Apple M6 MacBook Pro Review: Fast Chip, Dated Design at $1,999

The 14.2-inch mini LED display is no longer cutting-edge in Apple's lineup, but it is still a clear step up from the Air's 60 Hz IPS screens. It offers local dimming, higher resolution, 1,000 nits of SDR brightness, up to 1,600 nits in HDR and 120 Hz ProMotion. A nano-texture matte finish costs $150 extra. This is the cheapest way to get those features in an Apple laptop.

M6 performance

The M6 is a major refresh of Apple's lowest-end chip. It has 12 CPU cores (two super cores, four performance cores and six efficiency cores), 12 GPU cores and a Neural Engine doubled to 32 cores. RAM options stay at 16GB, 24GB and 32GB. Memory bandwidth is 153 GB/s on the 16GB model and 170 GB/s on the larger configurations.

The 16GB review unit delivers roughly 7 percent better single-core and 15 percent better multi-core CPU performance than the M5 model, plus 20 to 30 percent faster graphics depending on the test. Against an M3 MacBook Pro, gains reach about 30 percent in single-core and 40 to 60 percent in multi-core and graphics work. Owners of M1 or M2 machines should notice a sizable difference.

Price and who it is for

The starting price is $1,999, $700 more than the original 2020 M1 model and $400 more than last year's M5 version. That model also received a mandatory 1TB storage upgrade and a $400 price rise when Apple lifted most prices in June. The laptop suits buyers who want ProMotion or a nano-texture screen without paying for the top tier. The hope is that OLED and touch will eventually trickle down to this model, and ProMotion to the MacBook Air, without a big price hike.