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An new entry-level Macbook Pro makes no sense
- Thread starter senttoschool
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$1500 "Pro" laptop that comes with 256GB SSD and 8GB of RAM in 2022? And it has the same SoC that will go into a 11" iPad Pro? Come on now. Not even Apple is that crazy.
M2 chip can be run fanless. The 14" chassis is complete overkill for it. It's heavy and thick for such a weak SoC.
You can get an M1 Macbook Air for $850 on sale. Why would someone pay almost double the price for the same SoC (assuming Air will get M2), same 8GB RAM, same 256GB SSD, and in a much heavier and bulkier laptop?
I mean, let's think about it a little here.
That's fair, and there are 17" low spec laptops in the Windows world and they sell, so it's not as wild a thought as I said, sorry.
I come from the other side, where performance is definitely a factor, and the MBA's passive cooling made it a not optimal machine for me, and then add significant weight to it even though it's already heavy for its class, it just boggled my mind!
Air :
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.
4+4 CPU
7 to 8 GPU
Mini led 60hz with up to 800 nits of brightness ,less dimming zones,cheaper display
No fan
Smaller trackpad
Stereo sound system
8/256
Pro :
4+4 CPU
8-10 GPU
Mini led with more dimming zones ,120hz ,1600 nits but still cheaper than mbp14
Better stereo sound system but still not 6 speakers (or maybe even the 6 idk)
8/256
Maybe even different design with notch and thin bezels which the air won't get,who knows
3 TB ports ,why not ?
I can very well see the differentiation between products honestly
The Air is supposedly getting 9-10 core GPU options so the MBP will probably just get 10, similar to the breakdown between the Air and Pro now.
I could see the speakers remaining the same and I could see the 3rd TB4 port being downgraded to a USB-C port. The 8/256GB config is definitely the most iffy part of this, but they probably could start with 8/512 or maybe even 16/512 but the SSD is at PCIe 3 speeds.
I would like to summon a 12 inch MB Air, with the current "Airs" Becoming MacBooks at 14'' display size. If they pull of the multicolored chassis in plastic (for the new air). We'd have a new gold standard for the education/ entry level market.
I think we're more likely to see the 3rd port removed than chanced to USB-C. It seems un-Apple-like to include identical ports with different functionality in one device. Would be confusing for a lot of users.
That's true, I forgot about that. The MacBooks don't have the Thunderbolt logo though ?
What is strange is that Apple has their release cycle inverted for their Macbooks compared to the iPhones and iPads where they first release a Pro and afterwards an Air / low cost variant. Here those cheaper variants are introducing the next generation of chips. This is very odd. I think this topic would be almost obsolete if Apple would release the MBA half a year after the Pros. Because that would include the time factor which can't be underestimated.
Because the Macbook Air shares the exact same SoC as the iPad Pro. Easy to make an update.
Idts.bwcause 1700/1800 starting means that by adding ram and storage (in order to get 16/512) would actually be MORE expensive than the base 14 high end ...and that doesn't make sense
Let's say 1700.add to it 200 of ram + 200 of storage...it's already 2100
Apple actually introduced the M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro at the same time.
The problem is that people assume “Pro” means “a machine with some arbitrary set of high-end specs I want” rather than a machine that Apple decides to attach the Pro moniker to for marketing purposes.
Of course there are other people who would buy a laptop and they likely have different needs. Many laptops are spend much of their lives on a desk. Some of those users want a larger screen for their needs. A MBP is complete overkill for most users but it’s currently the only option if you want a larger screen.
True. At that price they might as well go with 16/512 but @ PCIe3 speeds, then everything other upgrade @ PCIe4 speeds.
We all naturally focus on the specs, but I think from Apple's perspective it's all about what niche can they fill that either tempts new Mac buyers, or, more likely, upsells someone from a less expensive Mac to a more expensive model.
The current 13 inch M1 MacBook Pro doesn't really cut it as an upsell from the M1 MacBook Air - it's just not enough of a step up from the Air (and in some respects is mildly inferior to the Air).
Equally if Apple did a cut-down 14 inch MacBook Pro that was too powerful, it might find it losing buyers of the current 14 inch MBP.
Feels to me like you get what Apple wants by taking a prospective M2 Air and adding a more premium version of that (say active cooling and more GPU cores), plus maybe a spec or price cut on the low end 14 inch Pro.
Then Apple can bridge the gap without having to maintain a totally separate line between the 13 inch Air and 14 inch Pro.
The current 13 inch M1 MacBook Pro doesn't really cut it as an upsell from the M1 MacBook Air - it's just not enough of a step up from the Air (and in some respects is mildly inferior to the Air).
Equally if Apple did a cut-down 14 inch MacBook Pro that was too powerful, it might find it losing buyers of the current 14 inch MBP.
Feels to me like you get what Apple wants by taking a prospective M2 Air and adding a more premium version of that (say active cooling and more GPU cores), plus maybe a spec or price cut on the low end 14 inch Pro.
Then Apple can bridge the gap without having to maintain a totally separate line between the 13 inch Air and 14 inch Pro.
MacBook Air left as it is, sold as the entry level Mac at $999.
The new Macbook (no pro in the name) at $1299
- Same screen as the 14 inch MBP
- Same configuration as the current M1 MBP (2TB, 1 fan, 4+4 CPU, 8/256 etc.)
- New design language body but slimmer than 14MBP
Price will be possible because basically this is the 13 MBP with no touchbar and better screen.
Makes sense because the 4+4 CPU is more than enough for 90% users.
The new Macbook (no pro in the name) at $1299
- Same screen as the 14 inch MBP
- Same configuration as the current M1 MBP (2TB, 1 fan, 4+4 CPU, 8/256 etc.)
- New design language body but slimmer than 14MBP
Price will be possible because basically this is the 13 MBP with no touchbar and better screen.
Makes sense because the 4+4 CPU is more than enough for 90% users.
MacBook Pro is better than Air in every way. The small details makes a really big difference.
- Better display (500 vs 400 nits)
- Better speakers and mics
- Bigger battery
- Bigger charger
- Active cooling
- 15% better GPU and cooling for it.
- Touchbar
To me, 14 and 13 pros feel closer than 13 air and 13 pro.
I’m thinking current Air will stick around for 899, ‘new’ MacBook at 1,199, cut-down 14” Pro for 1,499 and regular 14” Pro at 1,999.