New Video Provides Extensive Hands-on Look at New 16-inch MacBook Pro [Updated]

[Magnus81]

With iPhone 12 came squared off design. It feels really good to hold. With iPhone 13 came heavier weight. A powerful laptop like Macbook Pro 14/16 with M1Pro/Max also deserves that hefty feeling you get with squared off design a slightly higher weight. It is premium performance. If that is not what you are looking for, go for the 13” Macbook Air M2 next year, or even the 15” Macbook Air M2 that I think is likely. Industrial pro-feel is the way of Apple Pro devices now! ??

 

[haydn!]

Perhaps on the video/picture comparison there was 2017 15" MBP which is 0.61 inch thin but without HDMI.

The post I was replying to claimed the last notebook to have these ports was thinner than the new design, hence the reference to. 2015.

 

[TonyTech]

I wish the Magsafe 3 port was the L-shaped type, like the second generation. Hopefully we'll have third-party options.

 

[bruno7]

I've never been a fan of that thinness craziness - so I don't mind my laptop being a little thicker. And heavier.
But sorry - these really look like my good old Powerbook G4 which was my very fist Mac - this was year 2005 if I remember well.
And while I'm a very nostalgic person I really don't want my 2021 laptop look like my 2005 one.
I would probably get used to the notch although I think they should've gone without it.
But the overall design is just not good. And that keyboard looks horrible - gone is the signature MacBook's black-on-silver beauty.

MacBooks never looked so generic until now. Nothing special about the design anymore. It's a shame.

 

[veena3]

My 2019 i9 got to be serviced after the MB died. I rented one bc I was in the middle of an edit. The rental, i9 as well, started displaying glitches from what was apperently overheating. I kept my AC at full max dropping the temperature from 25 to 18ºC. Gosh, I had even to wear gloves, hat and a jumper to work. That was running Avid, OBS and Chrome… nothing more. If I asked the computer to change the output resolution to a brighter one, it would throttle to 1.8 GHz, making it unusable. If I dropped the AC to a normal 21ºC, it would throttle as well to 1.8-2 GHz.

If I wanted to use the computer runnnig evercast (OBS + Chrome) and Avid, mind you using normal proxies at 1080P, I always need to turn my AC at max.

That’s all with the computer fully blasting the fans at around 6k rpm.

Sorry, I would take any second an inch more of thickness… this 2019 design is a complete failure… like the trashcan was. What about the touchbar? The hub maddening cabling confusion?

If you think it’s thick. just buy the Air.

Now your aluminium MBP will actually be maybe cooling your apartment while you're be working with it :-D

 

[MrGimper]

I've never been a fan of that thinness craziness - so I don't mind my laptop being a little thicker. And heavier.
But sorry - these really look like my good old Powerbook G4 which was my very fist Mac - this was year 2005 if I remember well.
And while I'm a very nostalgic person I really don't want my 2021 laptop look like my 2005 one.
I would probably get used to the notch although I think they should've gone without it.
But the overall design is just not good. And that keyboard looks horrible - gone is the signature MacBook's black-on-silver beauty.

MacBooks never looked so generic until now. Nothing special about the design anymore. It's a shame.

And now it doesn't even have the Touch Bar to differentiate it.....

 

[wedgeman]

Thiccbook Pro

oh geeez...

really? This thing is basically 1/2" thick, and you're complaining about that?
I'm sorry, this is the epitome of 1st world problems.

 

[Karma*Police]

If thinness is your top priority, Apple got other mobile computers to sell you.

You must be a new Mac user. If you’d owned their laptops for decades as I have, you would understand what I said is meant to be taken literally. Apple literally recycled a decades old design and it now deviates from every other product, including the iMac and Mac mini. Nowhere did I complain about how thick it was.

 

[pauljbax]

I am sorry. That's just my personal opinion. But I really don't find it good looking. In fact I find Apple really lazy. Now I am not saying: oh change the design every two years like some cheap Windows laptop. But geez. My Powerbook G4 looked exactly the same (except for the keyboard). And that was 15+ years ago. It's also gotten quite thick and big. Irrelevant when used as a pseudo-desktop. But for people who actually take it out every day, I honestly find it too big and too thick compared the 15 and 16"ers of yesteryear.

Hey, you want more port options, it is going to be thicker. That's even what she said.

 

[veena3]

As I said before these new MBPs LOOK thicker! We know they are technically are but the appearance given their new ugly chassis design makes it look thick, clunky, and ugly. Let’s not forget how much heavier it is. To all you Pros, enjoy living in the past in terms of design.

I think that's because of no relative comparison in the video or pictures of other objects (except that 15" MBP). It will be feeling different in hands.

Of course 16" MBP M1 Pro is 0.05" thicker than 15" MBP 2017 in video and it seems huge. But compare it to 16" MBP and I believe the impression will be different.

 

[Magnus81]

But sorry - these really look like my good old Powerbook G4 which was my very fist Mac - this was year 2005 if I remember well.
And while I'm a very nostalgic person I really don't want my 2021 laptop look like my 2005 one.

It should not be what the device looks like, this is the most powerful portable computer in humankind’s history - we live in a virtual meta-verse; it’s all about what will you do?

 

[ThisBougieLife]

You must be a new Mac user. If you’d owned their laptops for decades as I have, you would understand what I said is meant to be taken literally. Apple literally recycled a decades old design and it now deviates from every other product, including the iMac and Mac mini. Nowhere did I complain about how thick it was.

How does it deviate from the newest iMac? There's no notch, but the iMac abandoned its tapered design as well and in a way, resembles the older iMac G5, just thinner and larger.

They are definitely recycling old designs; that's where the iPhone 12 came from. But I don't see how these MBPs are not compatible with the design language of the M1 iMac.

 

[bruno7]

And now it doesn't even have the Touch Bar to differentiate it.....

To be honest I never liked the idea of TB, I prefer physical function keys. So I personally see missing TB as a good thing.

I was secretly hoping for the Return of the Ports (which happened) and the Return of the MagSafe (which happened). Thank you Apple for these.

But at the same time I was hoping for some sort of design evolution (which did not happen) and Matte Screen option - which will probably never happened even if most of the real Pro users would certainly appreciate it (at least I think so).

 

[miamialley]

Video has been removed!

 

[bruno7]

It should not be what the device looks like, this is the most powerful portable computer in humankind’s history - we live in a virtual meta-verse; it’s all about what will you do?

While I understand that the power is the most important part of today's computer I also want to be pleased by the looks of my laptop.
This is actually what Apple itself taught me some 16 years ago.
I learned then that even such a common thing as a laptop can be a beautiful piece of design at the same time.

I strongly believe that some people will really be happy with how the new MBPs look. But I also believe that many people will see it as a major step backwards - design wise. Now I'm talking about the shape of the chassis and the keyboard.

 

[chucker23n1]

And that keyboard looks horrible - gone is the signature MacBook's black-on-silver beauty.

I find it quite clever. It conceals the weird (but useful) arrow key layout.

 

[bruno7]

I find it quite clever. It conceals the weird (but useful) arrow key layout.

Well, this I totally have to agree with.

 

[twintin]

And now it doesn't even have the Touch Bar to differentiate it.....

But it has a notch to differentiate it. ?

 

[PhoenixFireless]

*sigh* where the f*ck did the video go? Does anyone still have it, or a link to it?

 

[Karma*Police]

How does it deviate from the newest iMac? There's no notch, but the iMac abandoned its tapered design as well and in a way, resembles the older iMac G5, just thinner and larger.

They are definitely recycling old designs; that's where the iPhone 12 came from.

Look at the overall design language. The crisp edges are gone, replaced by soft, rounded edges. No other Apple product uses this design language.

Apple is a fashion company so recycled designs are inevitable, but you have to add some new wrinkles that make it look fresh and modern. The M1 iMac is a great example of that. It combines the colorful lineup reminiscent of the bubble iMacs, yet it’s very modern and sleek cos it’s essentially a huge iPad. Personally, I think they’re gorgeous and the attention to detail is classic Apple. I hope the new MBA’s take this design cue.

The new MBPs OTOH literally look just like the old MBPs as if they used the same exact cast. The last thing I want is to buy a new MBP and wonder if Apple accidentally sent me a 20 year old MBP by mistake.

I guess if you haven’t been around since the Steve Jobs days, then it’s a non-issue, but for us old-timers, the ”new” design is a huge letdown.

 

[Magnus81]

I learned then that even such a common thing as a laptop can be a beautiful piece of design at the same time.

Functional design in new Macbook M1Pri/Max would be appreciated by Steve Jobs I think - it is designed for professionals! ? The beauty lies in minimalism without compromise.

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Look at the overall design language. The crisp edges are gone, replaced by soft, rounded edges. No other Apple product uses this design language.

Apple is a fashion company so recycled designs are inevitable, but you have to add some new wrinkles that make it look fresh and modern. The M1 iMac is a great example of that. It combines the colorful lineup reminiscent of the bubble iMacs, yet it’s very modern and sleek cos it’s essentially a huge iPad. Personally, I think they’re gorgeous and the attention to detail is classic Apple. I hope the new MBA’s take this design cue.

The new MBPs OTOH literally look just like the old MBPs as if they used the same exact cast. The last thing I want is to buy a new MBP and wonder if Apple accidentally sent me a 20 year old MBP by mistake.

I guess if you haven’t been around since the Steve Jobs days, then it’s a non-issue, but for us old-timers, the ”new” design is a huge letdown.

Maybe. I personally would've been fine with some new colors and a matte display option. I happen to really like the older designs even if I was too young to own one back then so I don't mind them reusing some of them.

Ultimately, though, I'm not buying this computer for the design. I'm buying it because it will become my primary device, used for school, work, and recreation. I need it to be sufficiently powerful and do what I want it to do. If it does that, I'm not so concerned with the design as that is very much a lower priority for me. I'm sure many other MBP-buyers are like me.

I'm not saying prioritizing design is bad; I do do that with the phones. Part of the reason I haven't bought a 13 Pro yet is because I'm so underwhelmed by the design and new features and my current phone does everything I need in a phone. Whereas my 2019 16" MBP was not doing what I needed it to: it was overheating on Zoom calls, the resolution was too low to allow the best crisp 2x resolution to have the screen real estate I needed, so for me, this is a big improvement. I'm assuming. I don't have it yet, but it's looking to be promising.

 

[Exposed]

*sigh* where the f*ck did the video go? Does anyone still have it, or a link to it?

there is another one with 14"

 

[criticasm]

I’m glad Jony Ive left Apple. There is no more thinness to sacrifice the battery, ports and thermal solutions. Welcome back, Apple! I’m impressed!

Welcome back?? Back to what or when? Jony Ive was Apple's designer since 1992. He was there before Steve Jobs returned. The touchbar MacBooks weren't thin 'cause Jony's got a hang up with thickness. They were designed around an Intel 10nm (equal in transistor density to TSMC 7nm ie A12/A13) chips that never arrived due to major fab problems. Ports weren't cut for the sake of thinness as these new models are less than 1mm thicker. Neither was battery as the previous 16" had the maximum 100wh allowed. As for the design of these latest MacBooks they're very similar to Ive's design of the 1st gen unibody MacBook Pro from 2009. So I wouldn't be surprised if he (just like the M1 iMac) had a hand in this.

 

[iamPro]

For all Notch haters out there. Pay close attention. The “Notch” has ALWAYS been there. Apple just raised the forehead up to reveal the always there notch.

By raising the forehead, they are able to use that EXTRA space for the menu bar. The useable screen real estate has now actually increased as a result of the menu bar being moved into the prior foreheads location.

Aesthetically, it looks different…yes! But practically, it allows for MORE usable workspace. Again, if you just can’t handle more useable space because the aesthetics are too much to overcome, pass on this machine.

Hmm, didn't know asking for an actual full screen was such a problem that got Apple apologists so riled up, especially when there's quite a handful of laptops out there with equal or better front facing cameras without this notch (I'd be fine even with a hole punch). For one these laptops don't have Face ID and not equipped with the best optics compared to the competition.

Also a notched screen is more annoying than to be disregarded as mere aesthetics - the display is one of the main aspects of a computer. I hate it on my iPhone (doesn't mean I hate the iPhone or Apple as a whole) and it's something you can’t preach me that I'm "wrong" to hate.

To each their own, no need to be so patronizing.