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MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) vs MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)

MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)1MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)2

Quick look

Quick look: MacBook Pro M2 against MacBook Pro M1
FigureMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Price£1,3493launch price£1,2994launch price
ChipM2chipM1chip
CPU8-coreCPU8-coreCPU
GPU10-coreGPU8-coreGPU
Memory8GBunified memory, base8GBunified memory, base
Storage256GBstorage, base256GBstorage, base
Battery lifeUp to20 hrsvideo playback, claimedUp to20 hrsvideo playback, claimed
Released24 June 20223ReleasedIn select Apple Stores; orderable online from 17 June 2022.10 November 20205Available online; Apple gave no in-store day
Security updatesNot available6Security updatesNot available6Security updates
Price
The MacBook Pro M2 is £1,349 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK); the MacBook Pro M1 is £1,299 at launch, per Apple Newsroom (UK).

True to scale

MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprintMacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) · 304.1 × 212.4 mm footprint

Footprints from above, from Apple’s published dimensions, drawn to one scale and superposed. Corner rounding is our drawing convention, not a measurement.

Specifications

Each figure is from the source marked by its Mac’s name unless it carries its own small number, which links to where that figure was read.

Body

Body: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Dimensions15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm15.6 x 304.1 x 212.4 mm
Weight1.4 kg1.4 kg
ColoursSilver, Space GreySilver, Space Gray
PortsTwo Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, 3.5mm headphone jackTwo Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports, 3.5 mm headphone jack
Thunderbolt ports22
Thunderbolt versionThunderbolt 3Thunderbolt 3
USB-A portsNo USB-A ports.7No USB-A ports.8
HDMINo HDMI port.9No HDMI port.10
SD card slotNo SD card slot.9No SD card slot.10
Headphone jackYesYes
MagSafeNo MagSafe port.7No MagSafe port.8
KeyboardBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch IDBacklit Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar and Touch ID
Touch IDYesYes
Touch BarYesYes

Display

Display: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Display size13.3 in13.3 in
Resolution2560 x 16002560 x 1600
Pixel density227 ppi227 ppi
Display typeRetina displayRetina display
Brightness500 nits500 nits
Wide colour (P3)YesYes
Nano-texture optionNo nano-texture display option.9No nano-texture display option.10

Chip and memory

Chip and memory: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
ChipApple M2 chipApple M1 chip
Apple siliconYesYes
CPU cores88
Performance cores44
Efficiency cores44
GPU cores108
Neural Engine cores1616
Chip optionsM2 with 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU11M1 with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU12
Memory (base)8GB8GB
Memory (maximum)24GB16GB
Memory options8GB, 16GB or 24GB8GB or 16GB
Memory upgradeable by userNo, as Apple documents13No, as Apple documents13
Memory bandwidth100 GB/sNot available14
Storage (base)256GB256GB
Storage (maximum)2TB2TB
Storage options256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB256GB, 512GB, 1TB or 2TB
Media engineHardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes and ProRes RAWvideo decode enginevideo encode engineProRes encode and decode engineNot available14

Battery and power

Battery and power: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Battery capacity58.2 Wh58.2 Wh
Rated charge cycles1,000 cycles151,000 cycles15
Video playback (claimed)20 h20 h
Wireless web (claimed)17 h17 h
Included power adapter67 W61 W
Fast chargingNot available16No fast charging.17

Connectivity

Connectivity: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Wi-Fi802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Bluetooth5.05.0
EthernetNo Ethernet port.9No Ethernet port.10
External displays (base)11

Camera and audio

Camera and audio: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Camera720p FaceTime HD camera720p FaceTime HD camera
SpeakersStereo speakers with high dynamic rangeStereo speakers with high dynamic range
MicrophonesStudio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamformingStudio-quality three-mic array with high signal-to-noise ratio and directional beamforming

Platform

Platform: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Shipped withNot available16macOS Big Sur18
Newest macOSmacOS 27 Golden Gate19macOS 27 Golden Gate19
Model identifierMac14,720MacBookPro17,120
Model year20222020

Benchmarks

Benchmarks: Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) against Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020)
SpecificationMacBook Pro M21MacBook Pro M12
Geekbench 7 (CPU, single-core)2,363212,16621
Geekbench 7 (CPU, multi-core)9,665218,30921
Geekbench 7 (Metal)43,2132128,27021

Sources

  1. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M2 · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  2. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs · Default for MacBook Pro M1 · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  3. Apple Newsroom (UK) — 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 available to order starting Friday, June 17 · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  4. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Introducing the next generation of Mac · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  5. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Introducing the next generation of Mac · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  6. Security updates: no end date published. Checked: endoflife.date. Read 22 Sep 2026

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  7. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022): No USB-A ports. No MagSafe port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  8. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020): No USB-A ports. No MagSafe port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs. Read 15 Sep 2026

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  9. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  10. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020): No HDMI port. No SD card slot. No nano-texture display option. No Ethernet port. Checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  11. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  12. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  13. Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro: how to remove or install memory · Apple’s figure · read 18 Oct 2026

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  14. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Introducing the next generation of Mac; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  15. Apple Support (UK) — Determine battery cycle count for Mac laptops · Apple’s figure · read 15 Oct 2026

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  16. Not published by Apple. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 available to order starting Friday, June 17; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  17. MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020): No fast charging. Checked: Apple Newsroom (UK) — Apple unveils game-changing MacBook Pro. Read 9 Oct 2026

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  18. Apple Newsroom (UK) — Introducing the next generation of Mac · Apple’s figure · read 9 Oct 2026

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  19. Apple Support (UK) — macOS 27 Golden Gate is compatible with these computers · Apple’s figure · read 22 Sep 2026

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  20. Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model · Apple’s figure · read 15 Sep 2026

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  21. Geekbench Browser (Primate Labs) · third-party figure · read 11 Oct 2026

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Not published by Apple

MacBook Pro M2. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 available to order starting Friday, June 17; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

MacBook Pro M1. Apple doesn’t publish for this Mac: refresh rate, storage upgradeable by user. Pages checked: Apple Support (UK) — MacBook Pro (13-inch, M1, 2020) - Tech Specs; Apple Newsroom (UK) — Introducing the next generation of Mac; Apple Support (UK) — Identify your MacBook Pro model, read 9 Oct 2026.

If you own one of them

Whether to move is a different question from which is better. Each Mac has a page on it: what its successor changes (the newest Mac in its line where Apple sells one, otherwise the Mac this site treats as its replacement, which can be in another line), what it fetches and whether it still gets updates. Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M2 (13-inch, 2022)? · Should I upgrade my MacBook Pro M1 (13-inch, 2020)?

The pairs a buyer of either Mac would also weigh. Any two Macs in the catalogue can be compared from the chooser.