Apple MacBook Pro M1 (16.2-inch, 2021)

Stunning display ; Amazing performance ; The ports and MagSafe are back

RAM upgrades are expensive

Sporting a stunning display, wildly powerful internals and the re-addition of important ports, the MacBook Pro 2021 rights the wrongs of the past few iterations of Apple’s flagship laptop.

Incredible XDR display ; Fantastic creative performance ; Extensive port selection ; Keyboard and trackpad are perfect ; Excellent speakers and webcam ; Endless battery life

Notch is a distraction

“It's the best MacBook Pro since 2015. And yes, it has a notch.”

Excellent performance ; Stunning mini-LED display ; Extremely long battery life ; Plenty of ports

Large ; Heavy ; Expensive

Seriously powerful components ; Exceptional battery life ; Impressive audio performance ; HDMI output and SD card reader ; High-quality 1080p webcam ; Gorgeous Mini-LED display ; High-quality keyboard, huge touchpad

M1 Max CPU option, as tested, represents poor value for most workloads ; Configuration upticks are expensive ; Obtrusive camera notch ; Weighs nearly 5 pounds

The new ultimate Mac laptop, the 2021 Apple MacBook Pro 16-Inch is a finely engineered, high-octane workstation that will thrill content creators. The pumped-up M1 Max silicon in our tester, though, is beyond mere bragging rights—it's reserved for...

Breathtaking display ; Impressive speakers ; Improved connectivity ; Hugely powerful

Expensive ; Heavy ; No Centre Stage ; Value reliant on specific workflows

The most niche of MacBooks is also the most impressive. But even if you ditch the M1 Max, there’s a lot to like.

Superb mini-LED screen ; Incredibly powerful ; Great battery life

A touch heavy

All told, the performance, display and battery life make the MacBook Pro 16in (2021, M1 Pro) a pretty special laptop. Indeed, there’s no other machine on the market that can match its all-round capabilities.

HDMI and SD card ports return ; MagSafe power connection is back ; Bigger, better, brighter screen with slimmer bezels ; New great-looking 1080p webcam ; Huge leap in graphics performance over earlier M1 systems ; Function keys replace the Touch Bar

Higher-end configs quickly drive up the price ; Screen has a notch for the webcam

Superb CPU and GPU performance ; Impressive battery life ; Outstanding Liquid Retina Display ; Improved connectivity, keyboard and webcam

Expensive ; Limited upgrade options ; Slightly heavier than its predecessor

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Screen tech ; Excellent build quality ; Amazingly fast!

Price ; Notch (for some)

Fast, with a razor-sharp screen, excellent build quality, and a happy reunion with MagSafe, HDMI and SD card readers, the 16in MacBook Pro with M1 Max is a high ranking professional computer. This is not a computer for the average user - if that's you...