Uh... The Air is around $1000 to $1650 depending on configuration. It kicks the ass of all those other laptops. I have no idea wtf point you're making here. It's not like the Air is a cheap POS $500 machine.
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An new entry-level Macbook Pro makes no sense
- Thread starter senttoschool
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This just isn't Apple's focus or market. It hasn't been for decades and isn't going to be.
There's a difference between what any one of us might really love to have and what actually makes sense for Apple to build and sell.
Apple is the brand for creatives. I work in electronic music and I can tell you most people program arduinos on a mac and the arduino programming is, by default in C which… what the **** for a diy space!?
The market isn’t the end product, it’s creatives.
I think maybe a 13” and 15” Air would be nice. Seeing as the Air is supposed to be thinner, lighter, more compact, and cheaper it may make more sense vs a 16”. But either way I think they need two Air models, one smaller and one bigger.
It’s frustrating for a lot of consumers (at least that I know) that they can’t find a more consumer-friendly notebook that has a bigger screen.
That would also slot in nicely in the price brackets between the 13” air and 14” pro.
Apple had a 12” and 14” iBook option while also having a 15” and 17” PowerBook option. This changed after the Intel transition.
Apple Planning Five New Macs for 2022, Including Entry-Level MacBook Pro Refresh
Apple is working on five new Macs for launch in 2022, including a new version of the entry-level MacBook Pro, according to Bloomberg's Mark...www.macrumors.com
We know the 13" M1 Macbook Pro is a dead end. We know the gap between a $1000 Macbook Air and a $2000 Macbook Pro 14" needs to be filled by something.
Gurman says it's going to be an entry-level 14" MBP. This makes zero sense to me.
What can you cut from the $2000 MBP 14" that would make it more entry-level?
Cut the CPU Cores to 4 from 6? That would make it slower than an M1 since an M1 has 8 cores (4/4) to this potential 6 core (4/2). This is unlikely to happen.
Cut Pro Motion? That would destroy the simple marketing expectation that all Pro Apple devices have 120hz displays.
Cut RAM to 8GB? Can a "Pro" device in 2022 come with 8GB standard?
Decrease the number of GPU cores from 14 in the $2000 14" to 10? This would again, make it slower than a future M2 chip which is likely to have 10 GPU cores based on a 2x multiplier of the A15 5-core design.
Cutting CPU/GPU cores would also make having the bulky 14" chassis complete overkill. If it's barely faster than an M1, why would you want such a bulky laptop?
To me, I don't think it makes any kind of sense for an entry-level 14". I think it's much more likely that a 16" Macbook Air-like laptop fills the $1000 - $2000 gap.
I talk people out of buying the 13" Pro and recco MBA with 512gb of storage for the same price.
Your average consumer does the most basic of tasks. Some of them will simply get the 13" Pro just so they won't own the most "entry level" MacBook. I kid you not. I've seen people buy the MBP for stupid reasons like the Touch Bar.
I understand why will keep an "entry" level MBP in the lineup b/c people will buy it. The pro name carries a lot of weight and it helps ppl sleep at night knowing they bought the "better" model.
I just hope they change the branding. Entry level should be called MacBook, then MacBook Air and finally starting at $2k will be the MacBook Pro.
I literally just bought an base model MacBook Pro 13 inch M1 Chip version from Best Buy as it was on sale. My old 2019 MacBook Air was not cutting it anymore. What y’all mean the entry level M1 MacBook pros are dead? I hope not since the new 14 Inch and 16 Inch MacBook M1 Max aren’t really affordable for most folks with the price starting at like 2,000 and up.
It’s because there’s no real noticeable difference between the 13” Air and 13” Pro. It’s IMO a waist of money to get the 13” Pro right now because most people will barely notice a difference (if at all) in their day to day.
I would like to see a third line introduced to fill the gap. A laptop named Gamebook geared for gamers which would entail a smaller touchpad, higher FPS screen, older Type A USB and ethernet ports, etc. Something new in the product lineup could be great. MacOS needs more form factors and target markets, not less.
Remove fan and Touch Bar from current 13". Drop "Pro" moniker and simply call it "MacBook". Raise price of 2022 MacBook Air, and make this one $999 at base. Now we're back to Apple's (most logical) lineup since 2011-2014:
- $999 MacBook
- $1299 14" MacBook Air
- $1999 14" MacBook Pro
- $999 MacBook
- $1299 14" MacBook Air
- $1999 14" MacBook Pro
You seem to be the only person suggesting that a new low end MBP would include a TouchBar. The TouchBar will be completely gone with the introduction of whatever they replace the 13" MBP with.
I think they may replace it with something similar but with no TouchBar, an SD card reader and a Mag Safe power connector. It will probably have the same SoC as the next MBA.
I feel this makes sense for the future ASi portable "laptop" lineup:
11" Mn-powered iPad Pro w/Magic Keyboard (passive cooling)
12.9" Mn-powered iPad Pro w/Magic Keyboard (passive cooling)
13" Mn-powered MacBook (active cooling)
15" Mn-powered MacBook (active cooling)
14" Mn Pro/Max-powered MacBook Pro (active cooling)
16" Mn Pro/Max-powered MacBook Pro (active cooling)
11" Mn-powered iPad Pro w/Magic Keyboard (passive cooling)
12.9" Mn-powered iPad Pro w/Magic Keyboard (passive cooling)
13" Mn-powered MacBook (active cooling)
15" Mn-powered MacBook (active cooling)
14" Mn Pro/Max-powered MacBook Pro (active cooling)
16" Mn Pro/Max-powered MacBook Pro (active cooling)
Maybe Apple will one day supprise us and offer a larger screen but less powerful notebook. I just have a hard time believing it as it may severely cut into the more expensive pro series profits.
Right… that’s what I said. They also had a 12 inch PowerBook G4 that was pretty much the exact same thing as the iBook G4. So it was
12 and 14 inch iBook and 12, 15 and 17 inch PowerBook.
You could easily cut down
- the speakers
- the display - HDR is not a requirement for a non-video workstation and it is expensive
You’re right, an entry level MacBook Pro makes no sense. However, remove the pro moniker and then it starts to make a lot of sense.
Give us something above a MacBook Air, but below the 14 and 16 MacBook Pros. The Air is an excellent machine but there are a lot of people who want more battery life, a better screen, a bigger screen, an improved cooling system, more RAM, and more ports. Furthermore, if there is a new “M2” CPU put into the next generation of Airs, it’s going to need a better cooling system. The current Air already throttles roughly 14-16% after extended use. Which is fine, but if you’re going to put an even faster processor into it on the same architecture, then the cooling system needs to be improved if the new CPU is going to matter at all besides marketing.
There are also a lot of people who don’t need a 14 or 16 Macbook Pro. Gone are the days where it was necessary to buy a 16” MacBook Pro just to get something somewhat powerful. The M1 is actually slightly faster than both 8 core processors that were put into the 2019 intel MacBook pros. Most people really don’t need more than an M1. There are a lot of people who don’t need a ProMotion XDR display, dual fan cooling system, extra ports, a big chassis, and an M1 Pro/Max. It’s all so pro and extra it’s pretty much overkill for most people. In fact, a 14 or 15 inch mid range laptop makes even more sense now that the Pros have so many extra features and are a little bulkier. You could call it an Air or a regular MacBook.
So:
-more ports than MacBook Air, less than a 14 or 16 MacBook Pro
-better screen than MacBook Air, but not the ProMotion XDR
-better cooling than MacBook Air, but not such a large dual fan cooling system
-thinner chassis than the 14 and 16 MacBook Pros
-better battery life than the 14 and 16 Pros
-for the love of God, more RAM. No one should be needing to buy a pro to access 32GB of RAM. This is not a pro feature.
-keep the entry level CPU with less GPU than the M1 Pro/Max. There are a lot of people that don’t need more GPUs.
There are some rumors that the new MacBook Air will have mini LED but I would be really surprised if Apple brought that feature down to the entry level MacBooks right away. That’s a stand out feature and I would bet on it staying on Apple’s mid/high end laptops exclusively for another year or so.
Give us something above a MacBook Air, but below the 14 and 16 MacBook Pros. The Air is an excellent machine but there are a lot of people who want more battery life, a better screen, a bigger screen, an improved cooling system, more RAM, and more ports. Furthermore, if there is a new “M2” CPU put into the next generation of Airs, it’s going to need a better cooling system. The current Air already throttles roughly 14-16% after extended use. Which is fine, but if you’re going to put an even faster processor into it on the same architecture, then the cooling system needs to be improved if the new CPU is going to matter at all besides marketing.
There are also a lot of people who don’t need a 14 or 16 Macbook Pro. Gone are the days where it was necessary to buy a 16” MacBook Pro just to get something somewhat powerful. The M1 is actually slightly faster than both 8 core processors that were put into the 2019 intel MacBook pros. Most people really don’t need more than an M1. There are a lot of people who don’t need a ProMotion XDR display, dual fan cooling system, extra ports, a big chassis, and an M1 Pro/Max. It’s all so pro and extra it’s pretty much overkill for most people. In fact, a 14 or 15 inch mid range laptop makes even more sense now that the Pros have so many extra features and are a little bulkier. You could call it an Air or a regular MacBook.
So:
-more ports than MacBook Air, less than a 14 or 16 MacBook Pro
-better screen than MacBook Air, but not the ProMotion XDR
-better cooling than MacBook Air, but not such a large dual fan cooling system
-thinner chassis than the 14 and 16 MacBook Pros
-better battery life than the 14 and 16 Pros
-for the love of God, more RAM. No one should be needing to buy a pro to access 32GB of RAM. This is not a pro feature.
-keep the entry level CPU with less GPU than the M1 Pro/Max. There are a lot of people that don’t need more GPUs.
There are some rumors that the new MacBook Air will have mini LED but I would be really surprised if Apple brought that feature down to the entry level MacBooks right away. That’s a stand out feature and I would bet on it staying on Apple’s mid/high end laptops exclusively for another year or so.
Exactly this. I got my job to buy me the new 16 MBP off my research account and I hate how heavy it is. I don’t need any of its power but to me a laptop is dead if it hasn’t got at least a 15” screen. So far I’ve gotten away with iMacs and large iPad Pros, but the crappy quality of the plastic magic keyboard for the iPad has been really frustrating me (it pretty much disintegrated after less than two years…).
I’ve been so frustrated that I have been contemplating getting a Surface Laptop 4 15” — it would be the first time since 1999 that I buy a non-Apple computer.
The moment a 15” consumer level laptop comes out from Apple I’ll be all over it and I will look forward to passing this beast of a M1 Pro 16” fatty to someone who actually needs its power.
I hear you. I need the 16" MBP for both its screen size and power so I'm fine. But even I think it's too bulky sometimes.
It can be a huge turn off for people.
I think a 16" Macbook Air-like laptop with 16GB of RAM, M2, would be fantastic for the majority of developers, spreadsheet users, and even most video editors.
The 16" MBP is truly a Pro machine for heavy users. Its performance is not needed for the vast majority. But the screen size is needed for many.
I think this would sell very well:
For my use case, the only upgrade I could see, would be a 16" Air
After using them all, this is how I see the current 13inch line-up:
13 pro vs air
better battery
better charger
better screen
better thermals
better speakers
nicer design
Touch Bar - when you configure to your needs, it becomes a powerful tool
13 pro vs 14 pro
better battery
better portability
nicer design
0.8 inch more screen but you get that hideous notch and is still a small screen.
worst speakers (if you like bass)
same performance for me because the cpu never goes above 30%
After using them all, this is how I see the current 13inch line-up:
13 pro vs air
better battery
better charger
better screen
better thermals
better speakers
nicer design
Touch Bar - when you configure to your needs, it becomes a powerful tool
13 pro vs 14 pro
better battery
better portability
nicer design
0.8 inch more screen but you get that hideous notch and is still a small screen.
worst speakers (if you like bass)
same performance for me because the cpu never goes above 30%
Yeah, makes no sense, especially when the new redesigned MacBook "Air" is out. The 13" M1 MacBook Pro is a dead end, plus Apple is dropping the touch bar. It's just a placeholder to prop up the starting price of the newly redesigned MacBook Pros.
Its price point will be replaced with a higher spec redesigned M2 Macbook. Meanwhile, the M1 Macbook Air will stay in the $999 price point.
Its price point will be replaced with a higher spec redesigned M2 Macbook. Meanwhile, the M1 Macbook Air will stay in the $999 price point.
I could see an M2 MBP if they sped the 14” design with some compromises (maybe fewer ports, worse display, worse cooling system, less battery) but I can’t see it with the current M1 MBP design.
I kinda get what your saying. But I wouldn’t say the current 13 inch M1 Mac book pro is a waste of money for a few reasons. you will notice an improvement in performance if you are coming from an older model of Mac book pro or Air.
I heard the M1 13 Inch Air and Pro were very very similar. But given I had been using a 2019 air model, I went with the pro for several reasons. One of which is a fan. My 2019 MacBook Air would start to sound like a jet engine after maybe 20 mins of using something like Photo Shop and the air had no fan to cook it down etc.
If I had the budget, I would have gotten the higher end MacBook Pro ( they are Amazing). But I definitely still feel the 13 inch M1 pros are worth it for certain people . 800 bucks for a brand new M1 13 inch MacBook pro is a steal no matter how you look at it.
You see how thick the 14" is? The chassis is complete overkill for an M2. M2 can be run fanless. Nobody wants such a thick and heavy laptop when the SoC can be run fanless.
The polycarbonate iBook G4s were NOT light. I owned a 12” and a 14”. Great machines but not lighter than aluminum MBPs.