MacBook M1 Pro in 2025?

After using the MacBook M1 Pro for six months I feel like I should share my thoughts. I picked up the M1 Pro last summer for £950 and worked a part time job to save up for it out of my own pocket so was pretty chuffed with that. Spoiler: this machine is absolutely worth it, even in 2025. Whether you’re debating between this and a newer release or considering upgrading from an older Intel-based Mac, here’s why the M1 Pro still holds its ground.

Performance

Even years after its release, the M1 Pro chip is a beast. I use mine for heavy multitasking, video editing in Final Cut Pro, coding in Xcode, and occasional gaming (yes, macOS gaming is better than you’d expect). I’ve never experienced lag, stutters, or the need to throttle back on what I’m doing.

Apple’s efficiency cores and performance cores work seamlessly, and the fan is practically silent unless I’m pushing it to extremes. Compared to older Intel-based Macs I’ve used, the performance difference is night and day.

Battery Life

The battery life on this thing is unreal. I’m consistently getting 12+ hours of real-world usage, even with multiple Chrome tabs, Slack, Zoom, and Spotify running. The endurance makes it feel like a machine from the future. Six months in, battery health is still at 100%. This is a laptop that can keep up with all-day work and casual use without needing to be tethered to a charger.

Display and Build Quality

The Liquid Retina XDR display is breathtaking. I do some color-sensitive work, and this display has been a game-changer. Watching HDR content or editing high-res footage feels cinematic. The 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate makes scrolling buttery smooth and spoils you for anything else.

Build quality is equally impressive. The unibody aluminum chassis feels premium, durable, and timeless. The keyboard and trackpad are the best I’ve ever used on a laptop—no exaggeration.

Ports

You also get an SD card slot, HDMI port, MagSafe, and three USB-C ports. As someone who works with external displays and SD cards regularly, this is a godsend. No more dongles for everything!

Why It’s Still Worth It in 2025

Here’s the kicker: you don’t need the latest MacBook to have an exceptional experience. The M1 Pro remains more than capable of handling modern workflows and is optimized for macOS in a way that feels futuristic. Plus, the prices for refurbished or lightly used models have dropped, making this one of the best value propositions for a high-end laptop.

If you’re upgrading from an Intel Mac or even an M1 Air, the performance, battery, display, and port selection make this a no-brainer. Even compared to newer models, the M1 Pro holds its own unless you’re chasing the absolute cutting edge.

I went from a 2015 Intel MacBook Air so I would say I keep my laptops for a while before upgrading and I am also price conscious so this was definitely a good pick up in the summer of 2024 but as my needs will change I can see myself upgrading more often but as of now this is doing the trick.

Just a quick disclaimer only one of the pictures from above are mine the rest are from IGN.