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This year, we’re probably going to see a brand-new MacBook Pro design.
Rumours suggest there’ll be a 14” variant alongside the 16”, with the former likely to be the first to hit the market during the third quarter of the year.
I’ve already provided my thoughts on those rumours.
But I’ve been giving this plenty more thought since. I’m trying to get to the bottom of what I really want from the next MacBook Pro. The current design, after all, has been around since 2016 and, when compared to some of the Windows-based competition, really is beginning to look a little dated.
However, I’ve concluded that it isn’t about looks.
You’ll notice that I haven’t mentioned the M<whatever> chip below. That’s because we know it’ll be part and parcel of the next MacBook Pro. And it’ll be blisteringly fast.
As always, I’ve realised that I’m far more interested in the smaller details which will make a genuine difference to my life. And I’ve boiled them down to just three elements.
1. An SD card slot
My M1 MacBook Air has completely transformed the way I undertake my daily tasks. It’s the thing I grab to get stuff done quickly, but there is one feature it’s missing.
An SD card slot.
Indeed, the only Apple device I now have with an integrated SD card slot is my beloved 27” iMac.
I’ve heard some tech commentators suggest that the return of the SD card slot is unlikely due to Apple’s focus on services. Why, they argue, would Apple add something to a MacBook Pro which takes the user’s focus away from the cloud? Won’t that harm iCloud storage revenue?
I don’t buy this at all. The presence of an SD card slot won’t mean anything to the average user who will continue to rely on iCloud for their photo storage needs. It’s not going to suddenly force them to ditch their iPhone’s camera, buy a DSLR, start processing videos in Lightroom and begin storing them on their own NAS.
But professional users? Those who create imagery for a living? I can’t overemphasise how important that SD card slot is when it comes to workflow, convenience and productivity gains. It’s huge.
If the rumours are true and the SD card slot is returning to the MacBook Pro, Apple have made a brave (not courageous) decision, and one which reflects the avalanche of video creation that’s taking place out there.
2. Face ID
Touch ID on the Mac is great – I love it. But it’s not Face ID, which is better.
That’s the simple reason Face ID should be on the next MacBook Pro. When it comes to biometric security, it’s about as convenient as it gets.
And, yes, I know this would require a significant redesign. But that’s what we’re getting, right?
For me, it’d shave a few seconds off most interactions with my MacBook, and those really do add up over time.
3. More ports
The current M1 MacBooks have two USB 4 ports. If you leave yours plugged into the charger (although with the battery life afforded be the M1 chip, this is arguably becoming a thing of the past), that means you have one port to play with.
It’s a pain, I won’t lie.
I don’t want a return of USB A (Apple will never do that), nor do I want an HDMI port. No, alongside that SD Card slot, I just want more USB 4 ports please, Apple.
If, as most people suspect, the current limitation is down to the M1’s architecture, I have no problem with that. Let’s just hope the next iteration of Apple silicon can cope with more ports.
What I’m not fussed about
There are, as always, a number of rumours surrounding the forthcoming MacBook Pro that just don’t excite me at all.
- A thinner design. The MacBook Pro doesn’t need to be any thinner. Apple’s constant quest for thinness has done nothing but cause problems with thermals and keyboards.
- Smaller screen bezels. Yeah, sure, the bezels on the MacBooks are larger than some of the competition. But it doesn’t really bother me during every day use. It’s aesthetics, which are largely irrelevant after that initial unboxing experience.
- A touch screen. This won’t happen now. Maybe next year. But macOS still isn’t quite ready for it.
- The absence of the Touch Bar. I’m not a Touch Bar aficionado (if there’s such a thing), and it does occasionally irritate me, but I don’t hate it so much that I dream of the day it no longer exists. If anything, I’d like to see Apple iterate it and make it genuinely useful.
- MagSafe. I thought I’d want this back when they took it away. Turns out I haven’t missed it one bit.
What do you want from the next MacBook Pro? Have I missed something?
