What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?

[cupcakes2000]

Yep, these new Macbook Pro’s are not progression, but a regression. I have a 2020 13” MBP and 2018 15” MBP and they are donglebooks.

I rather have my 2013 15” MBP updated with 2021 specs than any of these generation of MBP or DongleBooks.

Sounds a lot like you have never used any modern MacBook. As you state you have then I’ll need to take your word for it.

First of all, I make product decisions for a very large real estate tech company. If you’ve looked up houses for sale online in the last 15 years, you used a product I made a ton of decisions on.

Second, you use extreme examples like floppy disks. Let’s be reasonable here. There’s tech better than USBC out there today. Why don’t we just deprecate USBC in 2021? Oh right, there’s more to adoption than superior tech.

Third, you make progress in tech industry by fulfilling a customer demand.

Lastly, as stated many many times in this forum now, USB-A is actually much more popular than USB-C today. So USB-C is actually the niche.

Stated by the vocal minority on macrumours is not the same as proven by fact - which I have yet to see from any of you.

 

[Stephen.R]

There’s tech better than USBC out there today.

What port specification that exceeds the capabilities of USB-c is “out there today”?

 

[svanstrom]

I wrote HDMI and magsafe; and here's my reasoning:

HDMI is simply what's used everywhere to connect your computer to whatever display solution is there; and a pro laptop really should have that one for all the people giving presentations etc. And for non-pro people it's a great and simple way to hook your computer up to a friend's tv to show a movie.

Magsafe… depends on the implementation. What I'd like to see is a 100% USB-C compatible port, with an adapter than you can add to any USB-C cable. So the best of both worlds.

 

[Maconplasma]

I wrote HDMI and magsafe; and here's my reasoning:

HDMI is simply what's used everywhere to connect your computer to whatever display solution is there; and a pro laptop really should have that one for all the people giving presentations etc. And for non-pro people it's a great and simple way to hook your computer up to a friend's tv to show a movie.

It's just as easy to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable. I have one and it works great. Easy low cost solution. No real need for a HDMI port on the MacBook.

 

[svanstrom]

It's just as easy to buy a USB-C to HDMI cable. I have one and it works great. Easy low cost solution. No real need for a HDMI port on the MacBook.

I think I at one point agreed with that; until I realised that I think it's a serious PITA always having extra cables with me just in case. And Apple is getting **** for when people show up for presentations and have forgotten their adapter kit.

Making one out of four USB-C ports an HDMI port will bother fewer people than it will be useful to others, I think.

 

[Stephen.R]

I think I at one point agreed with that; until I realised that I think it's a serious PITA always having extra cables with me just in case. And Apple is getting **** for when people show up for presentations and have forgotten their adapter kit.

Making one out of four USB-C ports an HDMI port will bother fewer people than it will be useful to others, I think.

**** over the people who actually use the ports because you’re forgetful? Thanks.

 

[cupcakes2000]

I think I at one point agreed with that; until I realised that I think it's a serious PITA always having extra cables with me just in case. And Apple is getting **** for when people show up for presentations and have forgotten their adapter kit.

Making one out of four USB-C ports an HDMI port will bother fewer people than it will be useful to others, I think.

That’s a bit unprofessional isn’t it, forgetting an important piece of kit like that. Wasting a multi use port that does the same thing as the port you suggest replacing it with doesn’t make much sense.

 

[Maconplasma]

I think I at one point agreed with that; until I realised that I think it's a serious PITA always having extra cables with me just in case.

No different than having to carry around cables for USB-A, HDMI and even adapters for VGA projectors. Non issue.

And Apple is getting **** for when people show up for presentations and have forgotten their adapter kit.

Come on! That's really stretching it. Any professional will bring their tools with them if they take their job seriously. Another stretch.

Making one out of four USB-C ports an HDMI port will bother fewer people than it will be useful to others, I think.

The space used up for an HDMI connector has always been the problem. It's a PITA when an HDMI plug eats up space when trying to plug a USB-A cable right next to it leaving the consumer to shop for "properly sized cables" in order to avoid this issue. Remember this a laptop, not an iMac that has more room.

 

[jz0309]

I wouldn't compare CD players/magnetic hard drives to USB-A vs USB-C.

Downloading from the internet eventually became a far superior solution than CD players in terms of speed, ease of use, and durability.

SSDs became a significantly better solution for storage.

USB-C offers virtually no advantage of USB-A for the vast majority of accessories. It just makes things a bit more expensive.

data transfer speed? higher charge current? use it upside or downside?

 

[jz0309]

Lastly, as stated many many times in this forum now, USB-A is actually much more popular than USB-C today. So USB-C is actually the niche.

and serial/parallel ports were way more popular when USB-A first came out.
VGA ports were way more popular when HDMI first came out.

USB-A is legacy and it will become a niche rather sooner than later

 

[senttoschool]

data transfer speed? higher charge current? use it upside or downside?

You forgot to bold the rest of the sentence.

and serial/parallel ports were way more popular when USB-A first came out.
VGA ports were way more popular when HDMI first came out.

USB-A is legacy and it will become a niche rather sooner than later

How soon? 10 years? 15 years?

Most devices made in 2021 come with many USB-A ports but only 1 USB-C port including the PS5, nearly every laptop, all desktops, nearly all DIY desktops made. Xbox Series X doesn't even have a USB-C port. That's right. The newest console didn't even bother with USB-C. Even Apple's newest iMac comes with 2x more USB-A ports.

USB-A is the defacto standard for most accessories in 2021. USB-C is still niche.

I'm willing to bet that USB-C will get replaced by USB-x before USB-A becomes irrelevant.

Unlike VGA ports, which were deprecated fast because it required screwing to secure the connection and had limited bandwidth for the age of HD videos, USB-A is perfectly adequate for 99.9% of accessories out there and is easy enough to plug in.

2020 iMac (4x USB-A, 2x USB-C):

2020 PS5 (3x USB-A, 1x USB-C):

2020 Xbox Series X (3x USB-A, 0x USB-C):

Amazon's #1 selling motherboard (6x USB-A, 1x USB-C):

Don't be afraid of USB-A. It's here to stay for a long long long long time. I'd like Apple to include at least one USB-A in the newest Pros along with HDMI 2.1, especially if they're going for a design without rounded edges. Then most people won't have to buy hubs and dongles anymore.

 

[Zazoh]

Q. What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?

A. None. Apple needs to be more courageous and remove the last remaining ports.

How many people are there who currently own an MBP and have come to terms with the lack of ports who want any ports to return?

Came here with tongue-in-cheek to say this. iPhone going portless how long before MacBook?

 

[jz0309]

How soon? 10 years? 15 years?

Every PS5, nearly every laptop, all desktops, all DIY computers made in 2021 come with more USB-A ports than USB-C. Xbox Series X doesn't even have a USB-C port. That's right. The newest console didn't even bother with USB-C. Even Apple's newest iMac comes with 2x more USB-A ports.

I'm willing to bet that USB-C will get replaced by USB-x before USB-A becomes irrelevant.

Unlike VGA ports, which were deprecated fast because it required screwing to secure the connection and had limited bandwidth for the age of HD videos, USB-A is perfectly adequate for 99.9% of accessories out there and is easy enough to plug in.

I am not arguing that USB-A will lose it's usefulness any time soon and it will be around for a long time, esp in industrial applications ...
I can give you other examples, eg Dell XPS notebook line has USB-C only, Intel a few months ago released their "EVO" spec which the Windows OEMs will follow for their top of the line notebooks and they won't have USB-A anymore.
iMac is a 4 or 5 year old design, let's wait for the 2021 Apple silicon design and see how many USB-A ports it will have.
And all 2020 MacBooks have USB-C only ...
and I can care less about consoles and desktops, those are all big enough to have plenty ports.

 

[alien3dx]

I am not arguing that USB-A will lose it's usefulness any time soon and it will be around for a long time, esp in industrial applications ...
I can give you other examples, eg Dell XPS notebook line has USB-C only, Intel a few months ago released their "EVO" spec which the Windows OEMs will follow for their top of the line notebooks and they won't have USB-A anymore.
iMac is a 4 or 5 year old design, let's wait for the 2021 Apple silicon design and see how many USB-A ports it will have.
And all 2020 MacBooks have USB-C only ...
and I can care less about consoles and desktops, those are all big enough to have plenty ports.

usb c normal laptop mostly 3.1 gen 2 or usb 2.0 and charging. And mac is thunderbolt 3.0.

usbc 2.0 dont work with egpu and only for charging and data transfer.

 

[jz0309]

Came here with tongue-in-cheek to say this. iPhone going portless how long before MacBook?

since portless equals wireless charging: not before the case is non-metallic

 

[senttoschool]

I am not arguing that USB-A will lose it's usefulness any time soon and it will be around for a long time, esp in industrial applications ...
I can give you other examples, eg Dell XPS notebook line has USB-C only, Intel a few months ago released their "EVO" spec which the Windows OEMs will follow for their top of the line notebooks and they won't have USB-A anymore.
iMac is a 4 or 5 year old design, let's wait for the 2021 Apple silicon design and see how many USB-A ports it will have.
And all 2020 MacBooks have USB-C only ...
and I can care less about consoles and desktops, those are all big enough to have plenty ports.

The vast majority of devices releasing in 2021 will come with more USB-A ports than USB-C. Thus, accessory makers will continue to make USB-A the defacto standard in 2021. It doesn't matter if you could care less about consoles and desktops. MacBook Pros don't exist in a vacuum. It's part of a bigger ecosystem.

So let me ask you. When do you think we'll see more USB-C accessories than USB-A?

 

[jz0309]

The vast majority of devices releasing in 2021 will come with more USB-A ports than USB-C. Thus, accessory makers will continue to make USB-A the defacto standard in 2021. It doesn't matter if you could care less about consoles and desktops. MacBook Pros don't exist in a vacuum. It's part of a bigger ecosystem.

So let me ask you. When do you think we'll see more USB-C accessories than USB-A?

that's irrelevant to the topic of the thread

What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?​

I've given you my answer: none

Let's just agree to disagree on this

 

[senttoschool]

that's irrelevant to the topic of the thread

What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?​

I've given you my answer: none

Let's just agree to disagree on this

Aren't you the one arguing that USB-A shouldn't make a return because it's going to be become "niche sooner than later"?

I just want to know what you think is "sooner".

 

[anshuvorty]

I am surprised ethernet got as few votes as it did in this poll. As the pandemic has evidently shown, you need a reliable internet connection, and what is more reliable than ethernet?

Bring back ethernet!

 

[senttoschool]

Currently using 2x USB-A devices and 1x HDMI.

I’m waiting for the 16” Apple Silicon to upgrade my M1 Air to.

I am ready for a dongle/hub free life.

 

[jz0309]

Aren't you the one arguing that USB-A shouldn't make a return because it's going to be become "niche sooner than later"?

I just want to know what you think is "sooner".

for computers, desktops and laptops, USB-A will be far outnumbered by USB-C in 3-4 years at most.

 

[KPOM]

Currently using 2x USB-A devices and 1x HDMI.

I’m waiting for the 16” Apple Silicon to upgrade my M1 Air to.

I am ready for a dongle/hub free life.

What are the 2 USB-A devices? There are plenty of USB-A to USB-C adapters whose length is the same as the diameter of a coin (meaning there is no actual cable). Why not just plug in the adapter on that side of the device?

I don’t understand the animosity toward USB-C. USB-C has been around for 6 years now, and a TB3/4-enabled USB-C port is adaptable in just about every other port that is still in use.

 

[senttoschool]

What are the 2 USB-A devices? There are plenty of USB-A to USB-C adapters whose length is the same as the diameter of a coin (meaning there is no actual cable). Why not just plug in the adapter on that side of the device?

I don’t understand the animosity toward USB-C. USB-C has been around for 6 years now, and a TB3/4-enabled USB-C port is adaptable in just about every other port that is still in use.

One of them is a wired gaming mouse. The other one is a USB-A receiver from my Logitech MX 2S mouse - which has Bluetooth latency issues when paired with my M1 Air. In addition, I still charge my iPhone XR, which came with a USB-A cable from Apple, with my laptop. Lastly, I have a USB-A flash drive. In total, I have 4x USB-A devices that I frequently use.

I'd like to live a hub-free, adapter-free, dongle-free, stress-free life.

 

[senttoschool]

for computers, desktops and laptops, USB-A will be far outnumbered by USB-C in 3-4 years at most.

Are these total accessories on the planet? Or just the number of accessories sold in 2025?

Here's my opinion:

In terms of total accessories, I think USB-C will never be more than USB-A because I expect USB-C to get replaced before it will ever have more existing accessories than USB-A.

In terms of the number of accessories sold in a given year, I don't expect USB-C accessories to outnumber USB-A for another 6-7 years. Why?

Microsoft's Xbox Series X does not have a single USB-C port. Game consoles last 6-7 years. Microsoft, with its infinite budget and very smart people, didn't think that USB-C is needed for another 6-7 years.

If USB-C accessories won't outsell USB-A accessories for another 6-7 years, then USB-A will probably still be relevant for another 10-15 years.

It would be smart and wise for Apple to include USB-A in next-gen Macbook Pros.

 

[GoldfishRT]

I was told 5 years ago that 'in just 3-4 years everything will move over to USB-C', and I've heard the same ever since with very little evidence that it's doing anything other than forcing people to buy adapters because some fancy laptops are USB-C only but the vast majority of accessories still don't use it.

And yet my headphones charge with micro-USB. My mouse and keyboard are on USB-A. And every time I need to connect something other than my nifty dual sided USB drive to my MacBook I have to go sifting around for an adapter.

Frankly, on the top end pro I would love to see the return of all those ports but realistically 2 USB-C, 2 USB-A, and an SD card slot would be a-okay for me.