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Dadcelo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 14, 2022
117
118
I get the differentiating between devices, but why not give the more expensive device all options, and limit one as exclusive to M3 Pro/Max? Never understood not offering the M3 Pro/Max in Space Gray.
 

Aka757

macrumors 6502
Sep 22, 2016
299
440
Houston
Well it looks like they are bringing space black to the base model MacBook Pro with the new M4 being revealed this month. My guess is they are going to phase out space gray entirely. Should offer more consistency across their lineup of MacBook Pros.

I really want different, fun colors for their whole lineup. If the iPad Airs can get colors like blue and purple, why not the iPad Pros? Why not MacBooks? The usual silver / black are a bit dull
 

Chancha

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2014
2,244
2,040
I guess Apple figured having no more than 2 colors for any given Pro laptop is their limit in SKU logistics. Normally that would mean, with the M3 release, they should have just phased out space grey and replaced it with space black across the whole Pro line. But perhaps they were considering:

1) they needed some marketing catch, a visual identifier for the latest and greatest
2) the actual process of the finishing may not have been perfected, they want to use it on limited number of machines first
both of which would make sense to only keep it on the more expensive headliner M3 Pro M3 Max.

With space black "confirmed" to already be on the base M4 MBP, I agree with the above saying they will phase out space grey this time.
 
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hovscorpion12

macrumors 68040
Sep 12, 2011
3,010
3,090
USA
I'm not going to sugarcoat it. Space Black last year was for real pro-users. The stand out "I'm the best" feeling. Given that the iPad and iPhone 16 have a blacker design, space grey is getting phased out.

Also, whos to say 2-colors options only this year.

M4 - Silver and Space Black
M4 Pro/M4 Max - Silver & Midnight Ultra black
 

halledise

macrumors 68020
I guess Apple figured having no more than 2 colors for any given Pro laptop is their limit in SKU logistics. Normally that would mean, with the M3 release, they should have just phased out space grey and replaced it with space black across the whole Pro line. But perhaps they were considering:

1) they needed some marketing catch, a visual identifier for the latest and greatest
2) the actual process of the finishing may not have been perfected, they want to use it on limited number of machines first
both of which would make sense to only keep it on the more expensive headliner M3 Pro M3 Max.

With space black "confirmed" to already be on the base M4 MBP, I agree with the above saying they will phase out space grey this time.
oh God - say it isn't so.
space grey has always been the most popular whereas black is a fingerprint magnet.
horrible colour for mine …
i'd even consider silver for the next purchase - anything other than bleck
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,469
26,071
Space Black is more premium. Space Grey is the cheap color. Apple uses colors to encourage you to choose higher models.

Just like Jet Black for iPhone 7 was only for 128GB and 256GB. The cheap 32GB iPhone 7 got matte black only.

When it’s a minor refresh next cycle (M4), they release the special color to the regular models. iPhone 7 32GB got Jet Black a year later.
 
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jchap

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2009
636
1,164
oh God - say it isn't so.
space grey has always been the most popular whereas black is a fingerprint magnet.
Obviously, colors in and of themselves do not "magnetize" fingerprints. You already knew that, I suppose.
 

whitby

Contributor
Dec 13, 2007
379
392
Austin, TX
No, reason, just Apple being contrary for their own marketing needs. They do not want people who bought the M3 to feel privileged and are trying to force them to buy an M3 Pro or M3 Max. They do not trust people to make the decision based on performance and cost. Just another reason to disrespect the company Apple has become. Just another greedy corporate giant and not the feisty small guy who gave us great products we used to get. It is inevitable. I am waiting for the next disruptor and then we can have some fun.
 
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renargues

macrumors newbie
Sep 6, 2024
2
1
I'd say it was mostly just marketing last year plus making back the money on the costs of development for the new finish which we later saw help other finishes like making the midnight MBA M3 more fingerprint resistant.
 
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Dadcelo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 14, 2022
117
118
oh God - say it isn't so.
space grey has always been the most popular whereas black is a fingerprint magnet.
horrible colour for mine …
i'd even consider silver for the next purchase - anything other than bleck
It does seem that Space Gray has a much bigger “fan base” than Space Black. Which is another reason I was surprised they didn’t offer it for the ‘Pro Pros’ (like they did Silver) and only for the ‘Pro’.
 
Last edited:

Dadcelo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 14, 2022
117
118
Space Black is more premium. Space Grey is the cheap color. Apple uses colors to encourage you to choose higher models.

Just like Jet Black for iPhone 7 was only for 128GB and 256GB. The cheap 32GB iPhone 7 got matte black only.

When it’s a minor refresh next cycle (M4), they release the special color to the regular models. iPhone 7 32GB got Jet Black a year later.
I totally get that, but why limit the more expensive model to exclude Space Gray? Why not offer SPB as the exclusive color, and the other 2 colors remain as option for the M3 Pro/Max and the only options for the Pro. It’s like offering an iPhone Pro only color (SPG) and a Max only color (SPB). What is the logic behind offering Silver but not Space Gray?
 

JPack

macrumors G5
Mar 27, 2017
13,469
26,071
I totally get that, but why limit the more expensive model to exclude Space Gray? Why not offer SPB as the exclusive color, and the other 2 colors remain as option for the M3 Pro/Max and the only options for the Pro. It’s like offering an iPhone Pro only color (SPG) and a Max only color (SPB). What is the logic behind offering Silver but not Space Gray?

Each MacBook Pro only has one light color (silver) and one dark color (space gray or black). In all likelihood, MBP isn’t a high enough volume seller to offer three colors.

The vast majority of consumers buy Macbook Air, so Apple can offer more colors there.
 

Chancha

macrumors 68020
Mar 19, 2014
2,244
2,040
I totally get that, but why limit the more expensive model to exclude Space Gray? Why not offer SPB as the exclusive color, and the other 2 colors remain as option for the M3 Pro/Max and the only options for the Pro. It’s like offering an iPhone Pro only color (SPG) and a Max only color (SPB). What is the logic behind offering Silver but not Space Gray?
Like mentioned above, having 3 color SKUs may be too much to handle, that's my first guess.

Then the other guess I have, remember with the M3 base MBP last year, upon release people found out the pre-installed macOS build was actually months old already? So they were sitting in a warehouse rotting for months, probably already made well before the plans of adding space black was finalized.
 

GianL

macrumors newbie
Aug 4, 2022
28
46
Flexing in a bar? "I have the cash to afford M3 Max"
If this is true I don't think Tim has a great opinion of his own customers...
 

Dadcelo

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 14, 2022
117
118
Flexing in a bar? "I have the cash to afford M3 Max"
If this is true I don't think Tim has a great opinion of his own customers...
If anyone is buying it for the flex, it is going to be very short lived with the base MBP having the color option now, allegedly.
 
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