Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)

Manufacturer	Apple
Product family	MacBook Pro
Release date	October 2021 (2021-10)
Introductory price	USD 1999 to 3499
Discontinued	No
Operating system	macOS Ventura
CPU	Apple M1 Pro Apple M1 Max
Memory	16 GB, 32 GB, or 64 GB LPDDR5-6400 MHz unified memory
Memory slots	None (soldered)
Storage	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB PCIe NVMe SSD
Storage slots	None (soldered)
Removable storage	SDXC card slot
Display	Screen size: 14.2 inch Panel type: Mini-LED Coating: Glossy Resolution: 3024 x 1964 PPI: 254 Aspect ratio: 16:10 Refresh rate: Up to 120 Hz (ProMotion) Brightness: 500 nits (SDR), 1000 nits (XDR), 1600 nits (peak HDR) Contrast ratio: 1,000,000:1 P3: 100 % VRR: ProMotion
Graphics	Apple M1 Pro 14-core GPU Apple M1 Pro 16-core GPU Apple M1 Max 24-core GPU Apple M1 Max 32-core GPU
Sound	High-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers Wide stereo sound Support for spatial audio with Dolby Atmos
Camera	1080p FaceTime HD camera
Touchpad	Force Touch trackpad
Connectivity	802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 Bluetooth 5.0 3 x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) 1 x HDMI 2.0 1 x 3.5 mm headphone jack 1 x SDXC card slot
Dimensions	H: 0.61 inches (1.5 cm) W: 12.31 inches (31.3 cm) D: 8.71 inches (22.1 cm)
Mass	3.5 pounds (1.6 kg)
Power brick	67W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter
Battery	70 Wh Li-Polymer
Keyboard	Backlit Magic Keyboard
Chassis	Color: Space Gray, Silver Materials: Aluminum
Number pad	No
Fingerprint reader	Yes (Touch ID)
Facial recognition	No
Predecessor	Apple MacBook Pro 13 (2020)
Website	Apple

All statements attributed to reviews are the reviewer's own opinion. Note that these claims were accurate at the time of publication and may be dated when you are reading this article. Read more.

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   The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is a high-performance laptop designed for professionals and content creators. It features Apple's M1 Pro and M1 Max SoCs, offering significant improvements in CPU and GPU performance, a high-quality Mini-LED display, and a robust aluminum chassis. The MacBook Pro 14 is available in various configurations, making it suitable for a wide range of demanding tasks.

Primary Hardware

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Processor

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) can be configured with the following processors:

• Apple M1 Pro with 8-core CPU (6 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores)
• Apple M1 Pro with 10-core CPU (8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores)
• Apple M1 Max with 10-core CPU (8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores)

The M1 Pro and M1 Max chips provide remarkable single-thread and multi-thread performance, capable of handling nearly every type of productivity workload, including demanding tasks like video editing and 3D animation. The M1 Max shows excellent performance in single-core and multi-core benchmarks but is limited in combined workloads due to the constraints of the 96W power adapter.

In synthetic benchmarks, the M1 Pro and M1 Max perform as follows:

• Geekbench 5: CPU Single-Thread: 1,766 points, CPU Multi-Thread: 10,004 points, GPU Compute: 38,523 points.
• Cinebench R23: Single-Thread: 1,532 points, Multi-Thread: 9,576 points.

Graphics

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) can be configured with the following GPUs:

• Apple M1 Pro with 14-core GPU
• Apple M1 Pro with 16-core GPU
• Apple M1 Max with 24-core GPU
• Apple M1 Max with 32-core GPU

The M1 Pro's integrated graphics are capable of running moderately demanding games and handling demanding tasks but struggle with high-resolution material like 8k footage. The M1 Max's GPU performs well under sustained workloads and is efficient, but the 24-core version is limited compared to the 32-core version.

In synthetic benchmarks, the GPUs perform as follows:

• Geekbench 5 Metal graphics test: 39,687 (unbinned M1 Pro), 34,736 (base M1 Pro).
• GFXBench 2560x1440 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen: 240 fps (M1 Max), 147 fps (M1 Pro).
• 3DMark Wild Life Extreme: 14727 points (M1 Max), 9267 points (M1 Pro).

Memory

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with 16 GB of LPDDR5-6400 MHz unified memory, configurable to 32 GB (M1 Pro or M1 Max) or 64 GB (M1 Max). The memory is shared between the CPU and GPU, which may limit performance in VRAM-heavy applications.

The memory provides sufficient speed and capacity for multitasking and demanding applications, ensuring smooth performance across various tasks. However, the memory is soldered and not user-upgradable.

Storage

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) can be configured with 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, or 8 TB PCIe NVMe SSD. The storage is soldered and not user-upgradable.

The SSD offers high transfer rates, making it suitable for large file transfers and quick access to data. In synthetic benchmarks, the storage performs as follows:

• Blackmagic Disk Speed Test: Read: 5448 MB/s, Write: 4463 MB/s.

Co-processors

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) includes a media engine with hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW, a video decode engine, a video encode engine, and a ProRes encode and decode engine.

Input Devices

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Keyboard

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a backlit Magic Keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 full-height function keys and 4 arrow keys in an inverted-T arrangement. It also includes Touch ID for secure authentication and an ambient light sensor for automatic adjustment of keyboard brightness.

The keyboard is comfortable to type on, with good key travel and feedback, making it suitable for long typing sessions. However, the keys have a short travel distance, which may not be preferred by all users.

Touchpad

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with a large glass Force Touch trackpad that provides precise cursor control and pressure-sensing capabilities. It enables Force clicks, accelerators, pressure-sensitive drawing, and Multi-Touch gestures.

The touchpad is highly responsive and supports multi-touch gestures effectively, maintaining Apple's reputation for superior touchpad quality.

Webcam

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera with an advanced image signal processor for improved image quality.

The webcam provides decent quality for video calls, with improved low-light performance compared to previous models.

Microphone

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) includes a studio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming for clear audio capture.

The microphone captures clear audio for video calls and recordings, with minimal background noise.

Output Devices

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Display

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR display with a native resolution of 3024 x 1964 at 254 pixels per inch. The display supports XDR (Extreme Dynamic Range) with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 1000 nits sustained full-screen brightness, 1600 nits peak brightness (HDR content only), and 500 nits SDR brightness. It also supports 1 billion colors, Wide color (P3), True Tone technology, and ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.

The display offers excellent color accuracy and brightness, with superb contrast due to Mini-LED backlighting. The adaptive refresh rate enhances the smoothness of motion during scrolling and video playback.

In synthetic benchmarks, the display performs as follows:

• Maximum Brightness: 476 cd/m² (SDR), 1385.5 cd/m² (HDR), Native Contrast: 50,850:1.

Audio

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with a high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-cancelling woofers, wide stereo sound, and support for spatial audio with Dolby Atmos.

The speakers deliver high-quality sound with good bass response and clarity, making them suitable for media consumption.

Connectivity

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WiFi

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 wireless networking and is IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac compatible.

The Wi-Fi performance is robust and reliable, providing fast internet connectivity and stable connections.

Bluetooth

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology for connecting peripherals.

SD Card Reader

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) includes an SDXC card slot for expanded storage options.

The SD card reader supports high-capacity SD cards and offers fast data transfer speeds.

USB

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with three Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports, which support charging, DisplayPort, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s), and USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s). It also includes an HDMI port and a 3.5 mm headphone jack with advanced support for high-impedance headphones.

The connectivity options are extensive and versatile, allowing for multiple peripherals to be connected simultaneously.

Display Outputs

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) supports full native resolution on the built-in display at 1 billion colors and:

• Up to two external displays with up to 6K resolution at 60Hz (M1 Pro)
• Up to three external displays with up to 6K resolution and one external display with up to 4K resolution at 60Hz (M1 Max)

The laptop supports Thunderbolt 4 digital video output and HDMI digital video output.

Case

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a sleek aluminum chassis available in Space Gray and Silver. The design is sturdy and well-built, providing durability and a premium feel. The laptop measures 0.61 inches in height, 12.31 inches in width, and 8.71 inches in depth, and weighs 3.5 pounds.

The chassis is exceptionally well-built with no flex in the display or keyboard deck. The design is sleek and portable, making it suitable for professional use.

Maintenance

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is not user-serviceable, with limited upgrade options for RAM and SSD, which are soldered and not user-replaceable. The lower panel is secured with pentalobe screws and a slider mechanism, making it somewhat challenging to access the internals.

Cooling System

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features an efficient cooling system with dual fans. The fans are quiet and effective, maintaining low temperatures under load. The cooling system is designed to keep the device cool during intensive tasks.

Heat

The device remains cool during idle and light tasks but can reach uncomfortable temperatures under heavy load. The maximum temperature on the upper side is 49.2 °C.

Noise

The fans remain relatively quiet under load, quieter than many competitors, and they ramp down quickly once the system is no longer under heavy load. The maximum fan noise recorded is 49.5 dB(A).

Energy Management

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Power Consumption

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with a 67W USB-C Power Adapter (included with M1 Pro with 8-core CPU) or a 96W USB-C Power Adapter (included with M1 Pro with 10-core CPU or M1 Max, configurable with M1 Pro with 8-core CPU). The M1 Max consumes more power than the M1 Pro, affecting battery life. The maximum consumption recorded was 97.7W during stress tests.

Battery Life

The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is equipped with a 70 Wh Li-Polymer battery. Apple claims up to 17 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and up to 11 hours of wireless web browsing.

In real-world tests, the battery life varies significantly based on usage:

• WiFi Websurfing: 13h 36min
• WiFi Websurfing max. Brightness: 6h 30min
• Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p: 15h 00min
• Load (maximum brightness): 1h 9min

Biometrics

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) includes Touch ID for secure authentication and easy access. The fingerprint reader works effectively for secure login, providing a quick and convenient way to unlock the device.

Software

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) ships with macOS Ventura, the most advanced desktop operating system in the world. It includes various preinstalled Apple applications and utilities, providing a clean user experience.

Preinstalled Software

• App Store
• Books
• Calendar
• Contacts
• FaceTime
  • Find My
• GarageBand
• Home
• iMovie
• Keynote
• Mail
• Maps
• Messages
• Music
• News
• Notes
• Numbers
• Pages
• Photo Booth
• Photos
• Podcasts
• Preview
• QuickTime Player
• Reminders
• Safari
• Shortcuts
• Siri
• Stocks
• Time Machine
• TV
• Voice Memos

Linux Support

Linux support for the MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is limited, with some users reporting challenges in installation and compatibility. While some distributions may work, users may encounter issues with drivers and hardware compatibility.

Accessories & Warranty

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The MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with a USB-C to MagSafe 3 Cable for charging, a 67W or 96W USB-C Power Adapter, and standard paperwork.

Apple offers a one-year limited warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. Users can also purchase AppleCare+ for extended coverage.

Reviews Summary

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Overall Sentiment

The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is highly regarded for its exceptional build quality, outstanding display, and impressive performance. It is well-suited for demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and graphic design. The laptop's high-quality Mini-LED display, long battery life, and robust aluminum chassis make it a top choice for professionals and content creators.

However, the MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has some drawbacks, including limited upgradeability, a less appealing notch design, and a slightly bulky form factor compared to previous models. Despite these issues, the overall sentiment is positive, with many users praising its performance and build quality.

Problems Summary

• Limited upgradeability for RAM and storage (soldered components).
• Less appealing notch design on the display.
• Slightly bulky form factor compared to previous models.
• Limited SDR brightness (500 nits).
• Higher power consumption with the M1 Max, affecting battery life.
• Limited Linux support with potential compatibility issues.

Links

• MaxTech Review: Base Model vs. Unbinned Model
• MaxTech Review: 14-inch vs. 16-inch Model
• RTINGS Review
• NoteBookCheck Review: M1 Max
• NoteBookCheck Review: M1 Pro