Apple's 13-inch MacBook Pro. M1 and Intel models available.
By MacRumors Staff on January 19, 2021
New lower-end 13-inch MacBook Pro models were introduced on November 10, 2020, bringing a new Apple M1 chip in place of Intel processor and graphics options. Higher-end models have not been updated since May 2020 and continue to be equipped with Intel's 10th-generation processors and up to 32GB of RAM. Learn about the larger 16-inch MacBook Pro in our separate roundup.
Apple M1 Models
13-inch size
Apple M1 chip with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU
8 or 16 GB of unified RAM
True Tone display and Touch Bar
Up to 2 TB SSD storage
Scissor-switch Magic Keyboard
$1,299 starting price
Intel Models
10th-generation Intel chip with up to 4 cores
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The M1 MacBook Pro
M1 MacBook Pro Reviews
Active Cooling
Touch Bar and Touch ID
M1 Apple Silicon Chip
Unified Memory Architecture
Speed Improvements
Neural Engine
Intel Chips
M1 Battery Life
Efficiency Test
FaceTime Camera and Mics
Available Models
Build to Order Options
M1 Mac How Tos
What's Next for the MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro 13" Timeline
Apple refreshed the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro models in November 2020, adding an Apple-designed "M1" Arm-based chip to replace the prior Intel chips. M1 chips bring significant speed and efficiency improvements.
Apple is selling the new 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro models alongside the higher-end and more expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro models with Intel chips that were introduced in May 2020. The 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Intel chips are also still available and have not yet been updated with M1 chips.
The M1 chip is Apple's first System on a Chip for Mac that integrates the CPU, GPU, RAM, and more all together. The M1 has an 8-core CPU with four high-efficiency cores and four high-performance cores along with an integrated GPU that has 8 cores. Compared to the prior-generation MacBook Pro models, the new M1 MacBook Pro's CPU is up to 2.8x faster and the GPU is up to 5x faster.
Machine learning tasks that use the Neural Engine are up to 11x faster, making the MacBook Pro quicker at ML-based features like face recognition and object detection. With a new storage controller, SSD is up to 2x faster, with the M1 MacBook Pro able to be configured with up to 2TB storage.
Apple introduced a new active cooling system in the M1 MacBook Pro to eke out more processor performance while also ensuring quiet operation.
As with the prior entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro models, RAM maxes out at 16GB, but the higher-end models that continue to have Intel chips are configurable with up to 32GB RAM. Battery life in the M1 MacBook Pro models is much improved, offering up to 17 hours of web browsing and up to 20 hours of video playback in the Apple TV app.
There are no external design changes to the MacBook Pro and it continues to feature the same aluminum body with large Force Touch trackpad, speakers at the side of the keyboard, and 13.3-inch display with slim black bezels. The MacBook Air comes in Silver and Space Gray color options.
The display features a 2560x1600 resolution, 500 nits brightness, P3 wide color support for vivid, true-to-life colors, and True Tone that matches the color temperature of the display to the ambient lighting for a more natural viewing experience that's easier on the eyes.
Apple's M1 MacBook Pro includes a 720p FaceTime HD camera, which is the same as the camera in the prior model, but Apple says the M1 improves picture quality with better noise reduction, better dynamic range, and other features.
Like the Intel MacBook Pro models, the M1 MacBook Pro features a Magic Keyboard with a refined scissor mechanism that's more reliable than the previous butterfly mechanism, offering up to 1mm key travel for a stable key feel. There's a Touch Bar at the top with touch-based controls and a Touch ID fingerprint sensor that can be used to unlock the Mac, make purchases, and more, with Touch ID protected by the Secure Enclave.
As an entry-level model, the M1 MacBook Pro has two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports that support up to a 6K external display, while the Intel MacBook Pro models offer four Thunderbolt 3 ports. The M1 MacBook Pro works with WiFi 6 or 802.11ax and Bluetooth 5.0. There are stereo speakers with wide stereo sound support, studio quality mics, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.
The M1 MacBook Pro is priced starting at $1,299, and it is sold alongside Intel options with quad-core Core i5 Intel chips and Intel Iris Plus Graphics, with those models priced starting at $1,799. Given the major speed improvements introduced with the M1 MacBook Pro models, it's best to hold off on an Intel purchase until a clear comparison between the available models can be made and the performance differences are better known.
Apple eventually plans to bring Apple Silicon chips to its entire Mac lineup, so expect the Intel MacBook Pro models to be discontinued in the future and replaced with updated models that are equipped with Apple's chips.
Apple also sells 16-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with Intel chips, and details on those larger machines can be found in our 16-inch MacBook Pro roundup.
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The new M1 MacBook Pro models can be ordered from the online Apple Store at prices starting at $1,299 or purchased in Apple retail stores. The Intel-based 13-inch MacBook Pro models are also available from the online Apple Store.
If you're trying to decide between purchasing the M1 MacBook Air or the M1 MacBook Pro, our Buyer's Guide goes through the similarities and the differences to help you figure out which machine best meets your needs.
Some M1 Mac owners have reported problems with Bluetooth connectivity, which range from intermittent disconnects of wireless peripherals to non-functional Bluetooth connections. There's no fix at this time, but the Mac mini models appear to be most heavily impacted. It is not clear if it's a hardware or a software issue, but it's possible it's something we'll see fixed in a future macOS update.
Reviews of the M1 MacBook Pro were overwhelmingly positive, which is no surprise given how much of an improvement it is over the prior generation in terms of CPU and GPU performance.
TechCrunch said that the M1 MacBook Pro is fast enough that it launches apps "before your cursor leaves your dock," and "every click feels more responsive," much like an iOS device.
The Verge said that the MacBook Pro's fan doesn't often come on, resulting in mostly silent operation. It also didn't seem to significantly outperform the MacBook Air for that reason, but things that normally trigger the fan on an Intel Mac, such as Google Meet in Chrome, "barely register on the M1 MacBook Pro."
As for battery life, The Verge saw at least 10 hours of battery life even under a heavy load, and had to push things to drain the battery within eight hours. The Verge said that it considered giving the M1 MacBook Pro a 10/10 score, but the one negative was the poor 720p camera.
For more opinions on the MacBook Pro and the other M1 Macs, make sure to check out our full M1 Apple Silicon review guide.
The M1 MacBook Pro continues to feature the same design that Apple has been using for years now with a uniform rectangular shape, aluminum body, and slim bezels around the display. The MacBook Pro models come in silver and space gray.
There's a large trackpad, thin hinge, Touch Bar, Apple logo at the back, two to four ports on the side depending on model, and side speaker grilles. The MacBook Pro measures in at 11.97 inches long, 8.36 inches wide, and 14.9mm thick. It weighs three pounds and is 0.2 pounds heavier than the Macbook Air.
Apple sells the 13-inch MacBook Pro alongside the larger 16-inch model, which measures in at 14.09 inches long, 9.68 inches wide, and 16.2mm thick. It weighs in at 4.3 pounds.
Inside, there's a new active cooling process that's meant to keep the MacBook Pro cooler while the M1 chip is in operation for faster performance.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro models feature a Retina display with 500 nits of brightness, P3 Wide color support, and True Tone functionality. The display has a resolution of 2560 by 1600 resolution at 227 pixels per inch.
The True Tone feature uses a multi-channel ambient light sensor that's included in the new MacBook Pro models, which is able to determine both the brightness of the room and the color temperature. After detecting the white balance, the MacBook Pro is able to adjust both the color and intensity of the display to match the room's lighting for a more natural, paper-like viewing experience that also cuts down on eyestrain.
P3 Wide color support features a greater color range than standard sRBG displays for more vivid and realistic colors.
The MacBook Pro uses the same redesigned Magic Keyboard that was first introduced in the 16-inch MacBook Pro. The Magic Keyboard does away with the butterfly mechanism that Apple has been using since 2015 as it was riddled with issues that led to key failure due to dust and other small particulates.
The scissor mechanism in the MacBook Pro's keyboard offers 1mm of key travel and a stable key feel, plus it uses an Apple-designed rubber dome that stores more potential energy for a more responsive key press.
The keyboard also features backlit keys controlled by an ambient light sensor to light up the keys in dark rooms.
All MacBook Pro models have a Touch Bar, which is a small OLED retina multi-touch display built into the keyboard where the function keys traditionally go. The Touch Bar is contextual and can perform a range of different functions on the Mac depending on which app is in use.
The Touch Bar is a matte-style display that blends right in with the rest of the keys on the keyboard, and in all modern MacBook Pro machines, it supports True Tone, allowing the white balance to be adjusted to match the ambient lighting conditions.
Interacting with the Touch Bar is done through taps, swipes, and other multi-touch gestures, with support for up to 10 fingers at a time available.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro models also have a Touch ID fingerprint sensor that's located next to the Touch Bar above the keyboard. Touch ID is protected by a Secure Enclave that keeps your fingerprint data and personal information safe.
Touch ID on the MacBook Pro can be used instead of a password, unlocking the Mac when a finger is placed on the sensor. It also replaces a password for password-protected apps, and it can be used to make Apple Pay purchases in Safari.
The MacBook Pro has a large Force Touch trackpad that has no traditional buttons and is instead powered by a set of Force Sensors, allowing users to press anywhere on the trackpad to get the same response.
A Taptic Engine powered by magnets provides users with tactile feedback when using the trackpad, replacing the feel of a physical button press. The Force Touch trackpad supports a light press, which is used as a regular click, along with a deeper press or "force click" as a separate gesture that does things like offer up definitions for a highlighted word.
The entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro models, which are the ones with M1 chips, feature two USB-C ports with support for USB 4 and Thunderbolt 3 for Thunderbolt transfer speeds of up to 40Gb/s and USB transfer speeds of up to 10Gb/s. With Thunderbolt 3, the MacBook Pro models can support a single 6K display at 60Hz.
Apple says that the M1 MacBook Pro is limited to one display up to 6K resolution, but using DisplayPort adapters, M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models can run up to five external displays. This is only possible when using a mix of 4K and 1080p displays as the Thunderbolt ports do not have the bandwidth to run five 4K displays.
The higher-end Intel MacBook Pro models have four Thunderbolt 3 ports. Each port on the MacBook Pro models is identical and can be used for the same functions, so every one can be used to power the machine. All ports support the following connections: power, Thunderbolt, USB, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA.
The M1 MacBook Pro is one of the first Macs to be updated with an Apple-designed Arm-based chip rather than an Intel chip like prior MacBook Pro models. These chips are called "Apple Silicon," and the chip used in the 2020 lower-end 13-inch MacBook Pro is the M1.
The M1 is Apple's first System on a Chip designed for the Mac, which means it has the processor, GPU, I/O, security features, and RAM all one chip that's inside the Mac. Apple says that this allows for better performance and power efficiency for longer battery life.
Like Apple's latest A14 chips, the M1 is built on a 5-nanometer process, which makes it smaller and more efficient than Apple's prior chips. It has 16 billion transistors, which Apple says is the most that it has put into a single chip.
One of the features of the M1 is a unified memory architecture, or UMA, It unifies high-bandwidth, low-latency memory into a single pool. This means that the technologies in the M1 chip can access the same data without copying it between multiple memory pools for dramatic performance improvement across the entire system.
The M1 features an 8-core CPU and an integrated 8-core GPU (there's also a 7-core GPU option as explained below). The CPU has four high-efficiency cores and four high-performance cores. When doing simple tasks like browsing the web or reading email the MacBook Pro engages the high-efficiency cores to preserve battery life, but for more system intensive tasks like photo and video editing, the high-performance cores are used.
Compared to the high-performance cores, the high-efficiency cores use a tenth of the power while still delivering the performance that Mac users need for everyday tasks.
According to Apple, the M1 chip's CPU is up to 2.8x faster than the Intel chip in the prior MacBook Pro, and GPU speeds are up to 5x faster. All M1 MacBook Pro models come with the 8-core GPU, unlike some MacBook Air models that have a 7-core GPU.
The M1 is designed to offer higher performance at every power level compared to competing laptop chips. It offers 2x faster CPU performance than the latest PC laptop chip while using 25 percent of the power.
Building projects with Xcode is up to 2.8x faster, ProRes transcode in Final Cut Pro is up to 2.8x faster, multicore vector performance is 2x faster in Affinity Photo, and Logic Pro supports 1.8x more Amp Designer plug-ins.
In Geekbench benchmarks, the M1 chip, which has a 3.2GHz frequency, earns single-core scores that exceed 1700, and multi-core scores around 7500, which makes it faster than the high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in 2019. Those 16-inch MacBook Pro models are equipped with Intel's latest 10th-generation chips.
Further, the M1 chip offers the single-core performance that is better than any other available Mac. It outperforms the Intel-based MacBook Pro models that it is sold alongside, but may not exceed them in GPU performance.
M1 single-core comparison
M1 multi-core comparison
Even when emulating x86 under Rosetta 2, the M1 Macs are still faster than all previously released Macs. With Geekbench running through Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer, the Macs are achieving 78 to 79 percent of the performance of native Apple Silicon code.
R23 Cinebench benchmarks of the M1 chip come in at 7508 for multi-core and 1498 for single-core.
Comparatively, the high-end 2020 16-inch MacBook Pro with 2.3GHz Core i9 chip earned a multi-core score of 8818. The 2.6GHz low-end 16-inch MacBook Pro earned a single-core score of 1113 and a multi-core score of 6912 on the same test, and the high-end prior-generation MacBook Air earned a single-core score of 1119 and a multi-core score of 4329.
The 8-core GPU in the M1 chip is integrated (which means it is not a separate chip), and Apple calls it the world's fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer. It can execute 25,000 threads at a time and combines improved graphics performance with lower power consumption.
Apple says that 3D titles render 5.9x faster in the new M1 MacBook Pro, 3D performance in Shapr3D is 3x faster, and game performance with Shadow of the Tome Raider is 2.9x faster all thanks to the M1 GPU.
In GFX Bench 5.0 benchmarks, the M1 beat out the GTX 1050 Ti and the Radeon RX 560 with 2.6 TFLOPs of throughput.
There's a new, more advanced Neural Engine in the MacBook Pro that is up to 11x faster for machine learning tasks. The Neural Engine has a 16-core design that can execute 11 trillion operations per second, and along with machine learning accelerators, it makes ML-based tasks much faster.
Apps like Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator, and others that use machine learning for video, photo, and audio editing purposes benefit from the Neural Engine.
The M1 chip is built on an Arm architecture instead of an x96 architecture like Intel chips, but it still run apps designed for Intel machines thanks to Rosetta 2, a translation process that runs in the background and is invisible to the user.
Apple is also encouraging developers to create Universal apps that use a single binary and run on both Apple Silicon Macs and Intel Macs. Further, Apple Silicon Macs are able to run apps that are designed for iPhone and iPad.
We have details on apps that have been updated with native or universal support, gaming on the M1 Macs, running homebrew apps, and more. Check out our M1 tidbits guide for details.
The higher-end MacBook Pro models that are priced starting at $1799 continue to use 10th-generation Intel Core i5 chips. The base model uses a 2.0GHz quad-core processor, which can be customized to a 2.3GHz quad-core processor. Both Intel models feature Intel Iris Plus graphics.
Comparatively, the top Intel processor in these machines falls far behind the performance of the M1 with a single-core score of 1240 and a multi-core score of 4517. Most people are not going to want to purchase an Intel-based 13-inch MacBook Pro at this time due to the much faster M1 chip in the lower-end models.
With the efficiency improvements introduced with the M1, the MacBook Pro has impressive battery life that far exceeds the battery life of the prior-generation model.
There's a 58.2WHr battery in the M1 MacBook Pro models that lasts for up to 17 hours when browsing the web and up to 20 hours when watching movies in the Apple TV app.
The Intel-based MacBook Pro models last for up to 10 hours when browsing the web and up to 10 hours when watching movies in the Apple TV app.
In a test compiling open source code for WebKit, Apple's M1 chip excelled. The M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air compiled the code more quickly than equivalent Intel based models, but more notably, still had 91 percent battery life remaining at the end of the test, while a high-end 16-inch MacBook Pro had 24 percent battery life remaining and an Intel 13-inch MacBook Pro had just 24 percent battery life left.
Base M1 models come with 8GB RAM, which can be customized up to 16GB. Higher-end Intel models support up to 32GB RAM. Tests suggest that there isn't a whole lot of difference between M1 models with 8GB RAM and 16GB RAM except when doing heavily system intensive tasks.
With the new SSD controller integrated into the M1 chip, the SSD in the M1 MacBook Pro is 2x faster with sequential read speeds of up to 3.3GB/s. M1 MacBook Pro models can be equipped with up to 2TB SSDs, with storage starting at 256GB, while Intel models can be equipped with up to 4TB of SSD storage.
The M1 MacBook Pro supports 802.11ax WiFi, which is known as Wi-Fi 6, the newest WiFi protocol that's faster and more efficient than the prior-generation 802.11ac WiFi with up to 1.2Gb/s throughput. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0.
The Intel MacBook Pro is limited to 802.11ac WiFi, aka WiFi 5.
There's a 720p HD camera built into the front of the MacBook Pro for FaceTime calls. Apple has used a 720p front-facing camera for multiple years now and has not upgraded the quality, but this year says that the M1 chip allows for clearer, sharper images.
The M1 chip offers better noise reduction to pull more detail out of shadows and highlights, and the Neural Engine uses face detection to adjust white balance and exposure for more natural-looking skin tones.
The MacBook Pro also features studio-quality mics for better sound on FaceTime calls.
There are four standard configuration 13-inch MacBook Pro models available from Apple:
$1,299 - Apple M1 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD.
$1,799 - 2.0GHz quad-core Core i5 processor, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 4 TB3 ports, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD.
$1,999 - 2.0GHz quad-core Core i5 processor, Intel Iris Plus Graphics, 4 TB3 ports, 16GB RAM, 1TBGB SSD.
Entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with 256GB storage:
16GB RAM - +$200
512GB SSD - +$200
1TB SSD - +$400
Mid-level 13-inch MacBook Pro:
2.3GHz quad-core Core i7 processor - +$200
32GB 3733MHz LPDDR4 RAM - +$400
4TB SSD - +$1,200
High-end 13-inch MacBook Pro:
Since the M1 Macs are using a new type of chip designed by Apple, there are some tips and tricks for doing things like transferring files, entering recovery mode, and finding apps optimized for the new machines. We have several M1-specific how tos that are worth checking out.
How to Install Rosetta on Your M1 Apple Silicon Mac
How to Start Up in Safe Mode on an M1 Apple Silicon Mac
How to Use Apple Diagnostics to Test Your Mac
How to Tell Which Apps Are Optimized for M1 Apple Silicon Macs
How to Transfer Files Between an Apple Silicon Mac and Another Mac
How to Reinstall macOS on an M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro, and M1 Mac Mini
How to Install Any iPhone or iPad App on an M1 Mac
Apple introduced a new M1 MacBook Pro in November of 2020, but the new model didn't include any design changes. That's going to change in 2021, and there are multiple rumors suggesting Apple is working on new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.
The upcoming MacBook Pro models will feature the most significant design overhaul to the MacBook Pro line that we've seen since 2016, and the updated machines will also address complaints that users have had with the MacBook Pro for years by bringing back older features that include MagSafe, more ports, and physical function keys.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro that's in the works will replace the existing 13-inch version, while the 16-inch model will be a successor to the current 16-inch MacBook Pro. The 14-inch model is expected to feature slimmed down bezels, though the casing may also be slightly larger.
Both new models will have a flat-edged design that has been described as "similar to the iPhone 12" with no curved edges like current models, but in practice, the design changes may be smaller than expected.
Along with a flat-edged design, the revamped MacBook Pro models could have more ports than prior models, and Apple is expected to return to MagSafe connectors rather than opting for charging over USB-C. The new MacBook Pro models will also do away with the Touch Bar that Apple first debuted in 2016, with Apple instead opting for physical function keys.
Other new features will include Apple silicon chips and brighter, higher-contrast display panels and it's possible Apple will opt to use mini-LED display technology.
The new MacBook Pro models are expected to launch in the third quarter of 2021. For more on what to expect, make sure to check out our dedicated MacBook Pro rumor guide, which has all the detail that we know about the new machines so far.
13-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2020): M1 Chip, 256 GB - Silver
13-inch MacBook Pro (Late 2020): M1 Chip, 256 GB - Space Gray
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 1.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD - Silver
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 1.4 GHz, 8 GB RAM, 256 GB SSD - Space Gray
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 2.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD - Silver
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 2.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD - Space Gray
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 2.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD - Silver
13-inch MacBook Pro (Mid 2020): 2.0 GHz, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD - Space Gray
13-Inch MacBook Pro Timeline
Jan 18Deals: M1 13-Inch MacBook Pro Marked Down by $100 at Amazon and B&H Photo
Jan 17Apple Extends 13-Inch MacBook Pro Backlight Repair Program
Jan 16Upcoming 16-Inch and 14-Inch MacBook Pros: Everything We Know
Jan 15MagSafe is Coming Back to the Mac: A Look Back at Apple's Original Magnetic Charging Technology
Jan 15'Touch Bar' Trending on Twitter Following Rumors It'll Be Removed on 2021 MacBook Pro
Jan 152021 MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature More Ports: Here's a Look at What Previous Models Offered
Jan 15Bloomberg: Next-Generation MacBook Pro to Offer Improved Displays, Faster Charging Over MagSafe
Jan 15Kuo: New MacBook Pro Models to Feature Flat-Edged Design, MagSafe, No Touch Bar and More Ports
Jan 11Software Fix for M1 Mac Bluetooth Connectivity Issues Reportedly On the Way
Jan 614-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models Expected to Boost Apple Silicon's Market Share in Second Half of 2021
Dec 7Bloomberg: Apple Working on Next-Gen Apple Silicon Chips for MacBook Pro, iMacs, and Mac Pro Due to Launch Next Year
Dec 2Kuo: Two Redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021 and New MacBook Air in 2022, All With Apple Silicon and Mini-LED Displays
Nov 25Apple M1 MacBook Pro vs. Intel MacBook Pro (13-Inch) Buyer's Guide
Nov 25Reliable Leaker Suggests Redesigned MacBooks in 2021 Will Include Both Apple Silicon and Intel Models
Nov 25Some Apple M1 Mac Owners Reporting Bluetooth Connectivity Issues
Nov 24M1 Macs Able to Run Up to Six External Displays Using DisplayLink
Nov 23Apple M1 Hands-On Comparison: MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro vs. Mac Mini
Nov 23Video Demos Performance Differences Between 8GB and 16GB Apple M1 MacBook Pro
Nov 19Watch Apple's M1 MacBook Pro Obliterate 2020 Intel MacBook Pro in Speed Tests
Nov 19iFixit Teardown: M1 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Internals Nearly Identical to Intel Models