. But they’ve always come with one big problem: price. Upgraded’s affordable MacBook financing program changes that.
Whether you’re buying a MacBook for yourself or outfitting an entire company, it usually means a huge upfront bill, a complicated reselling process, or headaches when managing devices for remote employees.
Upgraded solves this with simple monthly MacBook subscriptions, starting at just $33.28 per month. For businesses, Upgraded’s innovative MacBook financing also means turning big upfront capital expenses into smaller operating expenses you can write off, while handing off the hassle of device management.
What’s the biggest upgrade a computer setup can undergo other than a new computer, external display(s) or a massive audio boost? It’s the very platform the setup sits on — usually a desk. In my case, it’s an Uplift Standing Desk V3, which I reviewed recently (five stars, btw).
It’s a huge upgrade aesthetically and functionally. And it changes how I mount and use my gear, too.
Apple’s next-gen OLED MacBook Pro supposedly will feature a touchscreen panel, further blurring the line between iPads and MacBooks.
TF International Securities analyst Ming Chi Kuo thinks the new OLED MacBook Pro will enter mass production in late 2026.
Apple’s September Awe Dropping event was only the beginning. There are so many new products coming out of Cupertino this fall that rumors point to an Apple October event.
And for some people, the best is yet to come: the Apple M5 processor, a new iPad Pro and (hopefully) the next MacBook Pro. And there could be more.
A new sale on the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro drops its price to just $1,299 — the lowest price we’ve seen for this model.
Apple’s workhorse professional laptop is a great get for anyone when it goes on sale. And with the M5 models reportedly delayed until 2026, now’s the time to upgrade. If you want a model with a bigger screen and/or beefed-up specs, you can browse a bunch of great MacBook Pro deals in the sale links below, many with nice new price cuts.
Apple's latest base-model MacBook Pro features an M4 chip with a 10-core CPU and a 10-core GPU. It also boasts a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 16GB unified memory, 512GB SSD storage and silver or space black colors.
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You can be excused if you don’t know off the top of your head how many external monitors your MacBook supports. The number varies by model, processor version, and even whether the laptop is open or closed. Still, there’s a good chance it’s more than you think.
Now that notebooks with the new M4 family of processors are available, here’s an updated guide to how many external screens you can attach to your MacBook.
Don’t set your heart on a MacBook Pro with a speedy new Apple M5 processor under the Christmas tree this year. A growing body of evidence indicates the next version of Apple’s premier laptop won’t arrive until 2026.
But the M5 processor should be available before then.
So many of us sit at a computer all day peering at a screen, it’s no wonder eye strain is a common problem. But only some of us — like today’s featured MacBook Pro and Studio Display user — really attack the problem beyond taking more breaks. They offer tips to reduce eye strain below.
Apple is gearing up for a blockbuster year, with a packed product roadmap that spans nearly every category in its lineup. From an iPhone redesign to upgrades for the Mac, iPad and Apple Watch families, the next twelve months promise a steady stream of hardware refreshes, software milestones and perhaps a few surprises.
Whether you’re a casual user or a die-hard fan, here’s a look at every major Apple product expected between now and next summer.
Though relatively high costs is a perennial complaint about Apple’s popular Studio Display, the 5K resolution monitor with a fair number of bells and whistles continues to gain fans willing to pay. Today’s setup belongs to a gamer with a MacBook Pro and a gaming PC, plus a Studio Display and a 240Hz OLED monitor.
He said if the house caught fire and he could only choose one display to save, it’d be Apple’s.
Today’s featured setup user seeks out and gets good advice on his upgrade questions. He runs an aging MacBook Pro and a more recent iMac, but wonders about replacing them both with a newer MacBook Pro, perhaps an M4 Pro model. Commenters on his post offered useful thoughts, below, on future-proofing choices of Mac models as well as external display options.
Sometimes even a MacBook in a vertical laptop stand takes up too much space on the desk. Today’s dual MacBook Pro setup user asks the question of how to “get rid of” the laptops — as in how to mount MacBook out of the way but still in use. And they get plenty of excellent advice, below.
And in addition, the workstation grabs the attention for its “odd couple” of Apple monitors, old and new. The user said they love both displays (despite that rather significant differences between the two).
Guess what, it’s time for another installment of Dave’s Setup Upgrades. Only about six weeks after I last wrote about my own computer setup instead of everybody else’s, here I go again. An M4 Pro MacBook Pro driving a pair of 5K touchscreen displays remains the core of my rig. But I’ve gone a little nuts lately with computer input devices as I strive for a more ergonomic workstation. I’m up to four, with backups for most, and that’s got to be some kind of record.
And I added a webcam because my current external displays don’t pack one. And my laptop, with its only-pretty-good webcam, sits hidden away on a vertical stand. I don’t want to have to pull it out for video calls.
Two new HDMI adapters from Other World Computing (OWC) solve the external display limitations that have frustrated Apple Silicon Mac users since the M1 chip’s introduction, the company said Monday. The new OWC USB-C Quad HDMI 4K Adapter and redesigned OWC USB-C Dual HDMI 4K Adapter offer Mac owners a way to connect multiple external monitors without juggling multiple dongles.
“Whether you’re working with spreadsheets, streaming data, editing video or just need more screen real estate to stay productive, we believe your gear shouldn’t hold you back,” said Larry O’Connor, OWC’s founder and CEO. “With our new Quad and enhanced Dual HDMI adapters, we’re giving users the power to easily expand their visual workspace, without the complexity or cost of juggling multiple adapters or sacrificing performance.”
Apple might not get the next-generation MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor out this autumn, as had been expected. The notebook will instead launch early next year, according to a respected source of insider information.
If true, it means that Apple’s new Mac processor will once again launch in an iPad.
Anker’s a top accessories maker for Apple users — maybe most of all for charging needs related to MacBooks and other devices. As usual, Anker Prime Day sale items could fill a dense catalogue. So we thought we’d put together some top picks for MacBook users. Namely, a choice multiport charger with solid wattage, a great portable power bank with retractable cables and a highly functional docking station with fast transfer speeds and ample connectivity. Check them out below.
Today’s featured setup sports an M1 Max MacBook Pro still going strong, but the user posted the workstation on social media to show off a newly added Mchose mechanical keyboard — an unfamiliar but solid-looking brand. And I couldn’t help notice the stellar audio gear in the mix, including excellent Yamaha studio monitors for focused sound in the room, plus a surprising array of great headphones and audio interfaces.
Amazon Prime Day brings excellent deals on Apple’s popular laptops, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In fact, you can nab the very same M4 Pro MacBook Pro I have for $250 less than I paid — my exact model with 24GB RAM at $1,749. And you can get the base M4 MacBook Pro for an incredibly low starting price of $1,429. Plus some Prime Day MacBook Pro deals net you up to $350 off higher-end models.
As for MacBook Air, the entry-level model now sells for a low $849. And you can add some bells and whistles for a bit more. Scroll down to see Prime Day MacBook Air deals.
Seems like smallish portable monitors are cropping up more often lately as fixtures in computer setups featuring other display options. Today’s dual-Mac setup sports a massive curved external display with an 18-inch portable just below, front and center.
And those aren’t the only two screens. A tablet mounted on an arm comes into play too, but it’s not an iPad.
Near the very top of my list of enviable things about computer setups sit two drool-worthy items — one, when the setup is in an irresistibly cool remodeled space, like a man cave or a she shed, and two, when the setup’s audio blows the dang roof off. Today’s expansive example is a multi-computer, multi-display outfit in the UK with a very special stereo system, one of Apple’s brilliant failures — iPod Hi-Fi. It’s so much more than an iPod dock.
A growing number of people rely on iPad tablets — particularly iPad Pro — as their main daily driver. And with iPadOS 26 software currently in beta testing and available to all in September, this will become even easier to do. Today’s featured iPad-Studio Display setup doesn’t abandon Mac — in fact, it includes a hidden M4 MacBook Pro — but it makes the most of iPad Pro and looks damn good doing it.
Want to buy a MacBook and pay monthly? Apple fans love staying current. But when it comes to MacBooks, upgrading isn’t always easy. Base models at big box stores can feel underpowered. Reselling is a pain. And dropping $2,000-plus upfront? Not ideal.
That’s why more people are switching to Upgraded, a MacBook installment plan that starts at just $33.28 per month. It lets you customize your machine’s specs, and offers an easy upgrade every two years.
No resale headaches. No massive upfront cost. Just the Mac you want, when you want it.
I’d call it a rare sighting in setups featured on Cult of Mac, but I think it’s actually a first sighting ever — stacked dual displays held together by hinges. As such, they’re actually one product, the Uperfect Delta Dual Portable Monitor. To say the least, it’s unusual to see one in a home setup, driven in this case by an M4 MacBook Pro. And those two screens make up just half the setup’s total of four.