#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE UPGRADE#
#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PORTABLE#
#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PRO#
#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PROFESSIONAL#

That’s a nearly 73% improvement in single-core, 162% jump in multi-core, and 47% jump in Metal graphics performance.

#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PRO#

After just under four years of ownership, my 2016 Pro scored 629 (single-core), 1595 (multi-core), and 6923 (Metal compute) on Geekbench 5.1.1 tests, while the 2020 Pro scored 1086 (single-core), 4178 (multi-core), and 10206 (Metal compute). The 2020 MacBook Pro I bought this week looks almost identical to the 2016 version it replaced in my work from home setup, but inside, the new 2.0GHz quad-core machine is much faster across the board than its 2.9GHz dual-core predecessor thanks to generational CPU, GPU, and RAM improvements.

#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PROFESSIONAL#

You could also pay more for the 16-inch Pro if you need desktop-class horsepower and are willing to haul around a 4.3-pound laptop everywhere you go unless you’re a video professional or need a high-end GPU, though, you’ll almost certainly find the 16-inch Pro to be overkill. At 3.1 pounds, the 13-inch Pro is barely heavier than the 2.8-pound “Air,” fits in the same backpacks and bags, and offers a handful of screen and processor performance benefits that justify its price. Sure, you can buy the ever-so-slightly thinner MacBook Air, but the cheaper model is as slow as a four-year-old MacBook Pro, and the more expensive one has a Pro price with sub-Pro performance. The larger 16-inch MacBook Pros start at $2,399 for a 2.6GHz six-core CPU and only become more expensive from there.Īfter many years of using Mac laptops, I see two sweet spots in this lineup, and they’re both 13-inch MacBook Pros: the $1,299 entry-level model and the $1,799 midrange version.

#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE UPGRADE#

For the same $1,299 price, the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro includes a faster 1.4GHz quad-core processor, and there are multiple upgrade tiers: $1,599 for a 1.7GHz version, $1,799 for a 2.0GHz model, or $1,999 for a faster 2.3GHz CPU, generally with benefits beyond the faster clock speed. Dig deeper and you’ll see that there’s a seriously underpowered dual-core MacBook Air for $999 alongside a 1.1GHz quad-core model for $1,299, a classic Apple trick to get forward-thinking users to spend more. Superficially, Apple’s laptop lineup looks simpler than it has in many years: You can choose between a 13-inch MacBook Air, a 13-inch MacBook Pro, or a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The 2020 MacBook Pro is a far more competent work machine, and should probably be your top choice if you’re considering an Apple business laptop purchase today.

Though the iPad excels in versatility, it still struggles with various ergonomic unforced errors and OS-level limitations that will make it a problematic work machine for many users, regardless of how heavily Apple markets it to the contrary.

My big takeaway: Even if you drop laptop-like dollars on the iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard combination, you’re not going to get a premium Apple laptop-caliber experience for work purposes.

#APPLE MAC FOR BUSINESS USE PORTABLE#

I purchased all three and have been using them since their respective releases, so I wanted to offer some guidance on how Apple’s “Pro” portable computers compare as work from home solutions. After releasing the 2020 iPad Pro in March and a laptop-esque Magic Keyboard accessory in April, Apple this week began delivering new 2020 MacBook Pro notebook computers. Interestingly, this unexpected rush of demand for new computers led Apple executives to predict gains this quarter for both the Mac and iPad - platforms that seemingly peaked in demand years ago. Many users without business laptops had to lug their office desktop machines home, or purchase new computers for their home offices. Daily video conferences and collaborative chat rooms have suddenly become the new normal, and with them came an unprecedented demand for network bandwidth, software, and computers that make remote group discussions possible. Millions of people have recently transitioned from working at offices to “work from home” lifestyles, radically changing their daily paradigms in the process. Join gaming leaders online at GamesBeat Summit Next this upcoming November 9-10.

Apple mac for business use