Will Apple ever build the 17 (or 16.5) inch MBP? [Merged]

[richinaus]

Because — in my opinion of course — the 15" retina is what allowed Apple to finally kill the 17" model.



This is a conjecture I cannot understand. They don't care about desktop replacements, sure, but personal computers? The current MBP is a literal embodiment of a personal computer concept. Fast, usable, compact.



That is the only possibility where I can see them bringing the 17" back — as a larger, more powerful workstation desktop-replacement-class machine. And I hope that this doesn't happen for a variety of reasons (mainly since it will most likely mean that the 15" will get butchered).

Hey Leman

Not a chance the 17” will come back. Maybe 16.5 with slim bezel in the 15” chassis, but otherwise I cant see it happening.

You are right about when the 15” replaced the 17” due to the improved resolutions in the Retina display.
Even though I use a desktop and need the large screen, a 17” was just too cumbersome and isn’t really that mobile. There aren’t many around these days for good reason.

 

[augustya]

Hello Everyone !

Just wanted to get a heads-up on the current situation, so after Ming Chi Kuo has stated that this year Apple may release a 16" rMBP this is in place of the 15" rMBP right ? The 15" is getting rebirth as 16" isn't it ? Or the 15" willl also exist along side 16" ? I have been long planning to buy the 15" rMBP but I am not in any urgent need or hurry so if Apple release something better this year I have no problems waiting. So the screen size will be 16" in a form factor of 15" ? Just like it happened in case of the iPad Pro right ? Can someone shed light on this ? The chasis will be of 15" only isn't it ?

 

[pshufd]

If they do a great job on 16 or 16.5, I really won't care about the 15. I'd guess that they'd continue selling 15s for less though and squeeze some decent change out of those that really want more real estate.

 

[augustya]

Can someone please answer my query ?

 

[leman]

Can someone please answer my query ?

What kind answer do you expect? Nobody here knows what Apple is going to do, what the 16" leak means, or even if it's accurate.

My personal guess about this: the current MBP chassis measures almost exactly 16.5" in diagonal. If they reduce the bezels, they can fit a 16" or even a 16.5" display. So if they are going this route, I think thats what we will see — same size laptop as now with smaller display bezels. But I am sceptical that this will happen this year, as last two design refreshes happened after 4 years, not 3.

 

[augustya]

What kind answer do you expect? Nobody here knows what Apple is going to do, what the 16" leak means, or even if it's accurate.

My personal guess about this: the current MBP chassis measures almost exactly 16.5" in diagonal. If they reduce the bezels, they can fit a 16" or even a 16.5" display. So if they are going this route, I think thats what we will see — same size laptop as now with smaller display bezels. But I am sceptical that this will happen this year, as last two design refreshes happened after 4 years, not 3.

So what about the speculation that Ming Chi Kuo had made ? Does he mean there wil be a 16.5" rMBP and an additional 15.4" rMBP along side it ?

 

[leman]

So what about the speculation that Ming Chi Kuo had made ? Does he mean there wil be a 16.5" rMBP and an additional 15.4" rMBP along side it ?

Why don’t you ask him? I doubt anyone here can read Kuo’s mind.

 

[Falhófnir]

To go by previous launches, then there's two main possibilities I could see:

a) The 16" is completely redesigned, and is effectively what would be next year's redesign brought forward. In this way I could see the 16" being a new, third high end stock configuration (vega standard, 1TB SSD standard, $2,999+ starting price) with the existing two stock configurations updated as you would expect, with latest intel chips, maybe vega for the $2,799 model. They would then expand the new design with lower tier configurations next year, completely supplanting the 15" models.

b) They make a limited hardware change like they did with Force Touch trackpads in the 2015 models - redesign the screen portion but leave everything else the same. In this scenario the entire 2019 lineup is all 16" machines and there is still a complete redesign in 2020 (perhaps later in the year than usual).

Additionally:
c) they do something completely different because I have no inside knowledge and am basing this on what they have done in the past, which doesn't always inform future decisions

 

[Bending Pixels]

So what about the speculation that Ming Chi Kuo had made ? Does he mean there will be a 16.5" rMBP and an additional 15.4" rMBP along side it ?

Speculation is just that - speculation. Its a wild a** guess. No one except Apple knows what their plans are. When Apple's ready to announce it, you'll know a couple of days in advance from MacRumors.

Patience my Sith Apprentice

 

[ascender]

The rumours have been interpreted a few different ways. I think the lineup would make sense if you end up with...

• 12" Macbook - ultraportable, low-powered
• 13" MacBook Air - default choice for most users
• 14" & 16" MBP - Larger screens with smaller bezels leaving the same general size as todays MBPs

 

[Howard2k]

Even if we knew exactly what he (Ming Chi Kuo) meant (we don't) it's also possible that he's wrong. Or perhaps he's right, based on current intentions, but Apple might change their plans.

We won't know for sure until Apple announces it.

 

[augustya]

What I am really curious to find out is, will there be a regular 15.4" rMBP and also a 16.5" rMBP ? or is it the 15.4" rMBP which is going to be redesigned with smaller bezels to make space for a 16.5" screen ?

 

[Eason85]

What I am really curious to find out is, will there be a regular 15.4" rMBP and also a 16.5" rMBP ? or is it the 15.4" rMBP which is going to be redesigned with smaller bezels to make space for a 16.5" screen ?

If I had to guess, they would go 14" and 16". But Apple doesn't really do things that make sense lately.

 

[Falhófnir]

What I am really curious to find out is, will there be a regular 15.4" rMBP and also a 16.5" rMBP ? or is it the 15.4" rMBP which is going to be redesigned with smaller bezels to make space for a 16.5" screen ?

In the long term, almost certainly not. Ultimately I am sure the 16" will supplant the 15" as the larger sized machine. In the medium term, Apple tends to phase in new designs from the top end, so it's possible there will be 2019 model year 15" pros sitting under the new 16".

 

[Queen6]

I don't care, what I do care about is a performant, reliable MBP that has real world usability, not a pretentious toy with multiple design issues. The rest is down to Apple, sadly expectations are set very low...

Q-6

 

[lambertjohn]

If Tim Cook is in charge of the 2019 MacBook lineup, then expect to see a 12", a 13", a 14", a 15", and a 16.5". The guy has no clue what's he doing at Apple. His only talent is cashing his paycheck.

 

[Username Here]

What I am really curious to find out is, will there be a regular 15.4" rMBP and also a 16.5" rMBP ? or is it the 15.4" rMBP which is going to be redesigned with smaller bezels to make space for a 16.5" screen ?

Yes.......No.......Maybe....

 

[velocityg4]

What I am really curious to find out is, will there be a regular 15.4" rMBP and also a 16.5" rMBP ? or is it the 15.4" rMBP which is going to be redesigned with smaller bezels to make space for a 16.5" screen ?

It's all anyone's guess. I'd say that they most likely won't have both. That 16" will mean the MBP is about the same size physically. Rather Apple adopts a borderless display. Utilizing that which is currently the bezel.

But who knows. It could be a complete redesign. Perhaps Apple will replace the MBP lineup with 3:2 displays. As the taller screens are more useful for a lot of people for most business uses. It's not as nice for video. But much nicer for documents, web browsing, e-mail, &c.

Perhaps Apple plans on a workstation line. Giving heavy duty users thicker and more powerful models for CAD, Physics, &c.

 

[linxy33]

Hey MBP fans,

Forever i have been thinking we might get a new MBP at or around WWDC but id think we would hear more talk.. we got the rumor.. it blew up for a day.. and then died..

wouldn't we hear more talk about them if they are coming so soon ?

however a big sign they are come is all these sales..

 

[Queen6]

Not so soon I think Apple will wait on the 9th Gen CPU's and what AMD can do, unless it want's another embarrassment...

Q-6

 

[linxy33]

Not so soon I think Apple will wait on the 9th Gen CPU's and what AMD can do, unless it want's another embarrassment...

Q-6

I agree but as many articles have stated we will see 9th gen H series in laptops by mid 2019

 

[Queen6]

I agree but as many articles have stated we will see 9th gen H series in laptops by mid 2019

Apple needs to sort it's keyboard out and stop screwing it's customers first and foremost. MBP should be the "cream of the crop" not an underperforming ultrabook with design & usability issues...

Q-6

 

[linxy33]

Apple needs to sort it's keyboard out and stop screwing it's customers first and foremost. MBP should be the "cream of the crop" not an underperforming ultrabook with design & usability issues...

Q-6

agreed. they should also be very lenient but quiet with people asking that thier 2018 be swapped with a 2019 this year after so many repairs (3 maybe)...

 

[pshufd]

This discussion thread has me thinking that I should stick with the 2014/2015 models.

I've found some portable HDMI screens at 17.3 and 18.4 inches with very high resolutions - that would be a solution for more screen real estate.

 

[danwells]

Those portable HDMI screens would work just as well on a 2016-2018 (no dongle required) - cables that convert the USB-C/TB3 port to HDMI are a dime a dozen, and support at least 4K resolution. I'm not sure if they're technically USB-C or TB3 (will they work on a MacBook or a USB-C Windows laptop)? Either way, they work fine on MBPs - I have two of them, one driving a monitor and a long one in my projector case).

As for "will the new 16" replace the 15" or be a new premium model?", my guess is that the new machine will be the new primary model, but that Apple may leave the lowest end model of the current 15" design in the lineup, starting the new model above it. They often do this at a redesign.