New M6 MacBook Pro at $1,999: Reviewer Points to Better-Value Alternatives
Apple has refreshed its 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M6 chip, but the US price is $1,999. A reviewer at tech outlet WIRED argues the same money could buy a better combination of Apple devices.
US technology company Apple on October 27 refreshed its 14-inch MacBook Pro laptop with the new M6 chip. The model is available for preorder and is the first MacBook to use this chip. Luke Larsen, a product reviewer at the technology publication WIRED, says the price is a problem: $1,999 buys 16 GB of RAM and 512 GB of storage.
Price increase
Larsen notes that Apple raised prices across all Macs earlier this year, and the base 14-inch MacBook Pro was hit hardest, with a $300 increase. That configuration was already awkward because it used the same M5 chip as the far cheaper MacBook Air models, which is why he had put it on his “do not buy” list.
The M6 chip may add some value. Larsen, who has already tested the chip in the latest Mac Mini, points to improved GPU performance. The laptop also has a dual Neural Engine, which can speed up certain AI tasks in creative applications. He says he will make a final judgment only after testing the machine himself.
Alternatives
The M6 Mac Mini is currently on sale for $779, $120 below its retail price. The 13-inch M5 MacBook Air is $150 off. Together, the two cost the same as one M6 MacBook Pro. Buyers would give up the MacBook Pro’s Mini-LED display and more powerful speakers.
The reviewer notes that many people use Mac Minis as always-on boxes for AI agents, controlled remotely from another MacBook. The Mac Mini can be configured with 32 GB or 64 GB of memory.
Another option is an M5 MacBook Pro with an M5 Pro chip, costing only $200 more. It looks identical on the outside but performs better. Larsen concludes that the price makes him wonder whether there are better ways to spend money, even within the Mac lineup.
