I put Apple's new MacBook Pro with M6 through its paces — and it's a portable powerhouse
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The MacBook Pro 14-inch M6 ($1,999 to start) won’t grab headlines like the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR, but it’s still a great laptop for power users who don’t want to pay the latter’s steep asking price.
This year’s MacBook Pro retains the same sleek design and 14-inch Liquid Retina XDR display as the MacBook Pro M5 , but it now packs the new Apple M6 chip , which delivers about 10-15% faster performance and better efficiency than the M5. There’s also the Apple N1 chip , which adds Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 support for faster wireless connectivity.
While the 14-inch MacBook Pro M6 is a modest spec bump over last year’s model, it’s still one of the best MacBooks thanks to its elegant design, gorgeous display, fast performance, and epic battery life. It costs $400 more than before thanks to Apple’s price hikes , but you’re still getting your money’s worth if you just want a powerful MacBook. Find out more in my full review.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M6 (starting & tested)
Price
$1,999
Display
14.2-inch (3024x1964) Liquid Retina XDR, 120Hz
Chip
M6 (12-core CPU, 12-core GPU)
Memory
16GB unified memory
Storage
1TB
Battery life
16 hours wireless web (rated) | 19:05 hours wireless web (tested)
Ports
1x MagSafe, 3x Thunderbolt 4/USB-C, 1x SDXC card slot, 1x 3.5mm headphone jack
Connectivity
Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6
Colors
Space Black, Silver
Dimensions
12.31 x 8.71 x0.61 inches
Weight
3.4 pounds
The MacBook Pro 14-inch M6 is a fantastic laptop, delivering strong performance and long-lasting battery life in a sleek aluminum chassis.
Our review unit has the same specs as the $1,999 starting model. This includes an Apple M6 chip with 12 CPU cores and 12 GPU cores, 16GB of unified memory (RAM), and a 1TB SSD.
The M6 chip is built on TSMC’s 2nm process. It features hardware-accelerated mesh shading, ray tracing, and Dynamic Caching. These are also M5 features, but M6 handles everything faster and more efficiently.
This MacBook Pro handles my typical workload with ease, including dozens of open Chrome tabs, Slack, and the occasional YouTube video. I also had no issues cropping and resizing photos in GIMP.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M6
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
Geekbench 6 (single/multi-core)
4752 / 21,184
4,288 / 17,926
2,867 / 16,927
Handbrake
2:50 (mins: secs)
3:31 (mins: secs)
4:32 (mins: secs)
Pugetbench (Photoshop)
15,622 (score) | 8.3 (minutes)
13,755 (score) | 8.02 (minutes)
8789 (score) | 14.4 (minutes)
Blackmagic SSD (write/read)
6501 / 6,684
6,517 / 6,619
3,479 / 4,809
3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
15,635 (score) | 93 (fps)
12,187 (score) | 73 (fps)
12,863 (score) | 77 (fps)
As expected, the M6-powered MacBook Pro performed well across our lab tests. On the Geekbench 6 CPU test, it scored well in both single- and multi-core performance. As you can see above, it is 18.17% faster in multi-core performance than its predecessor. It also crushes the Dell XPS 14 (currently $1,699), which features an Intel Core Ultra x7 358H CPU and 32GB of RAM.
In our Handbrake video transcoding test, the M6 MacBook Pro converted a 4K video to 1080p in a zippy 2 minutes and 50 seconds. The laptop also delivered strong results in the PugetBench Photoshop test. SSD speeds on the M6 MacBook Pro aren’t much different from those of the previous model, but both notebooks far outperform the XPS 14.
The M6 MacBook Pro is also pretty adept at gaming. In the 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited GPU test, it scored much higher than the M5 model and the XPS 14 and also saw higher frame rates. When I tested Cyberpunk 2077 on the “For this Mac” graphical setting, performance was generally smooth at around 53 frames per second. Games optimized for Apple silicon will run marvelously on this machine.
The M6 MacBook Pro keeps the same design Apple introduced for the line back in 2021. Though I’m now kind of spoiled by the thinner and lighter PROLED MacBook Pros, I can’t knock Apple for keeping a winning design. This is still the same sturdy, functional, and elegant slab of machined aluminum I’ve come to love.
Opening the lid with one hand is easy, and it glides smoothly on its hinge. I also like how smooth the chassis feels when I’m holding the MacBook Pro. On that note, this laptop measures 12.31 x 8.71 x 0.61 inches and weighs 3.4 pounds. Since it’s not that large or heavy, it’s easy to carry around in your backpack — as I experienced firsthand when I commuted to and from work.
You get the same number of ports as before, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an SD card slot, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. There’s also a MagSafe port on the left-hand side, though you can charge the laptop using any of the available USB-C ports.
The keyboard deck is another highlight for me because it fits my large hands perfectly. The keys have excellent travel and just the right amount of resistance when pressed. I’m also a fan of the large touchpad, which consistently and accurately registers my gestures. The haptic feedback is great, too. The Touch ID button makes it easy to log in to the MacBook Pro or bypass passwords, though I wish this laptop also included Face ID.
Even if the speakers on this MacBook Pro aren’t as punchy as those on the PROLED laptops, they still deliver clear and loud audio. Whether it’s audio-focused podcasts, movies, or music, your ears won’t be disappointed.
While the MacBook Pro M6’s 14-inch 3024x1964 display isn’t as awe-inspiring as the OLED panel on the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display, the Liquid Retina XDR Display is as gorgeous as ever.
When playing Cyberpunk 2077 , I was amazed by the contrast between shadows and light. The game’s bold colors also stood out, and the sharp resolution makes it easy to see even the smallest details in the environment and on characters.
MacBook Pro 14-inch M6
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
Nits (brightness)
571 (SDR) | 1482 (40% of display)
558 (SDR) | 1,109 (HDR)
355 (SDR) | 381 (HDR)
sRGB
115.1%
115.4%
126.6%
DCI-P3
81.5%
81.7%
89.7%
Delta-E
0.19
0.20
0.20
Since this is still the same display as last year’s M5 MacBook Pro, its test results are identical. Color reproduction (sRGB and DCI-P3) is slightly oversaturated but not overly so, resulting in more realistic hues. The excellent color accuracy (Delta-E) also helps. Brightness levels are fantastic with both SDR and HDR content.
I now have mixed feelings about the notch at the top center of the display. It didn’t bother me before, but it now stands out more, especially after testing the OLED MacBook Pros that ditched the notch for the Dynamic Island. While I understand the notch houses the FaceTime camera and ambient light sensor, it has become an eyesore.
The MacBook Pro M6 supports up to two 6K external displays at 60Hz, or one display at up to 6K resolution at 60Hz and another at up to 4K resolution at 165Hz, using any combination of Thunderbolt and HDMI ports. You can also connect to a single 8K 60Hz display, a 5K 120Hz display, or a 4K 240Hz display via HDMI or Thunderbolt.
Apple says the MacBook Pro M6 has up to 16 hours of battery life when web surfing. If this laptop met that claim, we’d be impressed. However, our lab testing shows Apple’s notebook can last much longer.
Time (hours: mins)
MacBook Pro 14-inch M6
19:05
MacBook Pro 14-inch M5
18:00
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
12:19
On the Tom’s Guide’s battery test, which involves continuous Wi-Fi web surfing with the display set to 150 nits, the M6 MacBook Pro lasted a mind-boggling 19 hours! That’s an hour longer than last year’s model, which also had epic battery life. While the Dell XPS 14 has admirable endurance for a Windows laptop, it can come close to matching Apple’s.
The MacBook Pro has the same 12MP Center Stage camera as last year’s model, so you’ll look your best during video calls. Thanks to the “Center Stage” feature, you’ll always be perfectly framed.
As you can see in the photo above, the webcam captures all the details on my face, clothing, and background. If you’re in a well-lit area, you’ll almost always have great image quality.
Though the MacBook Pro M6 has many strengths, it’s not a perfect laptop.
Last year’s MacBook Pro started at $1,599, a reasonable price for an entry-level premium laptop. However, thanks to RAMageddon , this year’s M6 MacBook Pro now costs $400 more. And that’s before accounting for component upgrades that could drive the price even higher.
If you don’t need the strong processing power but still want a high-performing machine, you can get the MacBook Air M5 for $1,299. But if this MacBook Pro sounds right for you, prepare to pay a pretty penny.
Like the MacBook Pro M5 before it, the new M6 MacBook Pro is a modest update. That’s not entirely bad, as it delivers fast performance for everyday work, video editing, and gaming. However, given the modest performance gains and higher asking price, it might make folks think twice about getting this laptop.
As I always say about refreshes like this, if you’re happy with your current MacBook Pro, you don’t need to upgrade. However, if you have a machine with anything older than an M3 chip, you should take a serious look at this one. And if your wallet can handle it, the MacBook Pro OLEDs offer stronger performance and OLED touchscreens.
The 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip is the odd duck of the current MacBook lineup. Those who prioritize affordability will likely look to the MacBook Air or even the MacBook Neo for work or watching videos. Conversely, folks who want the most powerful MacBooks available have the new PROLED laptops to consider.
So where does that leave the M6 MacBook Pro? After all, it’s still a stellar laptop that is as elegant as it is fast and efficient. It can still outpace even the most powerful Windows laptops. Yes, the PROLED MacBooks have newer features and are more powerful, but the M6 MacBook Pro is still a valid machine.
Ultimately, the MacBook Pro M6 is for those who want a pro-grade MacBook that’s $900 less than the entry-level MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display. Sure, it lacks a touchscreen and an OLED display, but for demanding tasks like video editing and gaming, this MacBook Pro won’t let you down. Taken on its own merits, the MacBook Pro 14-inch M6 is still a phenomenal laptop.