Say hello to the new MacBook Pro

At the recently concluded “Unleashed” event Apple made a set of announcements, including the much-awaited M1 MacBook Pro. So, in case you missed the show here are all the important updates.

Two new MacBook Pro models

Apple unveiled two new MacBook Pro models and it looks like the tech giant finally listened to the many user complaints about its laptops. As such, the Touch Bar is now gone and replaced with a function row. They’ve added back quite a few ports including an HDMI port, three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SD card slot, and the MagSafe (MagSafe 3) charger. The headphone jack is also back and now supports higher impedance headphones.

The displays have also gotten an update with ProMotion, Apple’s adaptive refresh rate tech, coming to the new MacBook Pros. This means refresh rates will now top out at 120Hz. Speaking of new displays, Apple’s new laptops will house a massive notch with a screen that stretches to a 12:10 ratio.

The new MacBook Pro models are available in 14-inch and 16-inch versions. The 14-inch model starts at USD 1,999 (~LKR 400,000*) and the 16-inch at USD 2,499 (~LKR 500,000*). A fully spec’d model will run you at a whopping USD 6,598.98 on the Apple Store.

Upgraded M1 chips

The tech giant also released two new M1 chips, namely the M1 Pro and the M1 Max. The M1 Pro will feature a 10-core CPU that includes eight performance cores and two efficiency cores. It will also include a 16-core GPU with 2,048 execution units, better RAM support (up to 32GB) configurations, and a 200GB/s memory bandwidth.

The M1 Max takes things even higher. It features the same 10-core CPU configuration. But it ships with a 32-core GPU (4,096 execution units), RAM up to 64GB, and double the memory bandwidth (400GB/s) of the M1 Pro chip.

Regardless of how you feel about the Pro/Max naming scheme, the new chips are a beefy upgrade. For those on Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro, this means you get to take full advantage of the new chips, thanks to the updated software.

New Airpods, who dis?

Apple’s third-generation AirPods are here with an updated design. While it retains the familiar Apple look and feel, the new AirPods feature a much shorter stem now.

But more importantly, they come with spatial audio now. The AirPods 3 is both water-resistant as well as sweat-resistant. Battery life is now at six hours of continuous listening (30 hours with case). Its microphone capabilities have also seen an upgrade, featuring AAC-ELD, “a superior speech codec that offers full HD voice quality, providing clear, natural communication for FaceTime calls.”

The new AirPods will set you back USD 179 (~LKR 36,000*)

Hey Siri, start my music

Apple also announced a new voice-only Apple Music plan. Priced at USD 4.99 per month, the plan will only let you use your voice and Siri to access Apple Music content. The plan will initially launch in 17 countries with expansion into other markets in the later months. So, Sri Lankans might have to wait a while to try the feature out.

So there you have it. Those are all the biggest updates from Apple’s Unleashed event. You can expect Sri Lankan retail stores to update their catalog following the new announcements, soon.

So, will you be getting the new MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comments below.

*Actual prices may vary and will likely have a much higher price tag in Sri Lanka