Image: AppleWhat it gets right
- Exceptional battery life for a powerful laptop
- Bright, detailed screen with an excellent anti-glare option
- Very comfortable keyboard and trackpad
- Speakers are unusually full and clear
- Remains fast when used away from a charger
The compromises
- Everyday use feels very similar to recent versions
- The price rises quickly when more memory or storage is added
- The anti-glare screen option costs extra
- There is no simple physical cover for the camera
- Some advertised automatic tools offer little benefit to most people
Buy it—or leave it?
- You need a dependable laptop for demanding creative or professional work
- Long battery life without reduced speed matters
- You are replacing an old laptop rather than last year's model
- You already own a recent MacBook Pro that still meets your needs
- Your work is mainly browsing, documents and video calls
- A lighter and less expensive MacBook Air would be powerful enough
What would you like to do now?
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From £1,798.97 (16GB/1TB)
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Retailer link last checked 17 August 2026These are Amazon affiliate links. UKTechExpert may earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. How this worksSee whether the MacBook Air M4 is enough
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Compare laptops by budgetFree guide with checked retailer linksWhat it is actually like
Open any section for the detail behind our verdict.
01Everyday work
Web pages, documents, large numbers of open tabs and video calls feel immediate. The keyboard and trackpad remain among the best available. Owners of a recent MacBook Pro are unlikely to notice a meaningful difference in these ordinary tasks, which is why an upgrade is difficult to justify for them.
02Demanding creative work
The extra power becomes more useful when editing large photographs, working with complex video or running specialist professional software for long periods. It stays fast while unplugged, which is valuable for people who cannot remain beside a socket. Buyers should check that their own software benefits before paying for a more expensive version.
03Screen, keyboard and sound
The screen is bright, detailed and excellent for films as well as work. An optional anti-glare finish makes reflections far less distracting beside windows, although it costs another £150. The keyboard is comfortable and the speakers sound fuller than those in most laptops, reducing the need for extra equipment.
04Battery and travelling
All three independent reviewers found battery life to be a major strength. It can cover a long working day and continue well beyond it during lighter tasks. The 14-inch body is easier to carry than a larger professional laptop, although the MacBook Air remains the lighter choice for ordinary office and study use.
Price and value
The reviewed version costs £1,699 with 16GB memory and 1TB storage. Adding more memory or storage quickly increases the total. Compare the exact configuration because a cheaper listing may include less space, and remember that UK and European boxes do not include a charger.
Price last checked 17 August 2026This price check is more than two weeks old. Use the retailer link for the latest price; this review is temporarily excluded from the buying finder until the price is refreshed.
Who will notice the difference?
Long working days away from power
The battery and full unplugged speed make it unusually dependable for mobile professional work.
Photo and video work near a window
The optional anti-glare screen makes bright working spaces much more comfortable.
Replacing a recent MacBook Pro
The everyday improvement is too small unless a specific demanding task is currently causing delays.
What else should you consider?
The MacBook Air is the better-value choice for everyday office work, study and light creative use. Some Windows laptops offer more gaming power or an alternative screen for similar money. The MacBook Pro earns its price through battery life, build quality, its screen and dependable performance during demanding professional work.
Our review process
We compared full reviews from TechRadar, Tom's Hardware and Expert Reviews. They used different battery, screen and performance tests, so we looked for the conclusions that remained consistent rather than presenting one laboratory number as the whole experience. Those detailed results inform the private score; the article explains the practical outcome.
Read our editorial standards