Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Comparison

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Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020

13.3 inches | November 2020

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Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021

14.2 inches | October 2021

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Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Comparison Overview

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In this review, we will be comparing MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021, two laptops by Apple. Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 was introduced to market in November 2020 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 was launched in October 2021. There is only 11 months difference between MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Click for Available Configurations of the Laptops

MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 are members of Apple's MacBook Pro series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Apple MacBook Pro Series History

	Release Date	Screen Size	Dimensions	Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M4, 2024	October 2024	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M4, 2024	October 2024	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.14 kg (4.72 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023	October 2023	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.55 kg (3.42 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3, 2023	October 2023	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.14 kg (4.72 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023	January 2023	16.2"	355.7 x 248.1 x 16.8 mm	2.15 kg (4.74 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023	January 2023	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022	June 2022	13.3"	304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6 mm	1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021	October 2021	14.2"	312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)

Here is a brief look at the main features of Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 Key Specs

Launched in November 2020
13.3" IPS LCD, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M1
GPU: Apple M1 GPU (8-core)
8GB Ram
304.1 x 212.4 x 15.6 mm (11.97 x 8.36 x 0.61 inches)
Weight: 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Key Specs

Launched in October 2021
14.2" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio Display
CPU: Apple M1 Pro
GPU: Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
16GB Ram
312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm (12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches)
Weight: 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 was replaced by Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022 vs Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 was replaced by Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023 vs Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 compares and decide which one is better for you.

**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 over Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021

Weight	1.37 kg vs 1.60 kg	0.23 kg lighter
Noise Level	41.9 dB vs 49.5 dB	Less fan noise
Response Time	36 ms vs 49 ms	Faster Response screen

Reasons to choose Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 over Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020

Screen-to-Body Ratio	~84.6% vs ~79.4%	Larger screen area ratio
Side Bezel Thickness	3.4 mm vs 8.8 mm	5.4 mm thinner bezels
Display Size	14.2 inches vs 13.3 inches	Larger Screen Estate
Refresh Rate	120 Hz vs 60 Hz	Smoother media experience
Contrast Rate	48900:1 vs 1759:1	more pleasing colors
Screen PPI	254 ppi vs 227 ppi	More pixels per inch
Screen Resolution	3024 x 1964 pixels vs 2560 x 1600 pixels	Higher pixel count screen
GPU FLOPS	5.2 TFLOPS vs 2.6 TFLOPS	Flexible cable positions
Charging Port Position	Left, Right vs Left	Faster RAM Type
RAM Type	LPDDR5 vs LPDDR4X	Generates higher sound levels
Speaker Loudness	84.9 dB vs 77.5 dB	Higher Resolution Camera
Webcam Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Connect more device at the same time
Number of USB-C Ports	3x USB 4.0 vs 2x USB 4.0	Connect to external monitors directly via HDMI cable
HDMI Port	1x HDMI 2.0 vs No	Read & Write SD Cards with the built-in reader
SD Card Reader	Yes vs No

Common Strengths of Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020

HDR Support	Yes, HDR10 vs Yes, Dolby Vision	Watch HDR Clips
Fast Charging Support	Yes vs Yes	Charge the battery in a shorter time
USB Power Delivery	Yes vs Yes	Charging via USB port gives flexibility
SSD Type	NVMe vs NVMe	Faster Data Transfers
Dolby Atmos Support	Yes vs Yes	3D Surround Sound Support
Wi-Fi Standard	v6 vs v6	Fast and Reliable Wi-Fi Connections
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes vs Yes	Easy Login with Fingerprint Sensor
Thunderbolt Port	v3 vs v4	Fast data and power transfer via Thunderbolt Port
VGA Output	No vs No	Connect to External Displays via VGA cable
Keyboard Backlight	Yes vs Yes	Easily see the keys under low light

Common Weaknesses of Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 and Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020

Touchscreen Capability	No vs No	No Touchscreen Capability
Upgradable RAM	No vs No	No Option to increase the RAM size
Upgradable Storage	No vs No	No Option to increase the Storage size

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021: Physical Specs Comparison

In this section, we will be comparing the physical specifications and body features of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021.

Physical Specs
Weight	1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)	1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Surface Area	646 cm2 (100.1 inches2)	691 cm2 (107.2 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio	~79.4%	~84.6%
Side Bezel Thickness	~8.8 mm	~3.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen	0.10 kg/inch	0.11 kg/inch
	0.22 lbs/inch	0.242 lbs/inch
Colors	Silver, Gray	Silver, Gray

Comparison of the Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 External Dimensions

Weight

MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 weighs 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs), whereas the MacBook Pro 14 2021 weighs 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs). There is a notable difference in weight between these two laptops. However, it's important to consider that comparing their weights directly may not provide a complete picture since they also have different display sizes.

Weight Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 1.37 kg

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 1.22 kg

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 1.60 kg

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 1.42 kg

Thickness Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 15.60 mm

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 15.38 mm

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 15.50 mm

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 17.12 mm

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops is the Weight per Inch of Screen, which is calculated by dividing the total weight of the model with its usable diagonal screen size. This value for the Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 is 0.10 kg/inch.In comparison, this value for the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is 0.11 kg/inch.Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

Microsoft Surface Go 4: 0.05 kg/inch
LG Gram SuperSlim 15.6 2023: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus ProArt PZ13 HT5306: 0.06 kg/inch
Asus Zenbook A14 UX3407: 0.06 kg/inch
Dell Latitude 7330: 0.07 kg/inch
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 2: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch
LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021: Internals (CPU, GPU, RAM, Battery, SSD, etc.) Comparison

CPU Comparison

CPU Model	Apple M1	Apple M1 Pro Apple M1 Max
Base Frequency	2.1 GHz	2.0 GHz
Turbo Frequency	3.2 GHz	3.2 GHz
Number of Cores	8	10
Number of Threads	8	10
Integrated GPU	Apple M1 GPU	Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
CPU Fabrication Process	5 nm	5 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single)	1760	1780
Geekbench 5 (Multi)	7809	12589
Cinebench 23 (Single)	1521	1537
Cinebench 23 (Multi)	7820	12182

Above you can see the CPU options and the CineBench and GeekBench test scores for both laptops, which gives an idea about what kind of performance difference you may experience between the Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021.

You may also read reviews of latest laptops with the same CPUs and compare them:

Laptops with: Apple M1

Apple Macbook Air M1 2020 Compare

Laptops with: Apple M1 Pro

Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021 Compare

GPU Comparison

GPU Model	Apple M1 GPU (8-core)	Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
Base Clock Frequency	450 MHz	450 MHz
Boost CLock Frequency	1278 MHz	1296 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power)	15 W	30 W
Type	Integrated	Integrated
FLOPS	2.6 TFLOPS	5.2 TFLOPS
Memory Size	System Shared	System Shared
Memory Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Memory Bus	128 bit	256 bit
Memory Speed	4.27 Gbps	6.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores	1024	2048
TMUs	64	128
ROPs	32	64

GPU is as critical as the CPU for graphic heavy applications and the table above gives a picture of how the two GPU compares. FLOPS is a measure of a GPU's performance based on the number of floating-point arithmetic calculations that the processor can perform within a second. Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 has a FLOPS value of 2.6 TFLOPS whereas the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 ' has a FLOPS value of 5.2 TFLOPS. If graphical performance of the laptop is important for your use type, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 may be the better choice between these two setups.

RAM Comparison

RAM	8GB 16GB	16GB 32GB 64GB
Memory Bus	2x4 GB	4x4 GB
RAM Clock	4266 MHz	6400 MHz
RAM Type	LPDDR4X	LPDDR5
Upgradable	No	No
Memory Bus	Custom	Custom

The MacBook Pro 14 2021 provides a larger RAM capacity of 16 GB, which allows for smoother multitasking and improved performance in memory-demanding tasks compared to the MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020's RAM capacity of 8 GB.

LOCAL LLM Compatibility Evaluation

This quick guide shows what types of large language models (LLMs) each of these laptops could support, based on their respective hardware specifications. It's meant to help you compare their suitability for running AI models locally.

LLM Category	Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M1, 2020)	Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
Small Models(1-3B):Examples: Phi-2, Qwen-1.8B	✔ Run smoothly.	✔ Run smoothly.
Medium Models(7-8B):Examples: Mistral-7B, Qwen-7B	✖ Not supported.	✔ Good performance.
Large Models(13-30B):Examples: Mixtral, Qwen-14B	✖ Not supported.	✖ Not supported.
Extra-Large Models(65B+):Examples: LLaMA2-70B, Qwen1.5-72B	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.	✖ Not supported on most systems. Requires high-end GPU or advanced setup.

Note: Optimized (e.g., 4-bit) models may run on limited hardware. Performance depends on runtime and setup.

📌 MoE Models: Some models like Mixtral 8x7B and Qwen3-30B-A3B use a Mixture of Experts (MoE) design, activating only part of the model during inference. This means they can often run efficiently on laptops with 12–16 GB of VRAM when quantized.

BATTERY

BATTERY	58.2 Wh	70 Wh
Battery Type	Li-Po	Li-Po
Replaceable	No	No
Fast Charging	No	No
USB Power Delivery	Yes	Yes
Charging Port Position	Left	Left, Right
Charge Power	61 W	67 / 96 W
Voltage	11.4 V
Full Charging Time	2:00 hr	2:30 hr
Cable Length	2 meters	2 meters
AC Adapter Weight	275 gramm	274 gramm

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro 14 2021 features a higher battery capacity of 70 Wh, delivering longer usage time compared to the MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020's 58 Wh.

Battery Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 58 Wh

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 53.1 Wh

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 70 Wh

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 55.79 Wh

STORAGE
The MacBook Pro 14 2021 offers a larger max storage capacity of 8 TB, providing more room for storing files and data compared to the MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020's storage capacity of 2 TB.

Storage Options	256 GB, 512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB	512 GB, 1 TB, 2 TB, 4 TB, 8 TB
Upgradable	No	No
Storage type	SSD (M2)	SSD (M2)
NVMe	Yes	Yes

If your budget allows, we recommend opting for the largest possible disk size, considering the potential increase in storage capacity needs in the future. However, please keep in mind the question 'What will the laptop be used for?' when making this decision. Of course, you can later upgrade the hard disk capacity by getting a larger disk. However, if your laptop has only one disk slot, it may not be as straightforward as a RAM upgrade, where you simply add or replace a module, as moving or cloning files to a new disk may be necessary.

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021: Display Comparison

The display is an essential aspect to consider when comparing the Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 since its is the component that you interact the most and significantly impact the experience.

Screen Area and Dimensions

Now let's look at the comparison of the actual display areas of both laptops below, keeping the bezels around the screens out of the equation. MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 has a display size of 13.3".On the other hand, MacBook Pro 14 2021 has a larger14.2" display.The total usable screen area of the MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 is 513cm² / 80inch² whereas the MacBook Pro 14 2021's total usable screen area is 585cm² / 91inch².

PPI (Pixels per Inch)
Additionally, the MacBook Pro 14 2021 features a higher pixel density with 254 pixels per inch (PPI), ensuring sharper image details.

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 227 PPI

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 186 PPI

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 254 PPI

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 173 PPI

Refresh Rate
The MacBook Pro 14 2021 offers a higher refresh rate of 120 Hz, resulting in smoother motion and improved visual experience.

Furthermore, the MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 boasts a faster response time of 36.0 ms, reducing motion blur for fast-paced content.

Brightness
Both MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 offer the same maximum brightness of 500 nits (cd/m²).

Brightness Comparison

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 500 nits

Avg: 13.0-13.9" 438 nits

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 500 nits

Avg: 14.0-14.9" 383 nits

Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 vs Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Connectivity Comparison

In terms of connectivity,

Wifi
Both laptops offer the same Wi-Fi standard (v6), ensuring fast and reliable wireless connections.

Below, you'll find a Wi-Fi Versions Table, along with their release dates and speeds, to provide a brief overview of its development.

Wi-Fi Versions and Speeds

Standard	Speed	Release Date	Network	Frequency Bands (GHz)
Wi-Fi 7	up to 40 Gbps (5 GB/s)	2023	802.11be	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6E	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2020	802.11ax	2.4, 5, 6
Wi-Fi 6	up to 9.6 Gbps (1.2 GB/s)	2019	802.11ax	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 5	up to 6.93 Gbps (866.25 MB/s)	2014	802.11ac	2.4, 5
Wi-Fi 4	up to 600 Mbps (75 MB/s)	2009	802.11n	2.4, 5

* Please note that the provided transfer rates are maximum theoretical values, and real-life performance may vary based on environmental factors.

USB
Neither MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 nor MacBook Pro 14 2021 has USB-A ports.
Both MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 have USB Type-C ports. MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 has 2x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports, while MacBook Pro 14 2021 has 3x USB 4.0 USB Type-C ports.

Below, you'll find a table of USB ports, along with their release dates and speeds.
To mitigate the confusion caused by generation names, the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) suggests using marketing names like USB 5Gbps, USB 10Gbps, and so forth, based on their respective transfer rates.

USB Type and Speeds

USB Type	Version	Speed	Date	Other Features/Explanations
USB4	Gen 4 (2.0)	80 Gbps	2022	Also known as USB 80Gbps
USB4	Gen 3×2	40 Gbps	2019	Also known as USB 40Gbps
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2x2	20 Gbps	2019	Double the data transfer rates of Gen 2
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.1
USB 3.2	3.2 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2017	Previously known as USB 3.0
USB 3.1	3.1 Gen 2	10 Gbps	2013	Faster data transfer rates
USB 3.0	3.1 Gen 1	5 Gbps	2010	SuperSpeed USB, improved data transfer rates
USB 2.0	2.0	480 Mbps	2000	High-speed data transfer
USB 1.0	1.0	1.5 Mbps	1996	Original USB standard

Thunderbolt
Both MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 feature Thunderbolt ports. MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 has Thunderbolt 3, while MacBook Pro 14 2021 has Thunderbolt 4.

HDMI
MacBook Pro 14 2021 features an HDMI port (1x HDMI 2.0) for connecting to external monitors. MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 does not have an HDMI port.

Below, you'll find a comparison table detailing different HDMI versions, including their bandwidth, color depth, maximum resolution, and release dates. This information can be helpful in understanding the capabilities of each HDMI version and choosing the most suitable one for your needs.

HDMI Comparison Table

HDMI Version	Maximum Resolution	Bandwidth (Gbps)	Color Depth (bits)	Release Date
HDMI 2.1-2.1b	7680 x 4320 *(8K)* @ 60p 3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 120p	48.0	48	2017
HDMI 2.0-2.0b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 60p	18.0	48	2013
HDMI 1.4-1.4b	3840 x 2160 *(4K)* @ 30p	10.2	48	2009
HDMI 1.3-1.3a	2560 x 1440 @ 60p	10.2	48	2006
HDMI 1.0-1.2a	1920 x 1200 @ 60p	4.95	24	2002

* Please note that the provided resolution values represent the maximum supported resolution, and actual display quality may depend on other factors such as source content and connected devices.

SD Card Reader
MacBook Pro 14 2021 is equipped with an SD Card Reader for easy access to memory cards. MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 does not have an SD Card Reader.

Audio Jack
Both MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020 and MacBook Pro 14 2021 are equipped with a 3.5mm Audio Jack, providing seamless connection to headphones and speakers.

To summarize the connectivity and ports details, please refer to the table below to see them listed.

Connectivity and Ports
WiFi Standard (latest: v7)	v6	v6
Bluetooth (latest: v5.4)	v5	v5
USB-A (latest: 3.2)	No	No
USB Type-C (latest: USB4 2.0)	2x USB 4.0	3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt (latest: 4)	Thunderbolt 3	Thunderbolt 4
HDMI (latest: 2.1)	No	1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port (latest: v2.0)	No	No
VGA	No	No
Fingerprint Sensor	Yes	Yes
Optical Drive	No	No
Audio Jack 3.5mm	Yes	Yes
Ethernet RJ45	No	No
SD CardReader	No	Yes
Proprietary Charging Port	No	Yes