At WWDC in June, Apple up to date the 13-inch MacE book Pro with an M2 chip, however nothing else has actually modified in comparison with the M1 model that launched in 2020 (aside from the worth which has elevated in sure components of the world, however not within the U.S.). But whereas the brand new 13-inch MacE book Pro lacks the impression of the the MacE book Air, which has seen a whole redesign and gained a bigger display screen, must you think about shopping for one?
You can preorder an M2 MacE book Pro at Apple.com, Best Buy, and different shops now for supply June 24.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Design
You’d be hard-pressed to inform the M1 and M2 MacE book Pro aside. Nothing has modified between the 2 fashions. It’s not that the design isn’t lovely and sensible, it’s simply that it seems dated in distinction with the redesigned 2022 MacE book Air, and the 14-inch MacE book Pro, each of which share an identical design language.
If you sit a 13-inch MacE book Pro down beside any of the opposite Mac laptops you’ll discover that the bezels across the fringe of the show are loads thicker and the display screen smaller. However, there’s one potential profit to this, relying in your viewpoint. The 13-inch MacE book Pro is now the one Mac laptop computer (aside from the M1 MacE book Air that’s nonetheless on sale) that doesn’t function a notch.
The function of the notch is to include the digicam, permitting Apple to cut back the bezel on the high and stretch the display screen up slightly increased. Some suppose that the notch spoils the design, others notice that it doesn’t actually lead to any much less workable area as a result of the menu is positioned both facet of the notch (though it may well get in the way in which in full display screen mode). It’s a compromise you must make if you need a bigger show.

The 13-inch M2 MacE book Pro seems the identical because the M1 mannequin.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Touch Bar
There is one different function of the 13-inch MacE book Pro that units it except for each different Mac. This is the one mannequin that retains the Touch Bar, a function that Apple added to the MacE book Pro again in 2016 and faraway from the 14-inch and 16-inch Pros in 2021.
The Touch Bar is a divisive function – some discover it extremely helpful, others can’t see the purpose. It basically replaces the operate keys with a LED strip that may be robotically adjusted to go well with the app you’re utilizing. It’s fairly helpful for scrubbing via video in an editor, for instance, or for including emoji or correcting typos.
But the marketplace for the Touch Bar was at all times presupposed to be the facility customers of apps corresponding to Photoshop and Final Cut Pro, and it turned out they didn’t need it. Now that it’s gone from each different mannequin, it appears unlikely that the Touch Bar will survive one other replace. So, if you’re a fan this can be your final alternative to purchase one.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Display
The show measurement of the 13-inch MacE book Pro hasn’t modified because the 2009 13-inch MacE book Pro. It’s truly a tad larger than 13 inchesat 13.3 inches measured diagonally and is now the smallest laptop computer Apple sells after the M2 MacE book Air display screen acquired a bump to 13.6 inches.
Display expertise has improved since 2009, however lately not a lot. You can count on 2560×1600 pixels, 500 nits brightness, large color (P3) and True Tone expertise (which implies that the colors and brightness alter based on the ambient gentle – making it simpler in your eyes). None of those options are any totally different to the earlier era.
If you need a greater show one of the best choices come from the 14- and 16-inch MacE book Pro, the place you’ll discover Liquid Retina XDR show’s with 1,000 nits sustained full-screen, 1,600 nits peak brightness and ProMovement expertise for adaptive refresh charges as much as 120Hz. And the MacE book Air has a Liquid Retina show with rounded corners and assist for a billion colours.

The M2 MacE book Pro’s show hasn’t modified.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Specs
The actual distinction between the M1 and M2 MacE book Pro is what’s on the within. There are two commonplace M2 MacE book Pro:
- 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory (as much as 24GB), 256GB SSD Storage (as much as 2TB): $1,299/£1,349
- 8-Core CPU, 10-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory (as much as 24GB), 512GB SSD Storage (as much as 2TB): $1,499/£1,549
The M1 MacE book Pro additionally had two commonplace fashions:
- 8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory (as much as 16GB), 256GB SSD Storage (as much as 2TB): $1,299/£1,299
- 8-Core CPU, 8-Core GPU, 8GB Unified Memory (as much as 16GB), 512GB SSD Storage (as much as 2TB): $1,499/£1,499
As you’ll be able to see, the M2 chip gives an a variety of benefits, together with 10-core graphics and as much as 24GB unified reminiscence, in comparison with 8-core graphics and as much as 16GB reminiscence.
The further graphics cores and the power to assist 24GB reminiscence may very well be purpose sufficient to decide on the newer MacE book Pro, however the M2 brings greater than that. The M2 delivers improves efficiency and effectivity for a quicker CPU and a extra highly effective GPU. There’s additionally a 40 p.c quicker Neural Engine and 50 p.c extra reminiscence bandwidth.
We’re hoping to have benchmarks for the M2 quickly, and we’ll replace this text as quickly as now we have comparable knowledge. We count on slight enhancements of roughly 20 p.c over the M1, however don’t count on the M2 to beat the M1 Pro or different variants of the M1.
Another hidden enchancment pertains to the audio capabilities of this Mac laptop computer. While the brand new M2 MacE book Pro doesn’t provide the four-speaker sound system of the M2 MacE book Air, the brand new mannequin does acquire assist for Spatial Audio when taking part in music or video with Dolby Atmos on built-in audio system. This consists of Spatial Audio with dynamic head monitoring when utilizing AirPods (third era), AirPods Pro and AirPods Max.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Battery life
Battery life is simply the identical because the M1 mannequin, at 20 hours. However, it’s attainable that a few of the enhancements within the M2 processor may result in battery enhancements. We’ll replace this text as quickly as now we have some knowledge on testing.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Ports and peripherals
Where the M2 MacE book Air has simply gained an additional port within the type of MagSafe, which implies that you don’t have to offer one in every of your USB/Thunderbolt ports over to charging, the M2 13-inch MacE book Pro nonetheless solely gives the identical two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports as its predecessor.
There is a slight change to the three.5mm headphone jack, which now provides assist for high-impedance headphones.
The solely different distinction is that the M2 MacE book Pro ships with a 67W Power Adapter, fairly than the 61W Power Adapter of the older mannequin. Theoretically this might pace up charging, but it surely’s not more likely to make an enormous distinction because the 13-inch MacE book Pro doesn’t assist quick charging.
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Price
While the worth for the 2022 era of 13-inch MacE book Pro hasn’t modified within the U.S., it has in different counties.
The M2 13-inch MacE book Pro begins at $1,299/£1,349. It beforehand price $1,299/£1,299.
The M2 13-inch MacE book Pro with 512GB SSD prices $1,499/£1,549. The equal mannequin price $1,499/£1,499.
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that there’s a equally speced M2 MacE book Air out there for a similar value because the dearer MacE book Pro. You can get an M2 MacE book Air with 512GB SSD and 10-core GPU for $1,499/£1,549. If you’re torn between the MacE book Air and MacE book Pro we’ve in contrast the variations between the 2 fashions.
While resellers unload the M1 MacE book Pro you might be able to decide up some bargains under:

$1199.99
Free
Not Available
13-inch MacE book Pro M1 vs M2: Our suggestion
We’ll have extra to say concerning the M2 MacE book Pro once we overview it, however for a lot of the attraction of the brand new design of the MacE book Air, together with its larger, higher and brighter show, and an identical value, might be a giant think about a call to not purchase the M2 13-inch MacE book Pro. However, facet by facet with the mannequin, the efficiency enhancements shut the hole some between it and the higher-priced MacE book Pros.