Apple’s new 13-inch MacBook Pro features the company’s next-generation M2 system-on-a-chip (SoC), and reviewers are finding that the upgrade results in impressive battery life compared to its predecessor and other in-class laptops. One of the benefits to Apple Silicon, as opposed to processors from industry giants like AMD and Intel, is the power efficiency. Since Apple designs all aspects of the computer — from the processor and hardware to the software and pre-installed applications — it can better optimize the experience and conserve power. The M1 processor brought impressive efficiency gains when compared to previous Intel MacBooks, but new tests show that the M2 bests even last year’s MacBook Pro.
The latest 13-inch MacBook Pro, which has hung around despite the release of a redesigned 14-inch model, was announced in June 2022 at the Worldwide Developer’s Conference (WWDC). The annual event showcases the upcoming software and services to be released by Apple, but the announcement of Apple Silicon at WWDC in 2020 made hardware reveals a staple of the conference. The flagship reveal at WWDC 2022 was the M2 MacBook Air, but those wanting a more familiar laptop received an upgrade to the 13-inch MacBook Pro. It’s virtually identical to the previous generation aside from the M2 processor, but that might be a big deal. Reports of improved battery life over an already-impressive M1 MacBook Pro might make the latest 13-inch MacBook one of the best options in its class.
The release notes for Apple’s latest processor foreshadowed the battery life gains to come on its consumer laptops, with data showing greater efficiency compared to M1. Although the company’s graphs are notorious for being vague and unlabeled, their claims have proven to be accurate in the past. It says that the M2’s processor is 18 percent faster than the M1, and the graphics component is 35 percent faster. This is all while maintaining the same power consumption as its predecessor, which was a breakthrough in efficiency and battery life. Since the M2 is faster without consuming more power, common tasks will likely be less taxing to the system-on-a-chip, resulting in better battery life overall.
Testing Shows The M2 MacBook Pro Is The Battery Champ
Now that the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro is entering the hands of reviewers, the speculation of the laptop’s battery gains are being corroborated. Tom’s Guide, a tech review site that has a standardized battery test used to benchmark all laptops, calls the M2 MacBook Pro “the longest-lasting laptop ever.” The test involves continuous browsing on the web with the screen brightness set to 15o nits, and the new 13-inch MacBook Pro lasted more than 18 hours on a single charge. It’s not the first test that showed the MacBook Pro’s insane battery life — a reviewer from The Verge recently detailed the painstaking journey of trying to drain the battery life of the 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro.
Since the Tom’s Guide is standard for all laptops, it’s easy to see how the new 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro compares to other consumer laptops. The previous-generation MacBook Pro with an M1 processor garnered 16 hours and 32 minutes of battery life, while the latest M2 MacBook Pro hit 18 hours and 2o minutes. That’s more than an hour of increased runtime year-over-year, and shows the benefits of Apple Silicon. Most other laptops in its class range between 14 and 16.5 hours of battery life on a single charge, which the 13-inch MacBook Pro handily beats in early testing. It’s probably not worth the upgrade from a 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro, but buyers looking to upgrade will be pleased with the runtime of the newest 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro.
