So you’re looking for your next laptop and you want to know if you should run out and spend your money on the new 2020 MacBook Pro 13. After pouring through what the top experts think, here’s a roundup of their recommendations:
The new 2020 MacBook Pro 13” has some great improvements and there’s a lot to like about it such as the new keyboard. But in reality, the new 13” MacBook Pro is more of a refresh and isn’t going to be the best option for everyone.
Models
There are basically two models of the 2020 MacBook Pro 13” to choose from. There’s the base model that starts at $1,299 and comes with the 8th Generation Intel Core i-5 processor. This is the same processor as in last year’s model. The upgraded model comes with the 10th generation Intel Core i-5 processor starting at $1,799 and can be upgraded to the 10th generation i-7 processor. If you add all the bells and whistles, the price can reach a whopping $3,599.
One area of controversy is that the base model of the 2020 MacBook Pro has the same processor as last year. But David Lee makes a great point that the performance difference between the 8th generation and 10th generation is actually small and for some users isn’t needed. For example, if you’re not doing graphically intense work like video or photo editing you probably don’t need the extra performance. But while the performance difference is small, the price of going to the 10th Generation processor costs $100-$150 more and this is a big deal for many consumers. So the good thing about the base model with last year’s processor is that if you don’t need the performance boost, then you’re not stuck paying for the upgrade. But if you need it and/or have the money, you can have it.
David Lee on the Good and Bad of the Processors
But this puts the 13” MacBook Pro in a tough spot. Marquese Brownlee describes it as being the “ackward middle child” of the family of Mac laptops. On one end there’s the MacAir which has very similar features and specs but is significantly less expensive. And on the other end is the 16” MacBook Pro that costs about the same as the upgraded 13” MacBook but has significantly better specs.
Marquese Brownlee on Where the MacBook Pro 2020 Fits In
Keyboard
As we mentioned earlier, the keyboard is the biggest and most loved improvement. For years there have been complaints about Apple’s Butterfly keyboard. Users found the typing experience to be poor and the keyboard prone to problems.
For 2020, the 13” Macbook pro gets the scissor style keyboard that’s in the MacAir and 16” Macbook Pro. The new keyboard is a huge upgrade. It feels better, sounds better and is more reliable. In short, The Tech Chap sums up the experts’ feelings: “The new keyboard is Great!”
The Tech Chap Summing Up the New Keyboard
Performance
How does the 13” MacBook Pro do on performance? While not a gaming computer, this laptop can hold its own on performance. The Quad-core processor is fast. The downside of all this performance is that it can get quite warm when doing high processing intensive tasks. And ultimately more heat over time can impact the life of components. If you like to geek out a bit on the technical comparisons, check out the tests that Linus Tech Tips runs.
Linus Getting Geeky with Tech Comparisons
Other Good Stuff
Beyond the keyboard, not much has changed but there’s still a lot to like about the 13” MacBook Pro. One thing to like is the form factor. Again, it’s about the same size as last year, but it packs a lot of performance in a small package. iJustine uses a 16” MacBook Pro but when she held the new 13” she raved, “It’s so light. I love it.”
iJustine Reacting to the From Factor
Another thing to like are the speakers. Simply put the sound is great. Universally the experts love the speakers. In fact, Unbox Therapy goes as far as saying “Apple is doing the best job in the game with laptop speakers.”
Unbox Therapy on the Speakers
The Not So Good (aka Bad)
While there’s a lot to like about the 13” MacBook Pro, the camera is a glaring miss. It’s 720p. Com’on Apple. We live in a world where most of us are on multiple video meetings a day via our computers. And it’s not like Apple doesn’t have good camera technology. Just look at what they pack in the iPhone. But for some reason, we get a pretty crappy camera that makes you look pretty crappy on screen.
To Sum It Up
The 13” MacBook Pro is a great computer and packs a ton of performance in a small form factor. It also has the improved keyboard which provides great usability and durability, something the previous keyboard lacked. But when you think about where you get the best value for your money you really have to consider your use case carefully to determine if the 13” MacBook Pro is for you.
UrAvgConsumer does a good job of laying out your choices. If you want portability and aren’t doing tasks like video or photo editing that require higher performance, then you can save a few bucks by going with the MacAir. If you have a little more cash to spend, want portability and need a bit more performance, then the base model of the 13” MacBook Pro is for you. But if you’re thinking about specing out the 13” for performance, then you have to consider the 16” MacBook Pro because it is much more capable of getting serious work done.