LaptopDecision
  • LAPTOPS
    • All Laptops
    • Gaming Laptops
    • Convertible 2-in-1 Laptops
    • Laptops by Brand
      • Acer Laptops
      • Apple Laptops
      • ASUS Laptops
      • Dell Laptops
      • Gigabyte Laptops
      • Honor Laptops
      • HP Laptops
      • Huawei Laptops
      • Lenovo Laptops

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Review


Select a Laptop to Compare

Add a Laptop for comparison

Main Features

  • Launched in October 2021
  • Display:14.2" Mini LED, 16:10 Aspect Ratio
  • External Dimensions: 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)
  • Operating System: MacOS
  • Replaced by Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023
CHECK PRICE
CHECK PRICE

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Overview

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Apple MacBook Pro 14...
See at AMAZON
Apple MacBook Pro 14...
See at AMAZON

Launched in October 2021, Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is a MacOS laptop with 14.2-inch display and 16:10 aspect ratio. It has the external dimensions of 312.6 x 221.2 x 15.5 mm (12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches) and weighs 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs).

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 has an average MSRP range between $1200-1600. Price may vary based on the selected configuration.

Click for Available Configurations of the
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021

CPU:
RAM:

MacBook Pro 14 2021 is a member of Apple's MacBook Pro series of laptops. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Apple MacBook Pro Series History
Model Release Date Screen Size Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023
Compare
January 2023 16.2" 2.15 kg (4.74 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023
Compare
January 2023 14.2" 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022
Compare
June 2022 13.3" 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
October 2021 14.2" 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021
Compare
October 2021 16.2" 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020
Compare
November 2020 13.3" 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 Intel 2020
Compare
May 2020 13.3" 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019
Compare
November 2019 16.0" 2.04 kg (4.5 lbs)

***Please note that laptop configurations may vary by country, and certain models or specifications may only be available in specific regions.

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 PROs and CONs Review

Now let's get in to more details of our Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor laptop in its class.

PROs
Recent Model (October 2021)
High Screen to Body ratio of ~84.6%
Thin bezels around the screen
Low fan noise level
High Refresh Rate of 120 Hz
High Contrast Ratio of 48,900:1
High PPI of 254 ppi
Antireflective Glossy Screen
Mini LED Type Screen
99.3 DCI-P3 color gamut
500 nits Max Brightness
5 nm CPU Fabrication Process
5 nm GPU Fabrication Process
5.2 TFLOPS GPU
Fast Charging Feature
USB Power Delivery
Charging Port both on left and right sides
LPDDR5 Type RAM
NVMe Type SSD Storage
4.2 Speaker Setup
Dolby Atmos Sound
3 Microphones
84.9 dB Speaker Loudness
Wi-fi v6
Built-in Fingerprint Sensor
1920 x 1080 Webcam Resolution
3x USB 4.0 USB Type C Ports
Thunderbolt 4 Port
HDMI Port
HDMI 2.0 supports higher refresh rates and resolutions
Built-in SD Card Reader
Keyboard Backlight
Large 13.2 x 8.1 cm Touchpad

CONs
RAM is not Upgradable
Storage is not Upgradable

Body and Dimensions

The weight and external dimensions are two of the most important factors determining the physical portability of a laptop. Below you can find the external physical features of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021:


Physical Specs
Dimensions 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)
Surface Area 691 cm2 (107.2 inches2)
Screen to Surface Ratio ~84.6%
Side Bezel Thickness ~3.4 mm
Weight per Inch of Screen 0.11kg/inch
0.242 lbs/inch
Colors Silver, Gray
Cover Opening Angle 135°

Weight
The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) weighs 1.60 kg / 0.73 lbs . Considering that average weight of the laptops with display size '14.0-14.9 inches' in our database is 1.43kg, it will be fair to say that the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is a heavy laptop for its size class.

Weight Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
Min
Average
Max

Another value that we use for comparing the weights of the laptops here at Laptop Decision 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 14 2021 is 0.11 kg/inch. Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

  • LG Gram 14 2022: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
  • LG Gram 14 2-in-1 2022: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
  • LG Gram 14 2023: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
  • Asus ExpertBook B9 OLED B9403: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)
  • LG Gram Style 14 2023: 0.07 kg/inch (Compare)


Body Thickness
Thickness of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is 15.5 mm. Considering that average thickness of the laptops with display size '14.0-14.9 inches' in our database is 17.3mm, it will be accurate to say that the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) is a slim laptop for its class.

Thickness Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
Min
Average
Max

Side Bezels and Screen-to-Body Ratio
The average Side Bezel Thickness of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is 3.4 mm and the Screen to Body Ratio is 84.6%. These figures show that Apple did a good job utilizing the surface area of this laptop even though there are laptops that are better in this regard.

Display


Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Ports
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Display

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a 14.2-inch sized Mini LED type display with 120 Hz refresh rate and 254 ppi pixel density.


Display Specifications
Display Resolution 3024 x 1964 pixels
Display Size 14.2 inches
Display Type Mini LED
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
PPI 254 ppi
HDR Support Yes, Dolby Vision
Touch Screen No
Coating Glossy (Antireflective)
Contrast 48900:1
DCI-P3 Color Gamut 99.3%
Response Time 49 ms
Max Brightness 500 nits


Pixel Density / PPI

Below is a chart depicting how the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021's 254 ppi pixel density compares with the Min, Max and Average densities in its display size class (14.0-14.9 inches).

Screen PPI (Pixels Per Inch) Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
Min
Average
Max

Refresh rate of 120 Hz ensures a smoother motion on the screen compared to typical rate of 60Hz which reduces the eye strain and provides more pleasing experience. If your main use is gaming, you may like to check screens with refresh rates higher than 120Hz though.


CPU

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has 2 different CPU configurations. The current setup we are reviewing is the Apple M1 Pro.

CPU Specifications
CPU Name


Base Frequency 2.0 GHz
Turbo Frequency 3.2 GHz
Number of Cores 10
Number of Threads 10
Integrated GPU Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
CPU Fabrication Process 5 nm
Geekbench 5 (Single) 1780
Geekbench 5 (Multi) 12589
Cinebench R23 (Single) 1537
Cinebench R23 (Multi) 12182

GPU

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) comes with only one GPU option which is Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core). This is a Integrated type GPU with 5.20 TFLOPS floating point performance and its memory is system shared type. Integrated GPUs help to reduce the total cost and energy consumption compared to dedicated GPUs, however they are not the best options for graphic heavy applications such as video rendering and gaming.

GPU Specifications
GPU Name Apple M1 Pro GPU (16-core)
Base Clock Frequency 450 MHz
Boost Clock Frequency 1296 MHz
TGP (Total Graphics Power) 30 W
Type Integrated
FLOPS 5.20 TFLOPS
Memory Size System Shared
Memory Type LPDDR5
Memory Bus 256 bit
Memory Speed 6.4 Gbps
Shading Units Cores 2048
Texture Mapping Units / TMUs 128
Raster Operations Pipelines / ROPs 64
Considering that average TFLOPS value of the laptops with display size '14.0-14.9 inches' in our database is 2.67 TFLOPS, it will be accurate to say that the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) GPU will perform above average in its class.
FLOPS Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Average
Max

Here are some of the best performing laptops in this area:

  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 with GeForce RTX 4090 Mobile 16GB: 32.98 TFLOPS (Compare)
  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 with GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile 12GB: 24.72 TFLOPS (Compare)
  • Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023 with : 20.40 TFLOPS (Compare)
  • Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 2023 with GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile 8GB: 15.62 TFLOPS (Compare)
  • Razer Blade 14 2022 with GeForce RTX 3080 Ti Mobile 16GB: 18.71 TFLOPS (Compare)

BATTERY

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)'s Li-Po battery has a capacity of 70 Wh which is slightly over average for daily usage where most of laptops consume nearly 55 Wh daily. Please note that even though the battery capacity gives you an idea about potential battery life, it is not the only indicator of unplugged run time of the laptop, but impacted also by factors such as your laptop's configuration, screen brightness and number&types of apps that you are running simultaneously.

Battery Comparison

Displays size 14.0-14.9 inches

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
Min
Average
Max

Battery Specifications
Capacity 70 Wh
Battery Type Li-Po
Replaceable No
Fast Charging Yes
USB Power Delivery Yes
Charging Port Position Left, Right
Charge Power 67 / 96 W
Full Charging Time 2:30 hr
Cable Length 2 meters
AC Adapter Weight 274 gramm

  • Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)'s battery is not replaceable but we can't hold it against this model as this has been the general trend in the laptop world for a long time.
  • Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) supports fast charging which lets the user charge the laptop in a shorter time than normal.
  • A convenience that Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) provides is the ability to charge via the ports that are both on left and right sides of the body, which helps to minimize the cables running around your work area.

RAM

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 comes with 3 RAM options: 16GB, 32GB and 64GB. The current setup we are reviewing is the 16GB. Unfortunately, the RAM on the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is not Upgradable . For this reason, we recommend you to get the version with the highest RAM that you can afford to make your laptop more future-proof. The RAM type of theApple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is LPDDR5, whereas the latest type in the market is DDR5. DDR5 type RAMs provide speeds of at least 4800 MHz, whereas the previous generation supports a maximum of 3200 MHz.

Additionally, the RAM type also includes an LP (Low Power) prefix, indicating low power consumption but also lower performance. You should consider the trade-off between reduced power consumption when unplugged and potential performance loss.

RAM Specifications
RAM


Channels 4x4 GB
Clock 6400 MHz
Type LPDDR5 > latest type
Upgradable No
Bus Custom

STORAGE

Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 comes with a SSD (M2) type 1x512 GB storage as standard. More Storage is always good, but it comes with a price. And in case of Apple, this price is unfortunately much higher than average laptop.

Storage Specifications
Channels 1x512 GB
Upgradable No
Type SSD (M2)
NVMe Yes

SOUND

Good quality speakers can have a significant impact on the overall experience when using laptops, especially if you are consuming lot of multimedia material such as music or videos. The Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) features a 4.2 speaker set up. According to Apple, the speakers can go as loud as 84.9 dB. Thanks to its Dolby Atmos support, the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 can play media that were recorded with this standard.

Sound Specifications
Speakers Setup 4.2
Dolby Atmos Yes
Loudness 84.9 dB
Microphones 3

The number and quality of the built-in microphones are as important especially in this age of online meetings and streaming.

CONNECTIVITY and PORTS

The Wi-Fi 7 standard supports 46 GB/s and provides speeds 2.4 times faster than the previous v6 setup. Laptops with Wi-Fi 7 are available in the market as of the end of 2023. Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has the Wifi Standard (v6) which provides (theoretical 9.6 Gbps - 1200 MB/s, reald world up to 4 GBps - 500 MB/s) speed. In average, one minute of 4K quality video is 750 MB, which will be downloaded in just two seconds. Also one minute of 8K video is roughly 3 GB, requiring only a few seconds.

The Bluetooth Standard of the Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 is v5, which is not the latest generation. As the version number increases within the Bluetooth V5.x series, sub-generations also progress. Although the range and speeds remain consistent, advancements in energy efficiency, reliability, and security features are introduced in subsequent sub-generations.

It is also equipped with a fingerprint sensor for better security and facilitating login.

Connectivity
WiFi Standard v6 > not latest v7
Bluetooth v5 > not latest v5.4
Fingerprint Sensor Yes
Optical Drive No


Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Ports
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021 Ports

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) doesn't have any USB-A type ports so if you have accessories using this type of connection, you either have to use a USB hub or an adapter. On the other hand, it is equipped with faster and more capable 3x USB 4.0 Type-C ports.

Ports
USB-A No
USB Type-C 3x USB 4.0
Thunderbolt Thunderbolt 4
HDMI 1x HDMI 2.0
Display Port No
VGA No
Audio Jack 3.5mm Yes
Ethernet RJ45 No
SD CardReader Yes
Proprietary Charging Port Yes

WEBCAM

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has 2.07 MP front camera which is fairly good one over average laptop cameras in the market

Webcamera Specs
Webcam 1920 x 1080
Webcam Resolution 1920 x 1080
2.07 MP

KEYBOARD and TOUCHPAD

Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021) has Island type keyboard, which is used on majority of recent laptops.

Keyboard and Touchpad
Keyboard Type Island
Numpad No
Backlight Yes
Key Travel 1 mm
Touchpad Size 13.2 x 8.1 cm
Touchpad Area 106.9 cm2
Touchpad Surface Material Glass
Windows Precision No
Report a correction

Most Popular Alternatives to Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021

Here are the 8 laptops that our readers compare the most with the Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021):

Apple MacBook Pro Popular Comparisons
Model Release Date Screen Size Weight
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2021
Compare
October 2021 16.2" 2.1 kg (4.63 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2018
Compare
July 2018 15.4" 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 16 2019
Compare
November 2019 16.0" 2.04 kg (4.5 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023
Compare
January 2023 14.2" 1.6 kg (3.53 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019
Compare
June 2019 15.4" 1.83 kg (4.04 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022
Compare
June 2022 13.3" 1.4 kg (3.09 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 2019
Compare
July 2019 13.3" 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)
Apple MacBook Pro 13 M1 2020
Compare
November 2020 13.3" 1.37 kg (3.02 lbs)
Laptops by Brand
  • Acer Laptops
  • Apple Laptops
  • ASUS Laptops
  • Dell Laptops
  • Gigabyte Laptops
  • Honor Laptops
  • HP Laptops
  • Huawei Laptops
  • Lenovo Laptops
  • LG Laptops
  • Microsoft Laptops
  • MSI Laptops
  • Razer Laptops
  • Samsung Laptops

  • Latest Windows Laptops
    Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
    Microsoft Surface Laptop Studio 2
    September 2023 | 14.4 inches
    Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
    Microsoft Surface Laptop Go 3
    September 2023 | 12.4 inches
    Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8
    Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8
    September 2023 | 16 inches
    HP Pavilion Plus 16 (2023)
    HP Pavilion Plus 16 2023
    September 2023 | 16 inches
    HP Pavilion Plus 14 (2023)
    HP Pavilion Plus 14 2023
    September 2023 | 14 inches
    Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 6
    Lenovo ThinkBook 14 Gen 6
    September 2023 | 14 inches
    Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 6
    Lenovo ThinkBook 16 Gen 6
    September 2023 | 16 inches
    Acer Nitro V 15 (ANV15-51)
    Acer Nitro V 15 ANV15-51
    September 2023 | 15.6 inches

    Latest Apple Laptops
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M3, 2023)
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 M3, 2023
    October 2023 | 14.2 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 16 (M3, 2023)
    Apple MacBook Pro 16 M3, 2023
    October 2023 | 16.2 inches
    Apple MacBook Air 15 (M2)
    Apple MacBook Air 15 M2
    June 2023 | 15.3 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 16 (2023)
    Apple MacBook Pro 16 2023
    January 2023 | 16.2 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2023)
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 2023
    January 2023 | 14.2 inches
    Apple MacBook Air (M2, 2022)
    Apple MacBook Air M2 2022
    June 2022 | 13.6 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 13 (M2, 2022)
    Apple MacBook Pro 13 M2 2022
    June 2022 | 13.3 inches
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 (2021)
    Apple MacBook Pro 14 2021
    October 2021 | 14.2 inches

    Latest Gaming Laptops
    Razer Blade 14 (2023)
    Razer Blade 14 2023
    June 2023 | 14 inches
    Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 (PHN16-71)
    Acer Predator Helios Neo 16 PHN16-71
    April 2023 | 16 inches
    Acer Predator Triton 14 (PT14-51)
    Acer Predator Triton 14 PT14-51
    April 2023 | 14 inches
    HP Victus 16 (2023 Intel)
    HP Victus 16 2023 Intel
    March 2023 | 16.1 inches
    HP Omen 16 (2023)
    HP Omen 16 2023
    March 2023 | 16.1 inches

    Latest Convertible Laptops
    HP Elite x360 830 G10
    HP Elite x360 830 G10
    May 2023 | 13.3 inches
    Acer Aspire 5 Spin 14
    Acer Aspire 5 Spin 14
    April 2023 | 14 inches
    Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14
    Acer Aspire 3 Spin 14
    April 2023 | 14 inches
    HP ENVY x360 14 (2023)
    HP ENVY x360 14 2023
    April 2023 | 14 inches
    HP ENVY x360 15 (2023)
    HP ENVY x360 15 2023
    April 2023 | 15.6 inches

    Latest ChromeOS Laptops
    Acer Chromebook 516 GE
    Acer Chromebook 516 GE
    October 2022 | 16 inches
    Acer Chromebook 311
    Acer Chromebook 311
    January 2022 | 11.6 inches
    Acer Chromebook 314
    Acer Chromebook 314
    January 2022 | 14 inches
    Acer Chromebook 512
    Acer Chromebook 512
    January 2022 | 12 inches
    Copyright © 2023 by LaptopDecision
    Privacy About CameraDecision SpeakerDecision

    Report a Correction