The new MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) from Apple is the most exciting laptop the company has made in years. indeed, some may say that it wasn't hard to do, since Apple has been playing it safe with its MacBooks for quite sometimes. But while previous MacBooks made small, incremental upgrades over the years, the new MacBook Pro 13-inch features Apple's own M1 chip, which is truly revolutionary.
Apple has thus created its own chip rather than simply replacing the existing Intel chip in the new MacBook Pro 13-inch (and the new MacBook Air (M1, 2020) and Mac mini as well. This move sent shockwaves throughout the world ((and hit Intel's stock price hard), but the MacBook Pro 13-inch(M1, 2020) is an incredibly impressive piece of hardware, which has earned its place in our best laptops ranking.
It also boasts the longest battery life ever in a MacBook, with Apple promising an incredible 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback. For people who want a powerful workstation on the go, then, the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) is an incredibly tempting bit of kit. 




The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020) went on sale in November 2020, making it the second 13-inch MacBook Pro revision that year (there was an earlier Intel-based version released earlier in 2020). The base model starts at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999, and comes with the M1 chip with an 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, 256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM.

There is also a model with the same M1 chip, but 2TB SSD and 16GB of RAM, and that sells for $2,299 / £2,299 / AU$3,499. If you're a professional creative that's looking to do a lot of intensive video and 3D rending work on your new MacBook, this option is worth considering due to the extra RAM, and large amounts of storage space.

MACBOOK PRO 13-INCH (M1, 2020) REVIEW: KEY SPECS

CPU: Apple M1 (8-core)
Graphics: Integrated 8-core GPU
RAM: 8GB Unified PDDR4X-4266 MHz SDRAM
Screen: 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 Retina display (backlit LED, IPS, 500 nits brightness, wide color P3 gamut) Storage: 256GB SSD Ports: 2x Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C), 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.0
Camera: 720p FaceTime HD webcam
Weight: 3.0 pounds (1.4kg)
Size (W x D x H): 11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61" (30.41 x 21.24 x 1.56cm)

As with previous models of MacBook, you can't open it up and add more storage or RAM, which means if you're thinking you may need the extra space or memory, then buying it now will save frustration later. However, that does mean the MacBook Pro 13-inch remains a pricey investment.

One thing to point out, however, is that the price for the new MacBook Pro 13-inch with the M1 chip remains the same as the earlier 2020 model with an Intel processor. So, you're getting a boost in performance and battery life for the same asking price. That's something to commend Apple on, though it may be a bit of a bitter pill for people who have recently bought the Intel model.

2020 Apple MacBook Pro with Apple M1 Chip (13-inch, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD Storage) - Space Gray

 
Amazon'sChoicein Traditional Laptop Computers by Apple

256GB
    •  
Space Gray
    •  
Model NameMacBook Pro
BrandApple
Specific Uses For ProductPersonal, Gaming, Business
Screen Size13.3 Inches
16.0
Operating SystemMac OS

About this item

  • Apple-designed M1 chip for a giant leap in CPU, GPU, and machine learning performance
  • Get more done with up to 20 hours of battery life, the longest ever in a Mac
  • 8-core CPU delivers up to 2.8x faster performance to fly through workflows quicker than ever
  • 8-core GPU with up to 5x faster graphics for graphics-intensive apps and games
  • 16-core Neural Engine for advanced machine learning
  • 8GB of unified memory so everything you do is fast and fluid
  • Superfast SSD storage launches apps and opens files in an instant
  • Active cooling system sustains incredible performance
  • 13.3-inch Retina display with 500 nits of brightness for vibrant colors and incredible image detail
  • FaceTime HD camera with advanced image signal processor for clearer, sharper video calls