Apple’s M6 MacBook Pro Raises Price While Keeping Familiar Design

What changed

Apple’s entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro now uses the M6 chip and starts at $1,999, a $400 increase over last year’s M5 model. The laptop keeps the 2021-era design, without a touchscreen, OLED panel, Dynamic Island, lighter chassis or glowing Apple logo.

Why it matters

The M6 MacBook Pro is caught in an awkward middle: it costs far more than a MacBook Air, but lacks the features that make Apple’s higher-end MacBook Pros feel new.

It still has real strengths. The keyboard and trackpad are excellent, and its ports are unusually practical: an SD card reader, HDMI, MagSafe, three Thunderbolt ports and a headphone jack. Buyers can also get a 120 Hz ProMotion display or nano-texture finish, options unavailable on Apple’s laptops elsewhere in the lineup.

But at $1,999, those advantages have to carry a much heavier load. The basic M6 model delivers Apple’s newest chip while leaving the rest of the machine largely familiar. That makes the premium feel less like payment for a new generation of hardware and more like payment for access to a few specific Pro features.

The M6 may also occupy a peculiar place in Apple’s lineup if rumors that it will not receive Pro, Max or Ultra versions prove accurate. For now, the clearest case for this MacBook Pro is straightforward: you want the ports, the 120 Hz display or the nano-texture option, and you do not want to pay even more for a higher-end model. Otherwise, the machine’s best argument is its processor, while its price emphasizes everything Apple left unchanged.