Apple’s new touchscreen MacBook Pro offers several welcome upgrades, but one of the best things about this week’s launch is what the company decided Not change.
Apple’s decision to keep older Macs seems like a welcome glitch in the system
Was I looking for a touchscreen Mac? Not particularly. But I understand how useful it could be for many users and I’m happy that their time has finally come. Or it will arrive, starting November 6th.
But I’ve been craving a new Mac. While my 2023 M2 Pro 16-inch MacBook Pro is still a great machine, its 16GB of RAM is starting to feel a little cramped. Besides I knew it was a mistake.
With the prospect of a refurbished MacBook Pro just around the corner, I’ve spent the last few weeks excited about the possibility of biting the bullet and spending a fortune on a new one, even though there had been very conflicting rumors about what chips it would pack.
While I had in my heart of hearts agreed to the idea that the new touchscreen MacBook Pro would have the same chips as the current non-touchscreen line, I was also hoping that Apple would make some performance improvements to sweeten the supposed $400 premium deal it would bring.
Right? Right?
Well, no.
Performance-wise, the new MacBook Pro with PROLED I could make it run faster despite using the same chip, although the changes seem aimed more at keeping the display cool than improving heat dissipation. Time and reviews will tell.
Which makes Apple’s decision to keep the non-touchscreen M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pros on sale even more welcome and unexpected.
Even when Apple introduced the Touch Bar in 2016, the only option left was the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro. If you wanted a more powerful Mac or a 15-inch model, you had to get started with the program and earn an extra $300 for the 13-inch model with Touch Bar, or $400 for the redesigned 15-inch model.
Yes, there’s a lot new with the MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display. Tandem OLED display, improved thermal performance, thinner and lighter design, thinner bezels, redesigned audio system, Dynamic Island (questionable to some, I know), and even the return of the bright (woo!) Apple logo on the lid are all welcome additions. Oh yeah, and “he’s got the feel too.”
Put it all together and the $400 premium probably isn’t that unreasonable.
But if, like me, these improvements seem secondary to the performance boost you’re prioritizing for this particular upgrade, getting those same specs for actually $400 less (or using that $400 for better specs!) seems like a great deal for all parties involved, future me included.
Will the future me have preferred to wait for the M7 generation? Perhaps. But again, waiting for the perfect time to upgrade is what got me into this situation in the first place, recent price increases and all.
It’s worth checking out on Amazon
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