If you have not followed MacBook Pro updates over the past few years, you’ll probably be interested to know what changes Apple’s newest flagship laptops have received. We will tell you about the most significant innovations.
Switching to Apple-branded processors
One of the main changes in the Pro line is the appearance of Apple M processors. The chips have ARM architecture; their performance is still excellent while maintaining energy efficiency. As a result, the device can work under a load for 15–20 hours, a record for laptops of this level. Now the company is releasing three versions of the processor for the Pro line:
- Apple M — the baseline for the 13-inch MBPs.
- M Pro — advanced processors, the current iteration has 10 or 12 CPU cores and up to 19 GPU cores, as well as 32 GB of RAM.
- M Max — the most productive solution, can be equipped with 12 CPU cores, up to 38 GPU cores, and up to 96 GB of RAM.
By the way, the appearance of Apple’s processors has changed how RAM works. Apple had tried to solder the Mac parts to the board before, but now the block with RAM is located directly on the SoC. This change increased the RAM bandwidth and allowed the GPU to access faster memory.
Three different diagonals for specific tasks
In recent years, Apple has produced two versions of the MBP — one with a 13-inch display for “on-the-go” work and a less portable but more multitasking-friendly 15.6-inch model. Now instead of a 15.6-inch, we have a 16-inch MacBook. Apple has added a 14-inch configuration, combining small size with the convenience of interacting with multiple windows.
The versions are separated by performance: the MBP 13 has the base processor of the line, the 14-inch Mac in the base configuration M2 Pro got 10 cores, and the 16-inch MacBook comes with 12 processor cores regardless of the installed SoC. The older version also has a more advanced cooling system, which is not surprising given its performance.
The appearance of a cutout in the display and the redesign
You’ve probably seen the notch in modern iPhones. The same gap is now in the new generation MacBook Pro. It has increased the usable display area while maintaining the same size, as you can put more information vertically. Unfortunately, Apple still needs to put Face ID there, but it’s only a matter of time. In the coming years, we’ll see Apple switch from a fingerprint scanner to facial recognition technology.
But the company finally increased the front camera’s resolution — now it’s 1080p instead of 720p. Thanks to this, it is now possible to use the feature of focusing on the object: the camera follows the movements of the user and keeps them in the center of the frame.
In addition to the new cutout screen, the MacBook Pro is the first time in 10 years that Apple has changed the shape of the case in the MBP. Instead of a wedge shape, where the thickness of the case decreases from the center to the edges, the new devices were equipped with a rectangular-shaped case, meaning that its thickness is uniform across the entire area. While this visually made the laptops thicker, they are thinner and lighter now.
Going Back to the Basics
Some innovations for Apple’s flagship laptop we cannot call “innovative”, since we have seen them in earlier models. But giving users back the convenient features the company abandoned in the past has proven a very successful strategy.
For starters, the company returned the MagSafe charging jack to users. Owners of the 2015 MacBook know how handy it is, and in 2021, the connector was back, freeing up at least one USB-C port to connect peripherals. That same year, the SD card slot returned to Apple’s Pro laptops, a lifesaver for all content creators; no need to use hubs anymore. All the connectors you need are on the MacBook. And the HDMI connector is an excellent addition for those who want to connect multiple displays.
The last thing users were happy about was the return of the familiar function buttons instead of the Touch Bar. Of course, some MacBook Pro owners are used to controlling the device with an additional screen above the keyboard, but Apple left the touch bar in the 13-inch model for them.
The MacBook continues to be an innovative device
Apple is continually working to improve the MacBook Pro, but we’ve seen considerable changes in the last couple of years. New processors, changes in the body’s design and display, the return of necessary ports — it is evident that the company is trying to make better computers for creative and professional tasks.
And in case you will need to buy some updated parts for your Mac, there are lots of stores, like Appleparts.io, where you can find chargers, adapters, displays, boards, and more. In addition, all replacement parts undergo multistage testing and quality control by Appleparts specialists, following the latest innovations in the area.
