Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro is the best work computer for Mac fans that don't want a huge laptop

• Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro now comes with the company's revamped Magic Keyboard, addressing its biggest drawback.
• It replaces Apple's trademark Butterfly keyboard, which feels flatter and stiffer in comparison and has been prone to malfunctions.
• Overall, the MacBook Pro is a solid choice for Mac fans that are looking to get some serious work done, but don't want a laptop that's as large as the 16-inch Pro.

The latest generation of Apple's laptops may look the same as their predecessors, but they've gotten their biggest improvement in years: a new keyboard that's more comfortable, less prone to damage, and much quieter than those found on Apple's notebooks over the past five years.

That's true across the board now that Apple has released its revamped 13-inch MacBook Pro, which like the newest MacBook Air and 16-inch MacBook Pro comes with the new Magic Keyboard. This keyboard, which first arrived on the larger MacBook Pro last year, is inspired by the company's popular desktop keyboard of the same name.

There's little else that's new about the 13-inch MacBook Pro, save for the option to upgrade to Intel's latest processors in the more expensive configuration and more storage at the base level.

The new MacBook Pro feels like a minor refresh intended to make Apple's Magic Keyboard uniform across its entire lineup rather than a leap forward for Apple's pro-grade laptop. The Butterfly keyboard was the 13-inch Pro's one major drawback compared to its predecessors until now, meaning the new version no longer feels like a potentially risky purchase.

Still, the introduction of the new MacBook Air in March presents another compelling option for Apple fans in the market for a new 13-inch laptop. Overall, the 13-inch Pro is better-suited for those who are willing to spend more for the additional computing and graphics power that the Pro has to offer. Unfortunately, the smaller-sized Pro is missing out on some of the 16-inch model's standout features, like its booming speakers and studio-quality microphones.

Here's a closer look at what it's been like to use the new 13-inch MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro 13-inch 2020 Specs

• Screen size and resolution: 13.3-inch Retina display with 2,560 x 1,600 resolution
• Processor options:
  • 1.4GHz quad-core 8th generation Intel Core i5 processor configurable up to 1.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i7
  • 2GHz quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i5 configurable up to 2.3GHz quad-core 10th generation Intel Core i7
• Memory: 8GB, 16GB, or 32GB (for high-end Intel 10th-gen models)
• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB with options to configure up to 2TB on the low end and 4TB on the high end
• Graphics options: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 or Intel Iris Plus Graphics
• Ports: 2 USB-C ports or 4 USB-C ports (for high-end Intel 10th-gen models)
• Camera: 720p FaceTime camera

Display, design, and audio

For 2020, the 13-inch MacBook Pro has the same uniform aluminum design that's become a staple of Apple's laptops in recent years. As was the case with its predecessor, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is thin and light enough to comfortably fit in a backpack or work bag when traveling. But, of course, it's not quite as lightweight as the MacBook Air, as its name implies. It's also a bit heavier than Dell's XPS 13. The MacBook Pro weighs 3.1 pounds, while the Air weighs 2.8 pounds and the Dell XPS 13 weighs 2.64 pounds.

The MacBook Pro has a 13.3-inch, 2,560 x 1,600 resolution Retina display, which is the same sharpness as the MacBook Air. The biggest difference between the Pro and the Air is the Pro's support for the P3 wide color gamut, whereas the Air supports full standard color, also known as sRGB. That means the Pro can display a wider spectrum of colors than the Air, but that will only likely matter if you're a professional photo or video editor.

This version of the MacBook Pro has stereo speakers with high dynamic range with wide stereo sound, making them great for watching movies and listening to music. It won't get loud enough to power a party, but it's more than enough for doubling as a home speaker in a small space. Compared to the MacBook Air, which lacks the Pro's high dynamic range, music sounds slightly more full-bodied.

The best audio, however, can be found on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has a more powerful high-fidelity six-speaker sound system with force-canceling woofers. I'm no audiophile, but the laptop's boisterous sound system ended up being one of my favorite things about the 16-inch MacBook Pro when I tested it last year. It makes me envious that it's not available on the 13-inch model, although I can imagine that putting a stronger sound system in a more compact computer would be challenging.

When it comes to video chatting, you're better off relying on your iPhone when you can. The new MacBook Pro, like the 16-inch MacBook Pro, new MacBook Air, and many Windows laptops, comes with a 720p resolution web camera. That might have been easily overlooked in the past, but at a time when many people have been working from home for months and socializing through video, the lack of quality built-in webcams out there has become more apparent.

The MacBook Pro's 720p webcam is sufficient for video calls, but I do notice a bit of graininess and noise. That's especially true when compared to making FaceTime calls on the iPhone SE, which has a 7-megapixel front camera capable of recording video at 1080p that allows for clearer video calls.

Keyboard

If there's one thing you should know about the differences between the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro and the newest model, it's the latter's new keyboard. The revamped Magic Keyboard represents a complete redesign over the one found on its predecessor, which feels flat and shallow compared to the new iteration.

I've said this before and I'll say it again: the new keyboard feels exactly like what you should be getting from a premium laptop like the MacBook Pro. For what you're paying, you shouldn't have to compromise with a keyboard that feels stiff and lacks depth. Or even worse, numerous customers and tech reviewers have reported instances of the keys simply not working properly over the past few years since the Butterfly keyboard was introduced in 2015.

Apple launched a free keyboard repair program to address customers with affected machines, but now it's taken the bolder step of moving away from the Butterfly mechanism entirely.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro also has the Touch Bar just like its predecessor and the 16-inch model, one of the main characteristics that distinguishes it from the MacBook Air. The Touch Bar still feels a bit gratuitous — it's nice to have, especially now that you don't have to pay extra for it, but you don't necessarily need it either. I've occasionally found it useful for flipping though tabs in Safari, but don't really find myself using it for other shortcuts.

Performance and battery life

The MacBook Pro's performance, aside from its Touch Bar, is the biggest factor that sets it apart from the MacBook Air. All models come with a quad-core processor with a higher clock speed compared to the Air, which features a dual-core processor at the base level. The higher-end variants of the MacBook Air also run on processors with a lower clock speed compared to the MacBook Pro. A processor with more cores generally means its better-equipped to juggle multiple tasks.

What's puzzling, though, is Apple's decision to keep Intel's 8th generation processors — the same chips from the previous generation that Intel originally announced in 2017— in the base model. If you want to purchase a model that runs on the latest Intel processors that have become the standard for most competing laptops, you'll have to opt for the pricier $1,800 configuration.

Meanwhile, several Windows rivals offer 10th generation Intel chips in machines that cost hundreds of dollars less. Dell's XPS 13, for example, comes in an $1,100 configuration that has a 10th generation Intel Core i5 chip (and a lower resolution display than the MacBook Pro), while HP's Spectre x360 13t also comes in a $1,200 configuration with a 10th-generation Intel Core i7 processor. That model also has a lower-resolution screen than the MacBook Pro, but does come with support for touch input.

For this review, I've been testing the $1,800 MacBook Pro with a 10th generation Intel processor, and it performs just as smoothly and speedily as you'd expect. I am able to regularly open dozens of web browser tabs throughout the work day without overwhelming the machine and sending the fans whirring, as is typically the case when using the slimmer 2020 MacBook Air.

On occasion, my MacBook Pro unit gets a little noisy before quickly quieting down when I have more than 20 tabs open, but that was the exception rather than the norm. For what it's worth, I had a very similar experience with Dell's XPS 13, which sometimes seemed stressed after opening nearly two dozen tabs but quickly recovered.

The difference in performance between the 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air is noticeable while gaming too. When playing "Tomb Raider" at its highest resolution on both systems, I noticed that graphics looked a bit more fluid and smooth on the MacBook Pro versus the MacBook Air.

The MacBook Pro's battery life falls a little short of Apple's claims of 10 hours, but is still enough to get through an entire work day. In my experience, the laptop lasts for about eight hours before I have to plug it in, but it's important to remember that battery life will always vary depending on factors like screen brightness and the types of programs you're running.

The bottom line

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is a middle ground in Apple's laptop lineup: it offers more power than the less expensive MacBook Air in a design that's about just as portable, while the pricier 16-inch Macbook Pro is better-suited for those looking for more of a desktop replacement.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro isn't a major refresh, but the addition of the much-improved Magic Keyboard finally makes the 13-inch Pro worth recommending again.

Should you buy it?

Apple's newest MacBook Pro is a smart option for Mac loyalists looking to replace their aging laptop with a machine that's powerful and lightweight.

But, as is typically the case with Apple products, it's not the best deal compared to the competition. For example, you have to pay extra to get Intel's latest processors, since the base model comes with older chips. If you're not partial to Apple, there are also other compelling Windows options to consider, like the Dell XPS 13, which offers a newer processor for the same price.

Still, if you're sticking with Apple's Mac ecosystem and want a portable work machine, there's no doubt that the new MacBook Pro is what you've been waiting for.

Pros: Excellent keyboard, fast performance, quality audio

Cons: Older processors in the base model