14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pros: Everything We Know

[jlc1978]

Losing the audio out port would be another dongle/cost imposition. Wireless head/ear phones are adequate for basic listening, but the quality is compromised, let alone the ability to work in audio or video based apps where any delay makes it non functional.

I get that, and if they include it it's fine by me, even if I never have used it on my Macs. I suspect no matter what Apple introduces no fan boys and girls will be fully satisfied; at least not on MacRumors. It'll be too big, too small, have square corners, not have square enough corners, the Apple glows, it doesn't glow enough, etc.

The rest of us will simply buy one and use it. I am coming up on a periodic replacement and will seriously consider one; unless of course the function keys aren't programmable and have the ability to display custom icons under the keycaps to replicate the touchbar...

 

[jlc1978]

I think at this point people will accept a small bump to house the camera z-depth in exchange for decent webcam.

Apple can replicate the iPhone notch across the Mac line to keep the design consistent.

And if they are putting in a whole array for face ID, people will accept a tiny ridge.

Please no, not if FaceID means the end of TouchID. I don't want to have to enter my password if I am wearing a mask or grow a beard; nor have to leave the camera uncovered to use it for password managers, etc. If Apple migrates to face ID they should also add in a shutter like on the HPs that is electronic and can be controlled with a keypress (since Apple would never add a side button) and keep touch ID.

The issue with a ridge is also physical; they'd have to either make the lid have a ridge all the way around or a cutout in the base to prevent a camera ridge from pressing on the screen. Apple already warns users having a mechanical camera cover risks screen damage; even Apple wouldn't design a Mac with such a built in failure mode, that's the keyboard's job.

 

[dlondon]

I am wondering why can’t they just add physical F-keys back and leave the Touch Bar. I know people complain about it (just like people complain about everything), but it still has uses, at least I have enjoyed it for the short time I have had my M1 13”pro

I actually don't mind the Touch Bar but it feels like Apple never tried to address the issues users had with it. I often send an email when I'm typing because I hit the send option on the bar but I never accidentally hit the function keys (I suspect because I can feel I'm about to press a function key whereas you've already hit the button when you hit the Touch Bar). It would be better if the Touch bar was more customisable so we could move the keys or if Apple make some design or software changes to it (like force touch). It won't be a deal breaker for me if it stays or go though.

 

[dlondon]

Yes, thank you. I still cannot un-see it. Apple users pay more attention to detail and symmetry than Apple themselves nowadays.

I can't believe even frigging Dell can do a better job designing laptop monitors.

View attachment 1714076

Dell have had more goes at it! They pretty much make design changes every release.

 

[Manzanito]

why more ports? if you need more ports, the MacPro has all the ports you need. Portable Mac laptops are supposed to be light and thin. Easier for traveling.

Can you explain why additional ports would make a noticeable heavier laptop?

 

[ikir]

I use the TouchBar occasionally and like the concept. But I like my function and escape keys. Why not just add the Touch Bar above the function keys?

And charging via USB-C needs to stay or they provide an adapter. There are USB-C "MagSafe" adapters if people need them. But I don't want an extra cable when I plug my Mac in to my monitor (currently one cable for power, video, USB).

Overall, seems like Apple have listened to feedback... but missed the boat on the solutions.

Esce key is back already

 

[ikir]

Can you explain why additional ports would make a noticeable heavier laptop?

More components, less robust structure so Apple would need to make them thicker

 

[robjulo]

why more ports? if you need more ports, the MacPro has all the ports you need. Portable Mac laptops are supposed to be light and thin. Easier for traveling.

Nothing says “easier for traveling“ like carrying around a bunch of dongles and adaptors.

 

[nameischarles]

I hope they don't get rid of the Touch Bar. I wish they added haptic feedback to it but since that never came around then it looks like they might discontinue it.

As with ports, I've moved everything over to USB C now so not really fussed as I hardly use any dongles except if I need to connect an SD card so I would welcome the SD card slot back with open arms.

 

[Hadron]

1 cable (USB-C) is just a silly dream.

What do you do when you need to charge 2 things overnight? Stay awake to wait for one to finish charging?

USB-C charging remains a hot mess. Cables compatibility are all over the place.

Magsafe, while proprietary and dedicated, is such a good charging solution. Snaps in place, breaks away when tripped. Green light when full, amber when charging. Brilliant!

And yet I've been using USB-C devices from different manufacturers for many years and never had a cable compatibility problem. Am I, and actually everyone else I know with USB-C devices, just amazingly lucky?

And as someone who used to travel a lot, I've found one cable perfectly workable. That's partly because I have the sense not to run all of my devices down before bedtime and leave myself needing to charge them all overnight - simple strategies like "stick the laptop on charge when you go for dinner" solve such problems.

But if they are going to bring Magsafe back, two requests:

1) Don't remove USB-C charging capability. It is useful, and the ability to plug in from either side can be more convenient than it sounds.

2) Don't go back to the old system of the cable being integrated with the charger so that you (a) can only use that charger for one thing and (b) when the cable cover frays (as they used to do routinely) you have to buy a whole new charger (which was also an environmental liability). If it's just a USB-C to Magsafe cable then that's not so bad: you just have to carry another cable rather than another charger and it allows re-use of existing chargers (including third party ones). Reintroducing that feature of the old Magsafe chargers would be a real regression.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

Last thing I want is MagSafe. I have an LG Ultrafine display that has nothing but 4 USBC Thunderbolt ports, ONE of which is the cable that connects the external display to my current MBPro and charges it at the same time. Adding Magsafe means I would have to plug TWO cables in to the MBP every time I come back to the office. MagSafe is nice, but not if it adds to the headache of multiple cables to do what one cable does now.

You wouldn't need to use two cables, because USB-C would still be able to charge the notebook by itself.

 

[jlc1978]

Would really like to see chip level optimization of video chats, since using a fairly recent MacBook Air with Google Meet makes the fans spin up like crazy. Even after covid more people are going to be working from home, and if CES 2021 made any indication of where tech is headed, home offices are getting some much needed upgrade options this year.

And consequently, massively upgraded FaceTime cameras should really be a part of that.

My issue with the builtin camera is not quality but that you have to reposition the screen to center your face in it, and then look at the camera, which is a pain since I use an external monitor when in a group meeting. My mac sets to the side so either I can't see what is on my external monitor or the group sees the side of my face. I have no issues with a better camera, however I use EpocCam and my iPhone as a webcam since I can position it independent of my mac's screen.

Results of new management is generally cheaper costs and more profit. In this case, by removing the touchbar they are removing costs for more profit AND customer satisfaction. I’m one of the MacBook 16 touch bar not so proudly owner 🥺.

I doubt most mac users outside of MR et. al. care one way or another about the Touch Bar, Apple's removing it will simply reduce cost of manufacturing and repair.

I'm going to break out here a bit, and say I hope they stick with all-Thunderbolt ports.

* I love that I can use my MacBook power adapter to change just about everything when traveling.
* I love the one-cable connection I have to my LG UltraFine for video+charging.
* I've completely removed USB-A from my life already.
* I don't want to carry another kind of cable around.
* MagSafe never really solved any problem I had anyways..

Same here; I've replaced my USB-A cables with USB-C equivalents. As for MagSafe, I have a magnetic USB-C cable that replicates it and works just fine for charging, even has a blue charging light.

.

The biggest thing Apple could do for me is move the iPhone to USB-C so that I could just carry 1 damn cable with me for everything.

That would be nice, the iPad already has so why wait for the iPhone?

What I think would be really neat is if they were able to make the MagSafe port around a USB4 port. Like the magnets and power pins in a oval around the rim and a regular USB4 port inside, of course with power delivery.

I don't see why not, you can already get 3rd part USB-C MagSafe like cables.

I really want the aforementioned MagSafe USB4 port, another USB4 on the other side also with power delivery, an HDMI 2.1, SDXC (or whatever the new, faster one is called) card slot, audio in/out (with optical) and at least 1 USB-a to round it all out.

Given you can do all off that with a dongle, except perhaps optical audio (which most people don't need and probably don't know exists); 4 or more USB-C ports are a lot more flexible and thus would allow more users to customize outputs for what they need.

USB-A? You can replace USB-A cables with their USB-C equivalents so no need for that slot if you don't want to use a dongle.
HDMI? Nice, but a lot of devices are out there that still use VGA or other connectors, so having a USB-C slot that you can attach the appropriate dongle to s a better solution.
SD - that I would like, especially if someone comes up with a new version of the NiftyDrive so yo can use a miniSD card as backup storage.

If apple wants programmability, they should have physical keys with displays in the keycaps, not the mess that is the touchbar.

That would be a great solution that incorporates the advantages of both solutions.

Nothing makes you want a USB-A port more than when you client hands you their stuff on a USB stick and you spend a minute in front of them rustling through your bag looking for a USB-A to USB-C dongle. Seems like an hour.

And no it isn’t a good idea if I want repeat business, to lecture them on why they should have their stuff on a USB-C stick, on a cloud service or use an Apple device so I can airdrop it.

As someone who travels a lot to clients I simply store the appropriate adapters in the same location in my bag so I know exactly where to find them. I have a little pouch that contains several Apple USB-C adapters, VGA and HDMI adapters, and FAT formatted USB sticks for quick access when I need them.

To paraphrase Jobs: "You're not storing them right..."

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

and as for the touchbar, why not have both? function keys + touchbar

That's the most ridiculous thing that I've read today.

 

[justperry]

Well that is what was said about the old iPhones.
I remember very well people saying how much they loved the new (at the time) rounded iPhone edges as it made the phone much easier to pick up off the table.

Apple has of course in the new models gone back to the straight edge hard to pick up style again, and yet people now say they love thus design

Given this I see no reason to suspect it would be any different for the laptop.
Once it's launched, people will buy it, and then say how much they love it.

That's until of course the next redesign when they go back to rounded, and they will love that again also

An iPhone weight what...aboput 200 Gams max, a MBP weighs at least 6 times as much, harder to pick up and grab than an iPhone.

 

[justperry]

Not really. People seem to want Apple to give their products away for nothing but your entitled to your opinion.

They have been $1799-1999 for years, so yes, that's what the string point should be, it's not my opinion, lots of others say they got too expensive.

 

[Puonti]

Just turn the touchpad into a touchscreen and call it a day.

 

[Madonepro]

and as for the touchbar, why not have both? function keys + touchbar

That's the most ridiculous thing that I've read today.

We kind of already do have this, you can set up in preferences/general to have function keys as default on the Touch Bar.

 

[Hadron]

I hope they don't get rid of the Touch Bar. I wish they added haptic feedback to it but since that never came around then it looks like they might discontinue it.

The Touch Bar has seemed like it was orphaned not long after it was introduced, so I'd not be surprised if it went away. I know plenty of people who have them (I'm one), but nobody who chose that model because it had a touch bar.

And to be honest, the main reason it doesn't annoy me is that I used BetterTouchTool to replace Apple's functionality with an array of tools that I do actually use (and which doesn't change when I switch apps). But I think it has failed really, and feel Apple aren't invested in it, so won't be surprised if it goes.

 

[hagar]

“There could be additions like an SD card slot or an HDMI port.”

Reading this on an Apple site is a joke. Hell would need to freeze over before Apple put these ports back.

 

[Apple Knowledge Navigator]

We kind of already do have this, you can set up in preferences/general to have function keys as default on the Touch Bar.

I figured the OP was referring to having both physically. You are correct, F-keys can be placed on the Touch Bar.

 

[aeronatis]

I really hope the magsafe mentioned here is something else somehow. One of the best features of 4-port MacBooks is that you can use any of the remaining USB-C ports for power when any other combination of the ports are being in use. Not to mention that the charger it not permanently attached to the USB-C cable.

 

[skaertus]

The Touch Bar has seemed like it was orphaned not long after it was introduced, so I'd not be surprised if it went away. I know plenty of people who have them (I'm one), but nobody who chose that model because it had a touch bar.

And to be honest, the main reason it doesn't annoy me is that I used BetterTouchTool to replace Apple's functionality with an array of tools that I do actually use (and which doesn't change when I switch apps). But I think it has failed really, and feel Apple aren't invested in it, so won't be surprised if it goes.

I have a MacBook Pro with TouchBar, and I see no good use for it. It was a good idea on paper, but it never really took off.

The way I see it, it cannot work. Being a screen out of the screen, it forces users to look to the keyboard to choose the function. A fixed keyboard is far more functional because the user simply knows where the buttons are and does not have to deviate the eyes from the "main" display. As much as the TouchBar may seem attractive, it is neither functional nor ergonomical.

Plus, the TouchBar uses some battery, while a row of F keys do not, and saving battery is always good, no matter how good battery life of M1 Macs are. And, of course, the TouchBar is expensive. Removing it may give Apple some room to replace it with useful features, or even to reduce prices or increase profit margins.

 

[patent10021]

All this talk and peeps still forgetting that the MBP still has a crap camera. With all this talk about new features, redesign and the M1+GPU hype, this Facetime camera better be 1440p at the very minimum.

 

[dlondon]

Absolutely NO on returning MagSafe to computers. I like being able to plug the power in from either side; I like being able to plug the power without it being interrupted by minor knocks on the cable. Unless there's some notion of wireless charging this is a terrible idea -- even then it's not a very good one. I've also just about transitioned fully over to USB-C power; I don't want to have to go on supporting two sets of power supplies.

Last thing I want is MagSafe. I have an LG Ultrafine display that has nothing but 4 USBC Thunderbolt ports, ONE of which is the cable that connects the external display to my current MBPro and charges it at the same time. Adding Magsafe means I would have to plug TWO cables in to the MBP every time I come back to the office. MagSafe is nice, but not if it adds to the headache of multiple cables to do what one cable does now.

I hope Apple doesn't bring back the Magsafe port – especially if it means charging only on one side or reducing the number of USB-C ports. I don't think they need to. They could make either a USB-C adaptor with Magsafe which plugs into the existing USB-C port (hopefully better than the ones on Amazon) or a USB-C to USB-C cable which has a MagSafe connection somewhere along the cable (I was going to say a cable which 'snaps' rather than disconnects, but Apple is already quite good making those cables already!)

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Apple, please bring back the 12-inch MacBook.

I would get a 12 inch M1 in a heartbeat.