You may have heard rave reviews of the latest 14-inch MacBook Pro and considered purchasing one. As a long-time laptop reviewer and Apple specialist, I analyze the pros and cons of every major laptop release. While the MacBook Pro still stands as an impressive premium notebook, several specific drawbacks may make you think twice before buying one today.
In this guide, I outline key reasons why you may want to avoid picking up a 14-inch MacBook Pro in 2023. I‘ll support each one with detailed analysis and examples compared to competitive Windows laptop alternatives. My goal is to provide objective, well-researched advice so you can make the most informed decision for your needs and budget.
Overview of the 14-Inch MacBook Pro
First, a quick recap of what the 14-inch MacBook Pro represents as Apple‘s top-tier creative professional notebook:
- Released in October 2021 as a follow-up to previous 13/16-inch Intel-based Pros
- First Pro model powered by Apple‘s own custom silicon: M1 Pro or M1 Max
- Features 14.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR mini-LED screen with ProMotion adaptive refresh up to 120Hz
- Returning ports like HDMI, SD card reader, and MagSafe charging that were removed from 2016-2020 models
- New controversial front camera notch housing FaceID and other sensors
It serves as Apple‘s ultimate premium laptop solution for demanding creative workloads like editing 8K video, visual effects, 3D modeling, music production, and more. But for many everyday users, the reasons below may make you hesitate spending $2,000+ on one.
Reason 1: The Extremely High Cost
The 14-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,999 for the base M2 Pro chip model with a 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. Realistically, you‘ll likely prefer upgrading those paltry storage and memory amounts which quickly raises the price over $2500+. From there, bumping up to the M2 Max CPU/GPU and higher capacity SSD shoot the cost upwards of $4000-5000+.
How does that compare to Windows laptops with similar specs?
| Laptop | Price | CPU | GPU | Storage | RAM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14" MacBook Pro (M2 Max, 8TB SSD) |
$5,899 | 12-core Apple M2 Max | 38-core Apple GPU | 8TB SSD | 96GB |
| MSI Creator Z17 | $3,499 | 12-core Intel i9-12950HX | NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti Laptop | 2TB SSD | 64GB |
As you can see, for virtually identical core components and performance capacity, Apple charges over $2,400+ more simply due to the MacBook Pro name and macOS.
That difference could pay for an additional 27-inch external monitor, high-capacity external SSD drive, and still have money left over! You must determine whether access to Apple‘s proprietary software like Final Cut Pro warrants such a tremendous price premium for you.
Reason 2: Mediocre for PC Gaming
The 14-inch MacBook Pro touts impressive processing muscle with its M2 Pro and M2 Max chip options rivaling leading Windows gaming laptops. However, Apple‘s closed-off macOS poses problems for playing many top PC game titles.
The issue stems from MacOS lacking support for the DirectX API used by virtually every major game. Instead, Apple forces game developers to create custom Mac versions using their own Metal API. Very few bother due to the small install base, leading to missing features, glitches, and problems running games through translation layers.
Let‘s compare the gaming capabilities using popular titles:
| Game | 14-inch MacBook Pro |
Razer Blade 14 | Windows Laptop Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | Not Supported | 86 fps @ 1440p High | Playable on Windows |
| Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 | Limited Support | 105 fps @ 1440p Ultra | Higher resolution + fps |
Unless you dual boot Windows via Bootcamp, don‘t expect a flawless AAA gaming experience on the 14-inch Pro. For the price you‘re paying, many buyers would expect unrestricted gaming capabilities. Instead, the Razer Blade 14 gaming laptop provides vastly superior real-world Windows gaming benchmarks for similar cost.
Reason 3: The Divisive Front Camera Notch
Love it or hate it, the front-facing camera notch seems here to stay moving forward across Apple‘s high-end Pro laptop line. Making its debut on the 14-inch and 16-inch models in 2021, reactions remain split around this polarizing design decision.
The primary motivation stems from reducing the display bezels as much as possible. The notch essentially allowed engineers to stretch the screen upward further by cramming the front camera components into that small protruding cutout.
However, developers must now account for that missing pixel space in their Mac applications. End-users also complain it proves distracting when watching full-screen videos. Some have simply resorted to concealing it with electrical tape out of frustration!
Here is a look at the difference in top bezels with and without the controversial notch:
So while its inclusion facilitates a more immersive display viewing area, the functional and cosmetic trade-offs remain hotly debated among consumers. If you fall into the anti-notch camp, this alone may prompt skipping the 14-inch Pro.
Reason 4: No USB-A Ports
The return of useful ports like HDMI, SD card readers, and MagSafe charging delivers welcome flexibility lacking on previous 2016-2020 era MacBook Pros. However, Apple still declines to add back any traditional USB Type-A ports.
That requires relying on dongles or hubs to connect existing USB-A keyboards, mice, drives, printers, and other peripherals. The sleek design only incorporates four Thunderbolt 4 ports, which handle USB-C connectivity and other protocols.
Compare that to premium Windows rivals like the Dell XPS 15 which smartly mixes both USB-C and USB-A:
Having to constantly reach for plastic adapters introduces unnecessary hassle versus models respecting customers still utilizing ubiquitous USB-A devices. Unless you exclusively own USB-C accessories, prepare for webcams, external monitors, microphones, and other gear to require extra transitional steps on the 14-inch Pro.
Reason 5: Only a Single Color Option
Alright, far from an actual dealbreaker, but another disappointing limitation for a $2,000+ "pro" notebook. Buyers only have one choice when selecting their 14-inch Pro color: Space Gray. Occasionally, a standard silver version pops up. However, most of the time, you must settle for Apple‘s monotonously grayish hue.
Meanwhile, the far cheaper MacBook Air comes in fun additions like Starlight Gold and Midnight Blue variants. There seems no apparent reason beyond artificial upselling tactics why buyers cannot opt for their signature color on a premium Pro too. Especially since Apple charges premium prices for incremental storage or memory upgrades as is.
For the substantial investment, personalized flourishes like alternative colors provide perceived value through relatively simple manufacturing tweaks. Beyond space gray, gold, midnight, and silver at minimum should constitute expected options on the highest tier MacBook Pro laptops.
Capable Windows-based Alternatives
The 14-inch MacBook Pro still stands tall as an unrivaled portable creative studio…provided macOS suits your workflow. Before committing over $2000+ on one, weigh your actual needs and importance placed around aspects like gaming support, ports, display design prefences, and color customization.
If any reason above gives you pause, here are three outstanding Windows alternatives matching and even exceeding the 14-inch Pro in certain areas:
Razer Blade 14
- Finely crafted, premium chassis like MacBook Pro
- Windows 11 for broad game and software support
- Up to NVIDIA RTX 3080 Ti GPU for elite gaming performance
- Vibrant QHD 165Hz display with 100% DCI-P3 color coverage
- Per key RGB customization for personal style
Dell XPS 15 (OLED model)
- Stunning 15.6-inch 3.5K OLED touch display
- GeForce RTX 3050 Ti dedicated GPU for content creation
- 12th Gen Intel Core i9 CPU for optimized application workflows
- Both USB-C and USB-A ports for connecting various accessories
- Small HD webcam notch maximizes viewing area
HP Spectre x360 16 2-in-1
- Sleek convertible for laptop and tablet use cases
- Extra screen real estate from 16-inch 4K OLED display
- Intel Xe integrated graphics still capable for lighter creative tasks
- Thunderbolt 4 USB-C + SuperSpeed USB-A ports
- Stylus included for touchscreen interaction
Any of those deliver powerful performance and excellent build quality at over $1000+ less than a base 14-inch MacBook Pro model. Factor in additional displays or accessories with those savings for an even greater overall setup.
Closing Recommendations
Even as an engineering marvel packing desktop-class Apple silicon, the 14-inch MacBook Pro warrants hesitancy around aspects like gaming, legacy connectivity, polarizing design choices, high pricing, and color stagnation.
Carefully evaluate your computing needs before swiping a credit card on Apple‘s ultra premium notebook offering. If maximum configurability, broad software/game support, and budgetary flexibility matter more, consider passing on the 14-inch Pro for now in favor of more well-rounded Windows alternatives instead.
I hope this detailed yet practical analysis gives clarity around the current trade-offs and limitations accompanying such a substantial MacBook investment. Feel free to reach out with any other questions as you weigh the right laptop decision matching your individual needs!
