The Apple Macbook Pro M1 of late 2020 is aimed at content creators or Apple users. Expect some games to run and others not at all. One new thing is that you can play iPhone and iPad games, but it’s not the best experience yet. For the average user, this is a great laptop if your are willing to spend the money.
THE GOOD
- Good performance with M1
- Long-lasting battery life
- Supports iPhone/iPad apps
- Full sRGB coverage and accurate color
- Mostly quite
THE BAD
- Limited two Thunderbolt 3 ports
- 16GB of memory max
- Design looks outdated
- Old and bad webcam
- Some programs don’t run well
- No touchscreen
Is Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 worth it?
When reading and watching promising reviews, I’ve to say no, don’t buy this laptop. It’s Apple’s first run on a new way of computing. I really like what they are doing, hell I even considered using the Mac Mini as an HTPC because it supports some iPhone and iPad apps. But knowing how this goes, this first version, although great will probably be old news soon.
Is Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 good for gaming?
I wouldn’t recommend the Apple MacBook Pro of late 2020 for modern ‘PC’ games. The gaming experience isn’t optimized yet for the M1 processor. This can be seen as the average FPS collected from some reviewers isn’t always at or above the recommended 60FPS. If you want to know if your favorite game is supported, go to Apple Silicon Games. Keep in mind that it’s possible you need an extra application like Crossover, Stadia, or GeForce Now to play your game. However you can also iPhone and iPad (IOS) games, but keep in mind the controls can feel weird.
GAME BENCHMARKS
Game Settings
Average fps, more FPS is better
Low
Medium
High
Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018)
57.5
24.5
23.0
Total War: Three Kingdoms (2019)
93.4
33.0
20.6
Borderlands 3 (2019)
30.4
20.3
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Is Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 good for creators?
This MacBook Pro just is amazing with the M1 chip. There were reviews telling that the Mac Mini (it has the same chip as the MacBook Pro) crushes a $2000+ video editing Windows machine with ease. Know you have to watch out for using Adobe Premiere Pro. Photoshop 2021 Béta version for Mac M1 runs well and is on par with other machines using.
Which Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 should I buy?
In my opinion, the MacBook Pro with the M1 processor is aimed at content creators. You need a lot of memory for future-proofing your MacBook Pro, you would like to last at least 2 years. Also, I recommend buying at least 512GB of storage so you can have some files and applications stored without having an external drive with you every time.
M1
PROCESSOR16GB
MEMORY512GB
SSD STORAGEBest Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 accessoires
Below are the best Apple Macbook pro accessories and peripherals to have. The HyperDrive USB C Hub allows you to connect more to your laptop than only 2 USB-c dongles. The Hyperdrive integrates into your MacBook design while giving access to at least 7 ports like HDMI, SD card, USB A, and so on. For the keyboard, most recommend Logitech Craft for its great typing experience and very useful dial. Lastly, the Logitech MX Master 3 is a great mouse that is also comfortable to use.
Apple MacBook Pro (Late 2020) M1 alternatives
Some of the alternatives to the Apple Macbook Pro M1 are the Dell XPS 13 9310, Asus Zephyrus G14, and the HP Spectre x360 15t. Dell XPS 13 9310 mostly chosen as the best ultrabook Windows laptop available by a lot of reviewers. Asus Zephyrus G14 chosen by most reviewers as the best ultralight gaming laptop. HP Spectre x360 15t has such a unique design and feel to it, it really has some good aesthetics.