[imagesource: Future]

As with everything Apple makes, the new MacBook Pro laptop is very easy on the eye.

That much we have come to expect, but it’s what’s under the hood of the MacBook Pro that is worth a closer look.

Specifically, the MacBook Pro 14-inch that was announced in October as part of Apple’s ‘Unleashed’ event.

Now that the dust has settled the reviews are pouring in and they’re pretty unanimous.

TechRadar calls this powerful machine “the best laptop for creative professionals you can buy right now. It offers amazing performance, even on battery, and comes with the best screen you’ll find on a laptop anywhere.”

The five-star review continues:

Powered by a choice of the M1 Pro and M1 Max, Apple’s most impressive chips so far, this is hands-down the best laptop for creative professionals we’ve ever tested, combining the best form and power that Apple can muster in a portable shell.

The Guardian’s techies also scored it five stars and are mightily impressed by the power of it all:

The new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips have performance rivalling most workstation-level machines from competitors but at a fraction of the power consumption. They are significantly faster than all previous Apple laptops and close to the most expensive Mac desktops…

Image: Samuel Gibbs / The Guardian

The MacBook Pro is no longer a consumer laptop. Instead, it is the best compact pro-grade workhorse I’ve ever used. If you’re an Apple-using creative or developer in need of an upgrade, this is the machine for you. You’ll pay a princely sum for it but it is absolutely brilliant.

Ah yes, the sum.

We checked on Digicape, South Africa’s largest independent Apple retailer, to see the damage.

The MacBook Pro 14-inch comes in two colours, silver or space grey, both of which retail for R36 299.

Maybe that’s a stretch for somebody who just uses their laptop to send emails and watch Netflix, but if it’s you’re a creative and you use it for work then it can be considered an investment in your craft.

Stuff agrees in yet another five-star review:

The clue is in the name: this is a MacBook Pro. If you don’t need its power and ports, it’s overkill…

Image: Future

On the flip side, if you work in a field that can take advantage of this notebook’s tech, you’ll be laughing – and thrilled that Apple is again listening to what pros require.

Creatives will tell you that time is money.

With a machine as powerful as the MacBook Pro you won’t be wasting either provided you’re in a field that can make the most of its incredible capabilities.

Digicape does also offer trade-ins if you’re keen to knock down that starting price.

They accept most brands of smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches as well as Apple TVs, laptops and desktop computers. You can use the value of the trade-ins as a discount on a new device or as credit to use later.

[sources:techradar&guardian&stuff]