Apple MacBook Pro 14" M1 Pro Space Gray 2021

The screen alone is worth the price of admission, and the M1 Pro still has plenty of gas in the tank. Just don't pay more than USD 900 for a refurb, and don't expect 16GB of RAM to carry you through 2028.

The M1 Pro 10-core CPU sits at the 71st percentile in our database, which sounds modest until you remember this chip is from 2021 and still keeps up with brand new Windows laptops. The 16-core GPU is solidly middle of the pack, but the real surprise is the screen. 98th percentile. That 3024x1964 mini-LED panel with 1600 nits peak brightness is the absolute best right now, and it makes everything else look washed out by comparison. The 16GB of RAM is the weak spot here, landing at the 38th percentile. For most people it's fine, but power users will feel the ceiling.

Against the ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14, the MacBook wins on screen quality and battery life, but the G14's dedicated GPU will smoke it in gaming and heavy graphics work. The Samsung Galaxy Book5 Pro is the closest Windows rival for display quality, but it can't touch the M1 Pro's sustained performance without throttling. The Lenovo Legion Pro 7i is a different animal entirely, way more powerful but twice the weight and half the battery life. If you want raw power, go Legion. If you want the best screen and battery in a portable package, the MacBook is still the pick.

Here's the thing: you're buying refurbished, and the price spread is wild. We're seeing USD 815 to USD 990 across four listings, and that USD 175 gap matters. The Newegg refurbished units with the 1-year warranty are the sweet spot if you can snag one at the lower end. At USD 815, this is a steal. At USD 990, you're getting close to newer M3 territory, and that's a harder sell.

The MacBook Pro M1 Pro is still a beast in 2024, even if it's not the newest kid on the block. The one thing to know: that screen is absolutely stunning, and the M1 Pro chip still chews through most pro workflows without breaking a sweat. It's a refurbished unit at this point, but the hardware hasn't aged a day where it counts.

If you're doing heavy AI work, LLM inference, or serious gaming, this isn't it. The AI/LLM score of 39.2 is a real letdown, and the integrated GPU won't keep up with modern titles. Go get a Lenovo Legion Pro 7i or an ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 instead. Also skip it if you need more than 16GB of RAM, because you can't upgrade this thing later.

Buy it if you find a refurbished unit under USD 900 and you care about display quality and battery life above all else. The M1 Pro is aging gracefully, and for photo editing, coding, and general pro work, it's still a top-tier machine. Just don't expect it to be an AI workstation or a gaming rig.