Is Apple’s new “Pro = Beefy” design language a mistake?

[6916494]

Ha! I don’t want you to lose it — I just want a 15” Air with 32GB RAM and near 2021 M1 Max CPU/GPU performance. Is that really too much to ask for? 😥

Yes.

You invest a lot of time in something which just will not happen.

By the way, these are the measurements (last 15 inch MBP to current 16 inch MBP):

Height went from 15.5 mm to 16.8 mm, an increase of 1,3 mm (+8.3%).
Width went from 349.3 mm to 355.7 mm, an increase of 6.4 mm (+1.8%).
Depth went from 240.7 mm to 248.1 mm, an increase of 7.4 mm (+ 3.1%).
Weight went from 1.83 kg to 2.16 kg, an increase of 0.33 kg (+18%).

So there is some difference in weight, but surely not in the dimensions of the 16 inch MBP. It looks beefier but it isn't. It is just slightly heavier. No offence, but just get over it.

 

[Sami13496]

Apple Pro users before thick design: What is this obsession with thinness?! Just make it thicker and give us proper port selection and bigger battery!

Apple Pro users after thick design: What is this trend with thicker and heavier devices?! Just make it more portable and remove unnecessary ports and hardware features!

 

[Sami13496]

For me it depends on device and use case. With laptops I would probably go for Pro because I do moderately demanding work on my computers. Although M2 Air might be sufficient for me, not sure. But overall with laptops I would rather take that bulk to have more powerful machine.

With iPhones the Pro lineup is hard pass for me personally, because I don’t do anything Pro like with my iPhone. I just use it for browsing the web, emails, that sort of stuff. So with iPhone portability and lightness is important for me. Even my current XR is too heavy and bulky (and slippery without case) for me (I came from iPhone 6).

 

[gradi]

The answer today is probably not — I need the 12 core CPU and 32 Core GPU to run discrete event simulations and visualize results as fast as possible. The difference between 30 minutes to run 20 iterations of a one-year complex simulation vs 45 minutes to do the same thing is huge — especially when collaborating with others and relying on simulation results to help others think through problems and solution with each run.

However, that rumored M2/M3 15” MacBook Air is sounding very promising. If it matches or comes close to the performance of my 16” M1 Max MacBook Pro, I’m going for it.

If you are running such heavy duty software for 30 minutes on your 16" M1 Max MBP 12/32 then expect a 15" MBA to throttle a lot running the same thing.

 

[leman]

I think there are two main factors for the “bulky” design. First, it’s a take back to the “golden age” of the Mac - these models are visually similar to the old powerbooks and early MBPs. Second, the display needs some depth to it to fit all the components.

All in all, I don’t really share OPs opinion. The new 16” is still thinner than the original retina model, and it’s a very compact computer for its performance factor. For folks who think it’s too bulky there is always the 14”. And of course, a 15” MBA will be very successful regardless.

 

[Matt Leaf]

I also feel like Apple's Pro machines are designed that way for thermal performance. It might be that a thinner design just simply wasn't viable for where the current chips are at.

 

[leman]

I also feel like Apple's Pro machines are designed that way for thermal performance. It might be that a thinner design just simply wasn't viable for where the current chips are at.

Na, they use less power than Intel machines, both average and worst case. But the peak display power consumption has increased significantly. So it’s possible that the internal PSU had to be bulked up.

The rest is likely a safety margin But I have little doubt that M1 Max would work just fine in the thiner 2017 15" chassis.

 

[itsboi]

Only on Macrumors are options a bad thing.

They have the Air, regular MacBook coming out, 14"/16" Pros. No one is forcing you to buy the pros for those who need it.

 

[gpat]

Ha! I don’t want you to lose it — I just want a 15” Air with 32GB RAM and near 2021 M1 Max CPU/GPU performance. Is that really too much to ask for? 😥

You'll likely be able to ask for that in 2024 with the M3 15" Air refresh.

 

[ggx12]

It just shows how good the old designs were from a look and feel standpoint. While the numbers make it seem like the new 16” isn’t that much bigger than the previous ones, they do certainly look and feel like they are 2x has big.

I think the story is pretty simple. They probably designed this entire generation of macbooks all at once. You want great performance in a classic thin and light apple design, you go MBA (13” or 15”). You just want a non-compromise beast of a machine, you go MBP. But you’ll have to accept that it’s probably going to feel thicker and it’s going to be worth it.

 

[jchap]

I don't want to read your entire post, but I am ready to agree just reading the title. It's getting out of control.

The OP did use green italicized and boldfaced text for emphasis. That warrants reading the entire thing. 😁

 

[leman]

It just shows how good the old designs were from a look and feel standpoint. While the numbers make it seem like the new 16” isn’t that much bigger than the previous ones, they do certainly look and feel like they are 2x has big.

It's a subjective thing though. I was very sceptical about the new design when I saw the pictures, but when I got mine it was an instant conversion. The weight distribution, the more aggressive and yet still smooth design feel amazing. It's also easier to grab and hold then the old model with it's slightly wedged bottom.

 

[Falhófnir]

I don't think the iPad or iPhone models are particularly chunky, but for the MBP it makes sense. I do think the current design language looks better on the thinner MBA, but that is the point. The MBP is bulkier to maximise performance, the MBA is there if you want a more compact, lighter computer and are willing to trade away some of the power for that.

 

[ggx12]

It's a subjective thing though. I was very sceptical about the new design when I saw the pictures, but when I got mine it was an instant conversion. The weight distribution, the more aggressive and yet still smooth design feel amazing. It's also easier to grab and hold then the old model with it's slightly wedged bottom.

Definitely subjective !

 

[ian87w]

It just shows how good the old designs were from a look and feel standpoint. While the numbers make it seem like the new 16” isn’t that much bigger than the previous ones, they do certainly look and feel like they are 2x has big.

I think the story is pretty simple. They probably designed this entire generation of macbooks all at once. You want great performance in a classic thin and light apple design, you go MBA (13” or 15”). You just want a non-compromise beast of a machine, you go MBP. But you’ll have to accept that it’s probably going to feel thicker and it’s going to be worth it.

I think the current lineup is good (except the 13" MBP, I'm going to assume that doesn't exist). Apple has made Apple Silicon into such efficient powerhouse that according to Apple, majority of people would be fine with a Macbook Air (and rightfully so, we consumers tend to overestimate our own needs). Then they moved the Macbook Pro into the previously untapped market, aka portable workstations. With Apple Silicon, Apple now is confident enough to compete in that segment, and rightfully so. But then that market will have demands like ports, and Apple understood it. Thus we have the new Macbook Pros. The price gap ($1199 for base Macbook Air and $1999 for base 14" Macbook Pro) speaks for itself. Apple has clear segmentation in that regards.

 

[Falhófnir]

Yes.

You invest a lot of time in something which just will not happen.

By the way, these are the measurements (last 15 inch MBP to current 16 inch MBP):

Height went from 15.5 mm to 16.8 mm, an increase of 1,3 mm (+8.3%).
Width went from 349.3 mm to 355.7 mm, an increase of 6.4 mm (+1.8%).
Depth went from 240.7 mm to 248.1 mm, an increase of 7.4 mm (+ 3.1%).
Weight went from 1.83 kg to 2.16 kg, an increase of 0.33 kg (+18%).

So there is some difference in weight, but surely not in the dimensions of the 16 inch MBP. It looks beefier but it isn't. It is just slightly heavier. No offence, but just get over it.

On paper the Touch Bar 15" MBP doesn't seem like much of a difference, but in the hand it is noticeable tbh. I definitely could feel it vs a 2015 15" which is comparable in size to the 16" MBPs. if the new design language lets them trim even a little more off the dimensions I think it will be enough of a difference to actually be a consideration. It will just depend on whether you prioritise the power and extra features of the 16" or the smaller size/weight and cost savings of the 15".

 

[iPadified]

As long as the 16 inch stays within current dimensions it is fine. If this is a starting point for a thicker and thicker trend like the iPhone, it will not be good.

Too many here thinks "Pro"= high performance and bulky. Only enthusiasts reason in that way. A pro uses the best tool for the job and that includes considering more parameters than size and performance as the OP post highlights.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

No, because what you’re describing as ‘beefy’ is in fact more functional than the taper of the previous design.

There was another thread from someone who said a similar thing about the MBA and how old design was “better” because it looked better…

The fact that Apple is putting functionality before aesthetics is a great thing - we’re getting more productive tools in a smaller footprint. Keep in mind too that, thinking specifically about the taper of the previous designs, Apple had to design terraced batteries just to fit into that area. Not only was this more complicated but more costly and specialised. With the current design language, they can fit regular sized batteries into a smaller volume and have greater capacity.

Same with the trash can Mac Pro, people saying it was a better product because of how it looked rather than the reality of how it functioned.

 

[xxray]

It sounds like you just have a really high preference/priority for portability.

 

[unchecked]

As long as the 16 inch stays within current dimensions it is fine. If this is a starting point for a thicker and thicker trend like the iPhone, it will not be good.

Too many here thinks "Pro"= high performance and bulky. Only enthusiasts reason in that way. A pro uses the best tool for the job and that includes considering more parameters than size and performance as the OP post highlights.

Except to get consistent performance you’re going to need the bulk to allow for better thermals management.

Of course if you don’t put the machine under loads for an extended period of time, then the Air is already one of the machines that couldn’t be recommended enough by everyone.

 

[theluggage]

I’m inclined to view the overall report as a sign that people are trading down to lighter, cheaper devices due to escalating device heft. Again, I know this is total conjecture — but I’m among friends so putting it out there! Lol

Lots of other possible reasons for that - rising cost of living, no new MacBook Pros in 2022 and the end of a boom in laptop/desktop sales for “work from home” during the pandemic.

However, the other factor is that the ”lighter, cheaper devices” have become significantly more powerful with Apple Silicon and are now capable of jobs which would have previously required a MacBook Pro. Meanwhile, the new MacBook Pros are taking on roles that previously required a desktop system.

So it really makes sense for the MBAs to become the go-to ultra portable for general use while the 14/16” become the portable workstations that the old 15” Intel MBP failed to be. …and if the 16” MBP is too bulky for you, the 14” MBP now offers the same level of performance, whereas the Intel 13” has significantly weaker CPUs and GPUs.

(Clearly some people here never carried around a PowerBook G4, let alone a 20th Century “portable” PC… Kids today…

 

[ian87w]

As long as the 16 inch stays within current dimensions it is fine. If this is a starting point for a thicker and thicker trend like the iPhone, it will not be good.

Too many here thinks "Pro"= high performance and bulky. Only enthusiasts reason in that way. A pro uses the best tool for the job and that includes considering more parameters than size and performance as the OP post highlights.

I doubt Apple will go any thicker. They already put in HDMI port, arguably the largest port on the current MacBook Pro. With the efficiency of Apple Silicon, there’s really no more reason to go thicker. If they did, that will actually put less confidence in Apple Silicon, since Apple’s own marketing had said the reason the went AS is for efficiency.

You’re right, from user perspective, pros will use whatever tools that suit their needs. I think we have to differentiate the meaning of pro users and Apple’s marketing use of “Pro.”

 

[ian87w]

The calculus on the laptops is whether there are more people looking for a “beefier” and more expensive MacBook with more power and features than those who would downgrade and purchase a cheaper notebook to get a more compact device.

Total conjecture but latest Apple quarterly report has iPhone sales down 8%, Mac sales down 29% and iPad sales up 30% year over year. Some have cited the delay in the AS Mac Pro as a contributor to the Mac sales decline but that is a relatively low volume device — so I’m inclined to view the overall report as a sign that people are trading down to lighter, cheaper devices due to escalating device heft. Again, I know this is total conjecture — but I’m among friends so putting it out there! Lol

Laptops don’t get replaced as often as phones, so when the surge happened at the beginning of the pandemic, that was it. People won’t be mass upgrading in just a year or two. Instead of saying sales were “down,” I would say they have normalized to normal levels of natural upgrade cycle of people.

Many people today are fine using their 10 year old laptops, and those are running highly inefficient intel. Even the M1 is already overkill for majority of users.

 

[HackMacDaddy]

NO is the correct answer. The PRO models should be chunky and offer the best performance, specs and ports. If you wanted ultra portable and light, thats the AIR. If you want something in between, that should be just MacBook. It used to be like this and it was great.

 

[jimmirehman]

Everyone complained that Apple tried to make everything too thin, so now let’s all complain that they making everything too thick… 🙄