Not sure if this is the right forum as the topic covers a few different Apple hardware items.
In a handful of instances where I have a slightly older revision of an Apple product on hand to directly compare to a newer one, I’ve been finding that the build quality on the newer item does not quite feel up to the same standard. These three things specifically come to mind:
Magic Mouse – 2024 vs. 2019
MacBook Pro – M4 Pro vs M1 Pro
AirPods Pro – 3 vs 2 with USB-C
The Magic Mouse and MacBook Pro examples are the most interesting, as they have ostensibly not been redesigned. Especially the mouse.
But the newer Magic Mouse is lighter, feels flimsier, and the edges of the top glass are sharper to the touch than on the old one. At first I thought this was just due to it being new, and that the edges would wear down with time, but I’ve had the new one for over a year now and this has not happened.
The M4 Pro MacBook Pro also feels flimsier and less solid than the M1 Pro. It’s very noticeable when typing. The M4 sounds more hollow and clicky rather than thocky. The sheet of aluminum on the bottom also sounds like it’s thinner and clicks subtly when pressing it with a finger. The M1 Pro feels very sturdy and substantial in comparison. (The M1 Macbook Air does too, for that matter.)
I’m not looking for differences, by the way, these are just impressions that came naturally from using these products.
The AirPods Pro 3 is the most recently updated thing on this list. Unlike the other two, this particular one is a redesign, and, in my opinion, a change for the worse. Everything about them is bigger, they feel clunky and less refined than the Pro 2’s. The case (especially the flip-top lid) feels cheaper and less sturdy.
With all three products, the overall feel is that of a good knock-off instead of a true Apple product.
It’s not everything. I do not find this to be the case with the iPad Pro, the M4 generation feels as well built, if not better, than previous ones. My iPhone 16 Pro also feels pretty close to perfect. So it’s not something that applies to the whole product range, but these few items are interesting.
It makes me wonder if corners start being cut once a product has been in steady production for a little while. But, I have not noticed this being discussed anywhere else, or ever mentioned in reviews. So perhaps it’s just me, or I’ve just been unlucky with these specific items.
In a handful of instances where I have a slightly older revision of an Apple product on hand to directly compare to a newer one, I’ve been finding that the build quality on the newer item does not quite feel up to the same standard. These three things specifically come to mind:
Magic Mouse – 2024 vs. 2019
MacBook Pro – M4 Pro vs M1 Pro
AirPods Pro – 3 vs 2 with USB-C
The Magic Mouse and MacBook Pro examples are the most interesting, as they have ostensibly not been redesigned. Especially the mouse.
But the newer Magic Mouse is lighter, feels flimsier, and the edges of the top glass are sharper to the touch than on the old one. At first I thought this was just due to it being new, and that the edges would wear down with time, but I’ve had the new one for over a year now and this has not happened.
The M4 Pro MacBook Pro also feels flimsier and less solid than the M1 Pro. It’s very noticeable when typing. The M4 sounds more hollow and clicky rather than thocky. The sheet of aluminum on the bottom also sounds like it’s thinner and clicks subtly when pressing it with a finger. The M1 Pro feels very sturdy and substantial in comparison. (The M1 Macbook Air does too, for that matter.)
I’m not looking for differences, by the way, these are just impressions that came naturally from using these products.
The AirPods Pro 3 is the most recently updated thing on this list. Unlike the other two, this particular one is a redesign, and, in my opinion, a change for the worse. Everything about them is bigger, they feel clunky and less refined than the Pro 2’s. The case (especially the flip-top lid) feels cheaper and less sturdy.
With all three products, the overall feel is that of a good knock-off instead of a true Apple product.
It’s not everything. I do not find this to be the case with the iPad Pro, the M4 generation feels as well built, if not better, than previous ones. My iPhone 16 Pro also feels pretty close to perfect. So it’s not something that applies to the whole product range, but these few items are interesting.
It makes me wonder if corners start being cut once a product has been in steady production for a little while. But, I have not noticed this being discussed anywhere else, or ever mentioned in reviews. So perhaps it’s just me, or I’ve just been unlucky with these specific items.