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Apple MacBook Pro (14-inch, M6) review: Speedy M6 chip slips into comfortable shoes
While the base MacBook Pro design is getting a bit tired, Apple’s new M6 chip gives the 14-inch MacBook even more pep in its step.
M6 continues Apple’s track record of solid year-over-year performance upgrades
Memory and SSD upgrades are more expensive than ever before
Design is starting to look a bit stale after 5 years
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It’s that time of the year again, which means that Apple has released yet another refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro using a legacy chassis. While it looks the same as last year’s M5 models on the outside, it has some key hardware upgrades underneath that address performance and connectivity.
This time around, we have a MacBook Pro using the new M6 chip that was first introduced in the refreshed Mac Mini. In addition, Apple has outfitted the MacBook Pro with Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity courtesy of the in-house Apple N1 chip.
Thanks to industry-wide price hikes on memory and storage, Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro now starts at $1,999.
Apple has been using the same design for its entry-level MacBook Pro since 2021, and there are no changes this year (if you want a slightly refreshed design, check out the touch screen-enabled 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros). It’s still a good-looking laptop, but it’s showing its age. Our MacBook Pro review unit came finished in silver instead of space black. While space black looks great, it’s a fingerprint magnet, so many people might prefer the lighter finish, which better hides your skin oils.
The notch at the top of the display now seems archaic, especially after seeing the Dynamic Island on the pricier MacBook Pros. The notch is always staring back at you, even though I have mostly gotten used to it over the years. The main thing going in the notch’s favor is that it resides in the same space as the menu bar, which limits the visual annoyance.