It’s begging to be picked up and played with, and that’s even truer now with the introduction of the Touch ID, which has trickled down from the MacBook Pro model. This is no more true than when you have the thing in your hands. Its become harder for them in recent years, with other manufacturers aping their style, and yet the 2018 MacBook Air still retains its crown as an impeccably designed laptop.
Whether it’s the original compact design of the Macintosh Plus, or the Jolly Rancher-inspired luminous bubble that is the Mac G3, Apple makes things that stand out and are visually appealing.
If that sounds like you, then, by all means, feel free to skip this upgrade.Throughout its history, Apple has been well regarded for its design. Of course, some people love the Touch Bar (trust me, they exist), and maybe holding on to the 2019 laptop for a few more years won't hurt their workflow too much. Plus, they got rid of the Touch Bar and added back a row of function keys to the built-in laptop. They have also reinstated an SD card slot and HDMI port, both of which are missing from the 2019 model. The MacBook Pro (2021) has MagSafe charging, meaning you can't trip over your charging cable again. What's apparent is that after the last few years, Apple has issued a Mea Culpa of sorts and given back features that the Pro community has been asking for since the redesign. However, in practice, it's possible that might not be true for your current situation. On paper, I can tell you that the MacBook Pro (2021) looks to be more powerful and more useful than the 2019 model. MacBook Pro (2019): Should you upgrade?Īs with most "pro" devices, it all comes down to your needs and workflow, and what works for one person may not work for someone else. When it comes to the maximum available screen real estate, the 2021 model outclasses the 2019 model hands down.
If you get the M1 Pro chip inside your 16-inch MacBook, you'll be able to support up to two of Apple's Pro Display XDR, and if you move up to the M1 Max, you can support three Pro Display XDRs and a 4K TV at the same time. The MacBook Pro (2019) can support up to two displays with 6016x3384 resolution at 60Hz or up to four displays with 4096x2304 resolution at 60Hz. When it comes to external displays, both the 20 models can support them with varying limitations. The 2019 model doesn't have any HDR ability. The display on the MacBook Pro (2021) is also brighter, running at about 1000 nits compared to the 2019 model's 500 nits, but it can reach a max brightness of 1600 nits of peak brightness for HDR content. The max refresh rate is 120hz, but it is adaptive, so it will refresh slower than the max when it makes sense.
The new model comes with a Liquid Retina XDR display that features ProMotion. When it comes to displays, the MacBook Pro (2021) is impressive.
It also still only has USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports, meaning you'll need dongles or adapters to plug in anything that doesn't use those ports. The MacBook Pro (2019) is still rocking the Touch Bar instead of the function keys featured on the 2021 model, and it has a squared-off design that the MacBook Pro had before.
The MacBook Pro (2021) features a notch at the top of its 16.2-inch display where the 1080p camera is located, but it has a round design that is somewhat reminiscent of the older design from the early 2010s. Not only do the spec sheets look quite different, but the laptops themselves have completely different designs. Apple's biggest claim so far is that the chip's performance while plugged in and running on battery should be about the same, which other high-end laptops have a hard time achieving. MacBook Pro (2019): It's all about M1 Pro and M1 MaxĪpple is very proud of its own silicon, as they spent a lot of time talking about just how powerful the M1 Pro and M1 Max are compared to other Intel chips. And, while there are lots to like about the new MacBook Pro design, the notch at the top of the screen hasn't been the most well-received in the public eye. However, the MacBook Pro has never been more expensive.
By all indications, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro should blow the 2019 model out of the water when it comes to performance, especially if you pay the money to upgrade the specs to your liking.