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ToggleApple MacBook Pro 16.2 M1 Pro Review: Best Laptop for Professionals
Apple has always been known for its innovative, high-quality products, especially laptops. The MacBook Pro series is one of the most popular and powerful laptops in the market, offering a great combination of performance, design, and features. However, Apple has taken things to a new level with the latest MacBook Pro model, the Apple MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR Display 16.2 MK1F3JA.
According to the Apple website, the Apple MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR Display 16.2 MK1F3JA was released to the market in Japan on October 26, 2021. This model features the Apple M1 Pro chip. The display also supports ProMotion technology for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz. The computer is available in silver or space gray colors.
What’s New in the Apple MacBook Pro 16.2?
It is one of the first laptops to feature the Apple M1 Pro chip, a custom-designed processor that improves the laptop’s CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance. This chip has ten (10) cores, 8 of which are high-performance cores and 2 of which are efficiency cores.
M1 Pro chip also provides a longer battery life than previous models. According to Apple, this laptop can last up to 21 hours on a single charge, which is impressive for such a powerful device.
Design and Display: Sleek and Stunning
It reflects Apple’s signature style. The laptop has an aluminum body in silver and space gray. The laptop weighs 4.7 pounds (2.1 kg) and measures 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) in thickness, which makes it relatively thin and light for its size.
The display supports HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats, which means it can show more details in dark and bright areas of the image. Moreover, it supports up to 120Hz refresh rate and adaptive sync, which means it can adjust its refresh rate according to the content you are viewing or creating. Hence, it makes the display smoother and more responsive for gaming, scrolling, or drawing. Aside from that, the screen display also has True Tone technology, which automatically adjusts according to the ambient light around you.
Performance and Battery Life: Fast and Furious
Furthermore, it has an Apple M1 Pro chip, one of the most advanced processors in the market today. The M1 Pro chip has ten (10) cores: 8 high-performance cores and two (2) efficiency cores. The high-performance cores can handle demanding tasks such as video editing, 3D rendering, and gaming, while efficiency cores can handle lighter tasks such as web browsing, email, and music. It also has a 16-core GPU, which can handle graphics-intensive tasks such as gaming, video editing, and 3D.
Moreover, it has 16GB of memory and 1TB of SSD storage. This memory is enough for multitasking and running multiple applications, while the SSD storage is fast and reliable for storing your files and programs.
On top of that, it has a remarkable battery life of up to 21 hours on a single charge. Similarly, it supports fast charging, providing up to 50% charge in 30 minutes.
Keyboard and Touchpad: Smooth and Responsive
The Apple MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR Display 16.2 MK1F3JA has a full-size backlit keyboard. The keyboard also has a Touch ID sensor and a fingerprint scanner to unlock your laptop with your finger.
Additionally, it has a large touchpad that supports multi-touch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom, swipe-to-scroll, and tap-to-click. The touchpad also has Force Touch technology, which means it can sense how much pressure you apply and provide haptic feedback accordingly.
Speakers and Microphone: Loud and Clear
Surprisingly, it has a six-speaker system delivers high-fidelity sound with deep bass and crisp highs. The sound system also supports spatial audio, which means it can create a surround effect that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the action. In addition, it supports Dolby Atmos, an advanced audio format that can create a three-dimensional sound field that immerses you in the sound.
This laptop also has a three-microphone that captures your voice clearly and accurately. The microphones have directional beamforming technology, so you can focus on your voice and filter out background noise. Likewise, they have studio-quality performance for recording high-quality audio for podcasts, voice calls, or music production.
Ports and Connectivity: Versatile and Convenient
The Apple MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR Display 16.2 MK1F3JA has four Thunderbolt 4 ports that support USB 4, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery. These ports are versatile and convenient for connecting devices such as monitors, external drives, cameras, or chargers. Also, the ports support up to 40 Gbps data transfer speed and 100W power output.
Furthermore, it has an HDMI 2.0 port. This port connects your laptop to a TV or projector for watching movies or giving presentations.
Another cool feature of this laptop is its headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones and digital audio output. This port is handy for listening to music or watching videos with your favorite headphones or speakers.
Webcam and FaceTime HD: Sharp
Similarly, it has a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that captures your face in high resolution and detail. The camera also supports a wide color gamut and HDR for more colors and contrast in your image and helps the Center Stage to keep you in the center of the frame.
Software and Security: Updated and Reliable
Most of the new models of Apple products follow its latest software. It runs with macOS Monterey, the most recent version of Apple’s operating system for Mac computers. macOS Monterey has many new features and improvements that enhance performance, productivity, and security. Some of the new features of macOS Monterey are:
- Universal Control allows you to use a single mouse and keyboard to seamlessly control multiple Mac or iPad devices.
- Shortcuts allow you to create custom workflows and automate tasks with simple commands.
- Safari has a redesigned interface and features tab groups, extensions, and privacy reports.
- Focus allows you to customize your notifications and apps according to your activity or mood.
- iCloud+ provides enhanced cloud storage and security services such as private relay, hide my email, and home kit secure video.
Also, it has many security features that protect your laptop from malware, hackers, and thieves. Some of the security features are:
- Touch ID that helps you unlock your computer with your fingerprint.
- Secure Enclave stores your biometric data and encryption keys in a hardware chip.
- FileVault encrypts your entire drive and requires a password to access it.
- Find My allows you to locate, lock, or erase your laptop remotely if lost or stolen.
- Activation Lock prevents anyone from using or erasing your computer without your Apple ID and password.
Pros and Cons
The Apple MacBook Pro 16.2 (2022) is a remarkable laptop with many advantages and disadvantages. Below are some of the pros and cons of this laptop:
Pros:
- This laptop has stunning display brightness, contrast, and color accuracy.
- With a great processor that can handle any task precisely
- It has a long battery life of up to 21 hours on a single charge.
- It has a sleek and elegant design that reflects Apple’s signature style.
- A full-size keyboard provides a comfortable and quiet typing experience.
- It has a six-speaker sound system with high-fidelity sound, deep bass, and crisp highs.
- With four Thunderbolt 4 ports that support USB 4, DisplayPort, and Power Delivery.
- It has an HDMI 2.0 port and a 1080p FaceTime HD camera that captures your face in high resolution and detail.
- It runs on macOS Monterey, which is the latest version of Apple’s operating system for Mac computers.
Cons:
- It is expensive compared to other laptops in the market.
- It has a notch on the top of the screen that some users might find annoying or distracting.
- Also, it is incompatible with some Windows-only software or games that some users might want to use on their laptops.
Should You Buy the Apple MacBook Pro Liquid Retina XDR Display 16.2?
Well, it is a laptop with features and performance that can satisfy any user who needs a powerful and versatile device for their work or entertainment. However, it is also a laptop with a hefty price tag and some limitations that might deter some users from looking for a more affordable or compatible device.
Therefore, the decision to buy this laptop depends on your personal preferences, needs, and budget. If you are looking for a high-end laptop with a stunning display, a powerful processor, and a long battery life, Apple Macbook pro 16.2 M1 Pro can be a great option. However, if you are on a budget or prefer a different operating system, consider other great laptops in the market.
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to comment below. Thanks for reading, and see you at the next one!
Disclosure: This article is an active participant in the Amazon Associates Program, an affiliate initiative exclusively designed to enable websites to earn referral fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.jp. We only endorse the products and services we have tested and strongly believe in; hence, our recommendations are rooted in this unwavering trust.
M. Dochi is a former architecture graduate and a licensed architect who traded in his blueprints for a new adventure in Japan. With courage, he followed his heart and found a job that aligned better with his interests, ultimately bringing him joy and fulfillment.
In addition, M. Dochi has a passion for acquiring new languages. He constantly seeks innovative ways to broaden his knowledge and improve his Japanese and English skills.
When it comes to shopping, he's an actual investigator! He takes the extra time to research and compare products to ensure he's getting the best value for his money. Not only that, but he's also honing his English skills by writing reviews and sharing his thoughts on anything that interests him.