I think Apple just needs to drop the “Pro” moniker from this machine and bring back the MacBook line. Seems like it would fit nicely between a colorful, iMac-inspired MacBook Air and the current beefed up MacBook Pro with Pro/Max chips.
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There's a New 13-Inch MacBook Pro Coming, Here's What We Know
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Why does everyone expect MBP 13" to come with M2 chip? If Apple puts brand new M2 into old design MPB 13" before announcing the rest M1 Pro/Max iMacs, it'll just create more questions in product lineups, will continue with the "Air has the same power, don't buy MBP", will not justify $1500 and is simply not good enough for M2 introduction.
Just take M1 Pro, offer only 8 core binned CPU, bin GPU cores to 10/12, remove touch bar and put $1499 on it. And never again use non-Pro cpu in Pro machine like with M1 (necessary then, not anymore).
Just take M1 Pro, offer only 8 core binned CPU, bin GPU cores to 10/12, remove touch bar and put $1499 on it. And never again use non-Pro cpu in Pro machine like with M1 (necessary then, not anymore).
The differences between the current 13" MBA and slightly more expensive 13" MBP is a brighter screen, a cooling fan, slightly higher capacity battery. The form factor/dimensions are very close to each other. If and when they actually get around to this, and use some improved AS SoC it needs to be just as energy efficient as the M1. Adding more cores, upping the clock speed slightly is not terribly useful to a convection based cooling in the MBA. As you say it needs a redesign of sorts to allow more capable processors that can scale up on the performance, better display options for Apple's smallest laptops. Like you said the two models could be replaced by one model.
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It originally started as we love to have larger screen MBAs, because MBPs were just too expensive. Then a rumored M2 was associated with the next model. So now you have a bunch of posts mentioning M2 MBA's coming in March before any other Mac model see's a update to the very recent M1 Pro and M1 Max such as the larger iMac, revised Mac mini, and redesigned (smaller) Mac Pro using several M1 Max processors. As they say some are looking for Unicorns.
Plenty of people have no use for it. I still use a 2014 15" MBP, I do not get why people would need something better than this, probably 1% does. The rest is just ego.
I get that there's assumed continuity - last MPB 13" had M1, so it'll continue with M2, that's it. But using actually available M1 Pro in all current MBP, including 13" if it comes now, is a great chance for Apple to correct it to the power and price level it needs and use less good M1 Pro dies. They must have a lot of them that don't make 14/16 GPU cores cut - perfect binning strategy in a chip shortage, and not using brand new M2 that will be used in other more selling devices later.It originally started as we love to have larger screen MBAs, because MBPs were just too expensive. Then a rumored M2 was associated with the next model. So now you have a bunch of posts mentioning M2 MBA's coming in March before any other Mac model see's a update to the very recent M1 Pro and M1 Max as fare as the larger iMax, revised Mac mini, and redesigned (smaller) Mac Pro using several M1 Max processors. As they say some are looking for Unicorns.
My suspicion is that they are again steering toward three portable products - the MacBook Air, the MacBook, and the MacBook Pro. The MacBook will be focused less on creators/developers and be more of a premium ultralight.
But of course, that would mean this rumor makes zero sense.
It is possible that they do not have the capacity with the M1 design to replace the Mac Pro with Apple Silicon the way they want to.
The larger iMac may not get a Pro/Max CPU, but instead get a M2 which contains a GPU which meets whatever their performance requirements are around the larger screen resolution.
They need to add MagSafe at least to this.
Keeping the touch bar is odd, in the sense it feels like it's a dead end and won't be supported. I mean Apple even had the space on the 14" and 16" to add a half height function key row plus a Touch Bar, but instead they did full sized function keys. They also haven't made a keyboard for desktops with one. Either they need to throw support behind it or kill it off.
Keeping the touch bar is odd, in the sense it feels like it's a dead end and won't be supported. I mean Apple even had the space on the 14" and 16" to add a half height function key row plus a Touch Bar, but instead they did full sized function keys. They also haven't made a keyboard for desktops with one. Either they need to throw support behind it or kill it off.
I don't really see much point of keeping 13-inch MBP alive. MBA 16GB RAM or 512GB SSD offers more benefit for most people than 100 nits of extra brightness, 10% extra battery life, or marginally improved audio performance.
And once you bump 13-inch MBP with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, you are only $300 away from getting a vastly superior 14-inch MBP.
If Apple wants 13-inch MBP to remain attractive, the least it can do is update the camera, bump base RAM or storage, and add MagSafe charging.
And once you bump 13-inch MBP with 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD, you are only $300 away from getting a vastly superior 14-inch MBP.
If Apple wants 13-inch MBP to remain attractive, the least it can do is update the camera, bump base RAM or storage, and add MagSafe charging.
You would think so. Mainly behind the LCD panel integration. Like you said, a row of keys eliminates the need for the additional power draw, materials and technology in place of something simplistic. However, it could be that Apple has remaining Touch bar hardware that they want to utilize. I’m not against the Touch Bar, but it seems it likely is on its way out eventually.
is this another maCook where we cants upgrade anything
and if we lose some thumbprint patterns and decide to gift that, it disintegrates?
anyways
macworlds published this:
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a fine laptop, but the cheaper MacBook Air is just as good.
IDG
The M1 MacBook Air is just as good for $300 less. You get the same processor (minus one graphics core that you won’t miss) and screen, plenty of storage, and a great design and keyboard. The only thing you’re really giving up is the Touch Bar and, well, we don’t think you’ll miss that at all.
and if we lose some thumbprint patterns and decide to gift that, it disintegrates?
anyways
macworlds published this:
Don’t buy: 13-inch MacBook Pro
Buy instead: MacBook Air
The 13-inch MacBook Pro never made a ton of sense, but now that the 14-inch MacBook Pro has arrived, it makes less sense than ever. There’s nothing really pro about it—unless you count the Touch Bar—and it offers very little in the way of the kind of next-gen features that its larger siblings have.The 13-inch MacBook Pro is a fine laptop, but the cheaper MacBook Air is just as good.
IDG
The M1 MacBook Air is just as good for $300 less. You get the same processor (minus one graphics core that you won’t miss) and screen, plenty of storage, and a great design and keyboard. The only thing you’re really giving up is the Touch Bar and, well, we don’t think you’ll miss that at all.
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Because not everyone needs it.
I'd hope for A16, released fall 2022 - M chips seem planned for sort of 2 years cycle, why unveil A15 M2 when you also come up with faster generation in iPhone/iPad?
That's exactly the problem Apple should solve with putting M1 Pro with binned 8 core CPU and even more binned 10/12 core GPU into it. And then easily raise the price to $1499.
It would a pleasant surprise (and logical) to see an M1 Pro/Max iMac and high-end Mini released next month. That would complete the standard M1 lineup, with the MacPro being something specialised that may be based on some multi-chiplet design using M1 cores.
Apple could also introduce one or two entry level devices (MBP13 & iMac 24) at the same event. That would avoid the potential head-scratching of M2 coming out before the M1 rollout was finished.
I don't think we'll see M2 Pro/Max this year, and the introduction of an M2 16 months after M1 would hopefully indicate that the release cadence is likely to be at least 16-18 months for the Pro/Max machines. This is long enough to deter most people from just "waiting for the next one around the corner".
I suspect that technically it would be possible to have 32GB by using 2 x 16GB LPDDR5 modules, but that Apple will not do this, and limit it to 16GB to drive people who need more RAM to move to the M<x> Pro/Max.
I guess this is great and all but Apple, come on, don't let the Mini stagnate again like you did previously. Also, I want an iMac Pro with a Max Chip in the case of the XDR display. Please and thank you, make this happen.
edit: also, double the backlighting zones. Thanks.
edit: also, double the backlighting zones. Thanks.
I think this is what will happen later this year with the redesigned MacBook Air. It will become just "MacBook", and the MBP13 will be dropped, or possibly merged into an entry-level MBP14 with an M<x> SoC.
First there's a difference between potential non-Pro iMac 27"/32" and Pro iMac 27"/32" - the Pro model definitely has to come (soon) and with M1 Pro/Max, that's a given. Maybe even rumoured Dual Max (but maybe just for iMac desktop).
Second they should definitely have more chips available from the first M1 family after almost 2 years. And, like other chip manufacturers, they should have some unused M1 Pro dies with more defective GPU cores than used for 14/16 $2000 14" and 16" Pros - that's like money on the floor if not used. They bin M1 Max to 24 out of 32, so 12 out of 16 for M1 Pro might be the perfect middle ground for lower tier Pro machine (with even 10/11 option too).