Both the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 and 16-inch MacBook Pro (which still has Intel inside) come in either silver or space gray, and those colors have been a staple on tons of Apple devices over the years. What color option you choose is ultimately up to you, but there are some subtle differences between the two you may not have thought about. Here are a few things to consider when you're deciding which is the best MacBook color for your new MacBook Pro.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the fastest in Apple's lineup and has the most storage options. The newest model has a larger screen display while keeping the chassis close to the same size as the 15-inch MacBook Pro (about a centimeter wider).
Now sporting the M1 chip, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is as speedy as ever. You can get all the power and portability you want, and not have to suffer on price since the new models start at the same price as the old models. Plus, if you still want to buy the Intel options from early this year, you can do that too.
Distractions in low-light conditions
If you ever use your MacBook Pro in a dark room, and you want to ensure you can focus on the screen, minimizing glare is important.
The good news is that both the silver and space gray options have dark bezels around the screen. This allows you to focus on what's on your screen without having to worry about the bezel being a high-contrast — like sliver iPads with a white frame, for example. It's especially great for watching movies or gaming as the bezels just seemed to fade into the screen, making it almost impossible to notice.
When it comes to the actual MacBook Pro reflecting light, both the silver and space gray versions are metal, so they do provide some glare, and to the very keen observer, the silver will likely reflect light a little more; however, the difference is pretty negligible. The brushed aluminum texture of both colors absorbs more light than reflects it.
Discoloration concerns
It's natural to be concerned that the color of your MacBook Pro may fade over time —especially on the silver version — but I'm here to tell you that you really don't need to worry about that. Apple has been making the anodized aluminum finishes on their products for years and pretty much have perfected the process.
My many-years-old MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones have all held their color over the years and have the exact same color as they did when I first took them out of the box.
Basically, you don't need to be worried about staining, discoloring, or fading color and finish on your MacBook Pro; it will hold up over time with no problems.
Wear and tear
While Apple's anodization process is a little more robust than other products out there, it is still metal. Metal can be scratched and scuffed, and if the scratches are big or deep enough, they will be noticeable on either color.
Small scratches and microabrasions will be far less noticeable on the silver MacBook Pro because the scratches won't have as much contrast as the space gray version. If the scratch is quite small and shallow, you're likely only to notice it when light hits it a certain way.
If any signs of wear and tear, even small scratches, bother you, silver will be better suited for your needs.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the fastest in Apple's lineup and has the most storage options. The newest model has a larger screen display while keeping the chassis close to the same size as the 15-inch MacBook Pro (about a centimeter wider).
Now sporting the M1 chip, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is as speedy as ever. You can get all the power and portability you want, and not have to suffer on price, since the new models start at the same price as the old models did. Plus, if you still want to buy the Intel options from early this year, you can do that too.
