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How Many MacBook Pro Models will there be once they've all gotten Apple Silicon refreshes?

How many MacBook Pro types will there be after all models are on Apple Silicon

  • 2 (They'll finally consolidate both 2 and 4 port 13" models to a single [likely 14"] model)

    Votes: 4 44.4%

  • 3 (They'll consolidate both 13" models, but keep the 2020 M1 model around as a low cost option)

    Votes: 2 22.2%

  • 3 (They'll consolidate both 13" models, but keep the 2019 Intel 16" around for those that need it)

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • 3 (They'll continue to have a 16" model with two different sub-16" models as they have since 2016)

    Votes: 2 22.2%

  • 3 (They'll consolidate both 13" models, but keep the 2020 4-port model around as a low cost option)

    Votes: 1 11.1%

  • 4 (They'll continue to have a 16" model, two different sub-16" models, and one of the Intels)

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    9
Yebubbleman

Yebubbleman

macrumors 603
Original poster
May 20, 2010
6,056
2,648
Los Angeles, CA
This question has been talked about a bunch. But I'm going to reframe it differently this time:

Since 2016 when the first Touch Bar MacBook Pros came out, Apple has effectively sold three MacBook Pro models: a 13" MacBook Pro with 2 ports (effectively the true successor to the 2011-17 MacBook Air), a 13" MacBook Pro with 4 ports (more in line with 13" MacBook Pros from 2011-2015), and a 15", later 16" MacBook Pro. With Intel, each of these three models had different thermal requirements and capabilities. With Apple Silicon, that's not as big of a concern. That said, the 2-port 13" MacBook Pro made the jump in November. The 4-port 13" MacBook Pro is presumably sticking around until the rumored 14" Apple Silicon based redesign replaces it. And presumably the 16" MacBook Pro is going to get its Apple Silicon based redesign and that will be that.

My question is this: Given that we're still with three distinctly different models of MacBook Pro (and have been since 2016), how many models will there be after all three of the current models are either discontinued or with Apple Silicon based replacements?

Do you think the 2-port 13" MacBook Pro as we know it today will continue alongside a 14" MacBook Pro? Do you think they'll both just merge into a single 13"/14" MacBook Pro, considering the MacBook Air does such a good job of overlapping in terms of capability?

My own thinking on this has gone back and forth a bit. I don't know that Apple cares as much about there being two distinctly different sub-15" MacBook Pros once they're all on Apple Silicon (especially since the Touch Bar seems to be on its way out). It also seems as though the number of Thunderbolt ports will scale to three with dedicated power (via returning MagSafe), HDMI, and SD card slots making up for the loss of the would-be fourth Thunderbolt port, which seems like it would further negate any technological need for there to be two sub-15" MacBook Pro models.

Then again, there's also the question of whether or not Apple would, as it has done in MacBook Pro redesigns past, keep an Intel model around for a spell so as to help those that need legacy compatibility. They did this with the 2012 non-retina 13" MacBook Pro (keeping it on sale until 2016) and then again with the integrated graphics only version of the 2015 15" MacBook Pro (keeping it on sale until 2018). If they were to do this, it seems far more likely that they'd want to keep the (2019) 16" MacBook Pro around rather than the 2020 4-port Ice Lake based 13" MacBook Pro.

How many MacBook Pro model types do you think Apple will be selling at that point in time?
 
What I would like to see is the 13” MBP M1 (2020) get discontinued, the 14” M1X coming in at $1499 and the 16” M1X coming in at $1999, then when the Air gets a refreshed design have that come in at $1099.

That way the line up of M series products lines up perfectly.

iPad Pro 11 - $799
iPad Pro 12.9 - $1099
MacBook Air - $1099
iMac 24” - $1299
MacBook Pro 14” $1499
iMac 27” - $1799
MacBook Pro 16” $1999

But I think this is just wishful thinking.
 
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Never mind said:
Is this a Mac Crystal ball board forum ?…
Click to expand...

Actually, yeah, it kind of is. This is MacRumors. Where Apple news and rumors and predictions are all discussed.

James Godfrey said:
What I would like to see is the 13” MBP M1 (2020) get discontinued, the 14” M1X coming in at $1499 and the 16” M1X coming in at $1999, then when the Air gets a refreshed design have that come in at $1099.

That way the line up of M series products lines up perfectly.

iPad Pro 11 - $799
iPad Pro 12.9 - $1099
MacBook Air - $1099
iMac 24” - $1299
MacBook Pro 14” $1499
iMac 27” - $1799
MacBook Pro 16” $1999

But I think this is just wishful thinking.
Click to expand...
I don't know that I'd necessarily LIKE to see the M1 13" MacBook Pro get discontinued. But it would certainly make sense for there to not be two distinctly different 13"/14" models AND for there to be as much overlap with the MacBook Air.
 
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Yebubbleman said:
Actually, yeah, it kind of is. This is MacRumors. Where Apple news and rumors and predictions are all discussed.


I don't know that I'd necessarily LIKE to see the M1 13" MacBook Pro get discontinued. But it would certainly make sense for there to not be two distinctly different 13"/14" models AND for there to be as much overlap with the MacBook Air.
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The issue with the current MBP M1 is by all tests other than a slightly brighter screen, every so slightly better battery life and the Touch Bar (which no one seems to like), there is literally no difference between that and the Air.

The current Pro M1 just seems a bit pointless and would be much better being replaced by a larger sized air.
 
14" 2-port
14" 4-port
16" 4-port

I think Apple made it clear with the iMac, they'll continue using ports as a differentiator.

Kuo said the 13" model would be replaced by the 14". But given mini LED supply constraints, I wouldn't be surprised if they kept the 13" for a little longer.
 
James Godfrey said:
The issue with the current MBP M1 is by all tests other than a slightly brighter screen, every so slightly better battery life and the Touch Bar (which no one seems to like), there is literally no difference between that and the Air.

The current Pro M1 just seems a bit pointless and would be much better being replaced by a larger sized air.
Click to expand...
You're forgetting the fan, but I otherwise completely agree. I think the Air in its current form is definitely more than adequate for the vast majority of use cases (I only recommend the M1 Pro to people who do a lot of video conferencing and/or who have a specific intense workflow and/or are unsure of how much they'll need to push their system over the course of its life and I recommend the Air to literally all others). And it would make more sense for the MacBook Pros to be the step up over the MacBook Airs in the Apple Silicon era that the PowerBook G4s were from the iBook G4s in the PowerPC era.
 
JPack said:
14" 2-port
14" 4-port
16" 4-port

I think Apple made it clear with the iMac, they'll continue using ports as a differentiator.

Kuo said the 13" model would be replaced by the 14". But given mini LED supply constraints, I wouldn't be surprised if they kept the 13" for a little longer.
Click to expand...
Given that the redesign seems like it'll be 3 ports, I'm a little skeptical that they'll drop that down substantially. Though, I can definitely see at least one of the 2020 13" models being kept around for a temporary time. I just don't see a long term maintenance of that, given the seemingly needless overlap between the Air and the 2-port 13" Pro.
 
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