Because I make a living, I’m often asked for advice when it comes to buying a MacBook Pro. There’s a lot of back and forth – I ask questions, they answer, I give options, they ask more questions. People want to know what chips are in use, what memory configurations and ports they have, and most importantly, whether their tools still work.
You know what rarely comes up in these discussions? How thick the MacBook Pro is or how much it weighs. That’s a concern, but not the main concern. Customers know what to expect and are happy with what they get.
Apple seems to believe that the thickness of its devices is an issue that needs attention. According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the new iPad Pro was just the beginning of a “new class of Apple devices that would be the thinnest and lightest products in their category in the entire technology industry.” Gurman goes on to say that the The MacBook Pro gets a weight loss treatment.
If that’s Apple’s plan and it can be implemented without drastic sacrifices, then I say bring it on. Many customers have accepted it and come to terms with it, but Apple can provide a little surprise and delight.
The MacBook Air was synonymous with “thin.” Apple wants to change that.
The MacBook Air was synonymous with “thin.” Apple wants to change that.
foundry
The MacBook Air was synonymous with “thin.” Apple wants to change that.
foundry
foundry
Making the MacBook Pro thinner and why
With the iPad Pro, Apple has introduced its thinnest device yet, which is also the most powerful tablet ever. Thin devices no longer have to come at the expense of features and performance. Apple Silicon has done a lot to make this possible, and that is a big change from the days of Intel processors. If that The MacBook Air was introduced in 2008its main features were its weight of 1.36 kilograms and its folded footprint (at its thinnest point) of 0.4 cm. Its throttled Intel Core 2 Duo Merom processor, single USB port and micro-DVI port were accepted as compromises to build such a thin notebook.
The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is a laptop that doesn’t compromise on performance, so it’s a given that it will be larger and heavier than the MacBook Air. But we’re now in an era where Windows laptops are increasingly using ARM processors and can offer performance without the thermal limitations that have always weighed them down. These PC laptops often target the MacBook Air, but you can bet the MacBook Pro is on their radar too.
So if Apple needs to find another gimmick to make the MacBook Pro stand out in a sea of powerful ARM PCs, I’m OK with a thinner variant. If Apple doesn’t sacrifice features — particularly performance, battery life, and ports — then all is well, bring on the new slimness. Based on the current design, there’s definitely some room for shrinkage — and based on what we’ve seen of the iPad Pro, you can count on Apple to keep performance and battery life the same. The ports might be an issue, but I can’t imagine Apple suddenly turning the MacBook Pro into a MacBook Air just to keep it thinner.
At 5.1 mm, the M4 iPad Pro is significantly thinner than the MacBook Air (11.2 mm) and the MacBook Pro (15.5 mm).
At 5.1 mm, the M4 iPad Pro is significantly thinner than the MacBook Air (11.2 mm) and the MacBook Pro (15.5 mm).
Petter Ahrnstedt
At 5.1 mm, the M4 iPad Pro is significantly thinner than the MacBook Air (11.2 mm) and the MacBook Pro (15.5 mm).
Petter Ahrnstedt
Petter Ahrnstedt
Like the incredibly light and portable M4 iPad Pro, a thinner MacBook Pro would turn Apple’s fastest laptop into an ultraportable workstation that fits in any bag without weighing you down. Rather, the compromises of a thin MacBook Pro seem to be under the hood. Gurman makes a general statement about Apple’s plans and does not provide details on how Apple plans to make the MacBook Pro slimmer. Unlike the iPad Pro, there will have to be a fan, but we’ve already seen companies experiment with ultra-thin cooling chips that could find their way into a redesigned MacBook Pro.
iFixit’s teardown of the new, thinner iPad Pro also provides a clue: screws take up too much space, so the internal components are glued in place instead. Apple could take the same approach with a thinner MacBook Pro, but using adhesive means internal components like the motherboard and speakers are much harder to repair and replace. iFixit points out that the new iPad Pro’s battery is much easier to replace than before, so if that translates to the MacBook Pro, that’s a win.
The MacBook Pro is already difficult to repair; a thinner model will make it even more difficult. This may not be the kind of advancement long-time users expect, but I’m willing to embrace it. For many years, I’ve opted for larger MacBook Pro models, starting with the 17-inch MacBook Pro. I don’t mind the weight and size, but I certainly won’t turn down a thinner 16-inch MacBook Pro, even if Apple has to make some sacrifices to get it.
