Everyone was hyped about the 2021 MacBook Pro with M1 chips and so was the CWH team. Fortunately, we got our hands on the new 14-inch MacBook early on and put together this unboxing video on it. We took a look at the reintroduction of ports, the build quality and of course the infamous notch at the top of the screen. Here are some first thoughts and impressions when we did our unboxing.
General First Impressions
One of the first things we noticed taking the MacBook out of the box was the weight. It came in at 3.5 pounds and feel heavier than previous models. Within the packaging, we also see the typical user manuals and packaging as expected, but we also got a black sticker this time around instead of the traditional white ones. So if you like to collect the Apple stickers, you will enjoy this small goodie as a part of the unboxing experience.
Another thing you will notice is the notch. The notch was a big talking point on social media with most people finding it annoying. However, it is not that bad. The notch is barely noticeable and it allows you to have so much more screen real estate as the bezels are pushed out to the ends of the laptop. Finally, there is no touch bar anymore as they brought back the keys for the top row.
Ports are Back
Finally, the ports are back. We love this feature on the new MacBook! There is no need to grab a dongle for your USB and HDMI ports so you don’t have to worry about forgetting a dongle anymore. Along with the ports, the new MacBook Pro also reintroduces the Magsafe charger. Unfortunately, this is the Magsafe 3 charger which means any old Magsafe chargers will not be compatible with the 2021 MacBook Pro.
Size and Comparisons
The 2021 MacBook Pro is one of the thicker laptops to come out of Apple’s lineup in recent years. It is bigger than the 2020 MacBook Air model for sure both in width, weight and screen size. It is more closely aligned with the size of the 2016 MacBook Pro in terms of width. The picture below shows a side-by-side comparison. Though we have yet to test it out, the increased size should allow for better battery performance.
Overview
We had a fun time opening up the 2021 MacBook Pro with the M1 chip. We definitely like the direction Apple took in their latest Pro model as they provide functionality. The reintroduction of ports and Magsafe charger definitely provides practical uses that we have missed.
Have you used the new MacBook Pro? Are you thinking of upgrading from an older MacBook? Check out our full unboxing video in the YouTube video below to get a full viewing of the MacBook.