New MacBook Pros: The scream dream is real!

October 30, 2021

Now that the new MacBook Pros are landing in people's hands, the laptops' unbridled power looks absolutely astonishing.

Reviewers love them. Benchmarks and specs show they blow away the old Intel-based MacBook Pros. And they even deliver the goods when it comes to gaming.

I don't know if I'd trust myself with all that power. And frankly, I don't need a screaming machine like that for writing and editing. But if you're a video, photo or music editor, you definitely should take a closer look at these powerhouse Macs.

Who am I kidding? You probably already placed your order!

-- Lewis Wallace, managing editor

P.S. Don't miss our Apple Arcade and Apple TV+ recommendations if you want to squeeze maximum enjoyment out of your Halloween weekend. New drama Swagger, informed by NBA great Kevin Durant's early days, looks like a definite three-pointer.

News and opinion

The first reviews of the 2021 MacBook Pro praise the laptops' mini-LED displays, the return of useful ports and the sheer power of Apple’s new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. However, some reviewers harbor mixed feelings about the screen notch.

Plus, more on the new MacBook Pros:

The new Mac operating system offers improvements to Safari and FaceTime, and a new Focus mode. But two of its biggest features — Universal Control and SharePlay — won’t debut until later.

Plus, more on macOS Monterey:

This week's update also lets you add a COVID-19 vaccination record to your Apple Wallet, among other new features.

Apple made a record $20.6 billion in profits last quarter but is getting punished because $83.4 billion in revenue fell short of analysts’ expectations.

Some of the criticism leveled at the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro should inspire Apple to make a MacBook Air with the same size display.

How-tos

Among the cool updates iOS 15 brought in September is an upgraded Weather app with some interesting and useful features. One of those is a new Precipitation map that’ll show you exactly where it is, and will be, raining (or snowing or sleeting) in your area — or anywhere.

If one of your favorite applications doesn’t work well with the new MacBook Pro's screen notch, there is a solution.

Deals

Halloween isn’t for everyone. The candy, the costume parties, the scary stories about dead people tormenting you. But pretty much everyone likes a great deal, right? So head over to the Cult of Mac Store to find a murderer’s row of brands offering 10% to 15% off already-low prices for just a few days.

Full-on Apple fans can wirelessly charge three devices with this folding charging station that’s perfect at home or on the road. It looks like Apple’s pricey MagSafe Duo — but it can handle more and costs a lot less!

Amazing watches deserve nothing but the best styling. TruWood’s wooden Apple Watch bands give your Apple Watch a distinctive look.

Your iPhone might be the reason you struggle to get to sleep at night. Filter up to 90% of blue light with an Ocushield Anti-Blue Light Screen Protector, available for up to 52% off.

Reviews

The new AirPods 3 are marvelous little earbuds. They sound fantastic, are dead easy to set up and use, and the wireless charging case is a godsend. Apple greatly improved just about everything — and they are well worth their $179 price tag.

NBA star Kevin Durant turned his experiences as a young basketball player into Swagger, Apple TV+’s highly promising sports drama. The new series follows the trajectory of a rising basketball star as he becomes a legend with help from his community.

Plus, more Apple TV+ reviews:

Got your fancy new MacBook Pro? Once you’re done admiring its all-new design and insanely fast performance, you’ll probably want to add some accessories that will help you make the most of your machine.

The compact earbuds offer surprisingly expansive sound and are incredibly comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Halloween is almost here, making this a great weekend to play some spooky games. Apple Arcade has a nice selection of these to help you enjoy the creepy season.

Setups

Jazz great Miles Davis probably never imagined one of his classic song titles, “All Blues,” would end up in a headline about an M1 iMac-based computer setup. But it’s not every day you see a completely color-coordinated workstation drenched in blue hues.