13in MacBook Pro M2 Reviews: Worth An Upgrade?

The MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) is a laptop of contradictions. It’s revolutionary… but plays it safe. Exciting… but a bit boring. It’s a strange choice… and also makes complete sense.

The good news is that it comes with Apple’s brand-new M2 chip, which the company promises offers a 40% performance increase over the M1, yet it remains the same price as the previous model, starting at $1,299 / £1,299 / AU$1,999. For anyone who was just about to buy a MacBook Pro 13-inch (M1, 2020), getting the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) instead is a bit of a no-brainer, as you’re kind of getting the M2 upgrade for free.

That lack of a price rise does come at a… well… price, however, as the MacBook Pro 13-inch (M2, 2022) features the same design as the previous model – and the one before that. If you love the look of the old MacBooks, this won’t be an issue, but the lack of new design does make it feel a bit left out by Apple

None of this is to say the 13-inch MacBook is a bad device. It decidedly is not. It’s effectively the last 13-inch MacBook wrapped around a better processor. It’s hard to get mad about that. It’s just that, in a line that contains the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the forthcoming 13-inch Air, it feels entirely unnecessary.

That’s not a complaint you can levy that often against a company like Apple, which has traditionally gone to great pains to pare down its product lines. And while more choice is generally a good thing, for most consumers in most situations, it’s frankly not a tough decision.

In my hands-on experience, it felt like exactly what it is — a modest internal bump to the M1 version. When the M1 chips launched, I was excited that I could easily edit and play back 4K video clips, only running into a little stuttering when I applied real-time effects and color correction in Premiere. The M2 version was even better, but not as good as the video editing we tried on our MacBook Pro and Mac Studio systems, using the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.

I love the new MacBook Air design and its upgrades to the display and webcam. I suspect the 13-inch Pro will appeal to only a very specific subset of shoppers, such as those who want the better cooling and who want to jump into the Pro line without spending $2,000 or more.

For everyone else, I’d suggest waiting to see what the M2 version of the MacBook Air can do when it arrives sometime in July.

If you want an Apple MacBook Pro, this 13-inch model is the most affordable option. It lacks the new design and larger screen of the 14-inch model, but the price differential is extraordinary: The 14-inch starts from $1,999, that’s $700 more.

While the new design is fantastic, that price difference is a huge chasm. I think many people will be more than happy with the MacBook Pro 13-inch’s classic design with a display just 0.9 inches smaller (and no notch). You get a Pro-tier laptop with the fastest M2 processor available for a price that’s just $100 more than the Air with its lower-speed chip. Fans of the Touch Bar seeking an upgrade will appreciate this model as an easy—and only—choice.

If you’re used to the the performance of a MacBook Pro and intend to do processor-intensive tasks involving video and imaging, the MacBook Pro 13-inch is the real deal and terrific value.

Apple doesn’t miss. The new MacBook 13 delivers on every one of the company’s claims. The new M2 chip is more powerful than both its predecessor and the current Windows PC competition hands down. And who’s going to complain about over 18 hours of battery life? Nobody, that’s who.

However, with all this impressive power, it would have been nice to get a new design, a new display or at least a new color. I still yearn slimmer bezels and more ports. If you are looking to save a few bucks and get somewhat comparable performance and a brighter display, consider the $999 Asus ZenBook UX325EA. But if you’re looking for the fastest, most powerful premium laptop in the land, then you’ve come to the right place.

Apple has given customers a tough choice to make with its latest, M2-powered laptops. Want the best, most powerful version of the M2 chip? Then the 13in MacBook pro offers the best value, and with the excellent touch bar to boot. But if the thinner, lighter MacBook air with its 13.6in screen and lightning charging connector appeal, then you can save £100, but you’ll lack the ultimate M2 power (and you’ll need to wait a little for its debut next month).

If you’re a pro user, aspire to be, or just want to run lots of programs without your computer breaking a sweat, then the classic design, the superbly fast performance and that touch bar may see you rushing for this new, yet familiar, 13in MacBook pro.