Apple MacBook Pro 14 OLED review verdict – A great display, but cooling weaknesses

Apple's new high-end MacBook Pro sets new standards, bringing an OLED screen to an even lighter and more compact chassis for the first time. Our review of the new 14-inch model shows that it is a very good multimedia laptop, although some weaknesses remain.

The undisputed highlight of the new models is the OLED display. With its outstanding image quality, it immediately establishes itself as the new benchmark for laptop displays. Apple has also managed to increase brightness further compared with other tandem OLED displays, such as the one in the Asus ProArt P14, with peak brightness now exceeding 2,000 cd/m². The screen also covers the wider Adobe RGB color gamut, something other OLED screens do not offer. The optional matte nano-texture finish is available again, too. However, even the standard version has no major issues with reflections. Since the new OLED screen is also quite efficient, battery life is even better than that of its Mini-LED predecessor.

However, the lighter chassis has a negative impact on fan behavior, resulting in slightly higher noise levels than its predecessor. Chassis temperatures also rise slightly. Overall performance has remained unchanged, but that is also one of its weaknesses, as Apple continues to use the familiar M5 Pro and M5 Max processors found in the previous Mini-LED version.

Power supply issues also persist. Since Apple limits the maximum power draw, the battery can drain under heavy load. The price has risen again, too: at €3,299, the new MacBook Pro 14 with an OLED screen costs a hefty €400 more than the Mini-LED version. The surcharges for memory and storage upgrades also remain enormous. However, the MacBook is also the only 14-inch laptop available with up to 16 TB of SSD storage. You can find all the other details about the new MacBook Pro 14 with an OLED panel in our in-depth review.