At this month's WWDC, Apple introduced the M2, the next significant edition of their Apple Silicon chipset. The M2 chipset was released with a new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, just like the M1. The MacBook Air is attractive, but the consumer MacBook Pro occupies a difficult position in the portfolio once again.


There are better options available than this Mac laptop.


Let's start with one of the MacBook Pro's most enticing features. It has greater power than the new MacBook Air and the previous M1 MacBook Pro it replaces thanks to the M2 processor and additional cooling. Is this the laptop for you if you require a lot of power? No. On paper, Apple's 14-inch MacBook Pro running the M1 Pro appears to be more powerful (although we are still waiting on full benchmarks). Even quicker is the M1 Max.


There are better MacBook Pro laptops if you're seeking for a lot of power. If you only need enough for day-to-day tasks, the M2's increased power in the MacBook Air is more than adequate a lower cost.


Perhaps the opportunity to configure up to 24 GB of RAM has piqued your interest, but if you're trying to push the boundaries of specs, the 14-inch and 16-inch versions will better serve you with more RAM... Next year, these bigger versions will be renamed M2 Pro and M2 Max, respectively.


Then there's the design, or rather, its lack thereof. At the debut of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models last year, Apple improved the MacBook Pro's aesthetic appeal and design. The MacBook Air now has that design, giving it the distinction of looking and feeling brand new. The MagSafe connector is back for a safer way to physically charge the laptop; a brighter display with a wider range of colors, a stronger webcam to support multiple modes of working in 2022, and, of course, reworked internals to support the new chipset with improved cooling for lower running temperatures.


The Touch Bar and the same old design that debuted in 2016 on Intel-powered Macs are still there in the new MacBook Pro.

After all, this is the cheapest MacBook Pro, so the value for money could be enticing. However, this appears to be a waste of money. Even with its little price increase, the new MacBook Air strikes a superior combination of performance, pricing, design, and desirability in my opinion.

A tired design that misses out on the latest technology; Apple has many options better than the new MacBook Pro. Not enough power for those who want to go out to the edge, overpowered for day-to-day use; and a tired design that misses out on the latest technology; Apple has many options better than the new MacBook Pro.