The Mac Pro isn’t the only device Apple is rethinking for professional users.
According to a new report, the company is also considering significant changes to the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro, one of which could see the fancy new Touch Bar biting the dust.
Apple clearly woke up and realized it isn’t serving pro users like it used to. Its recent upgrades to “pro” machines favored form over function, with a significant clampdown on flexibility due to popular ports disappearing and upgrade options decreasing.
A report from OS News, citing “sources who know their stuff,” claims Apple first started to see the light shortly after showing off the new MacBook Pro with Touch Bar.
Apple realizes Macs aren’t ‘pro’ anymore
Although early sales for the machine proved incredibly strong, the response from pro users unhappy with Cupertino’s decisions supposedly disappointed Apple. The new model also triggered a surprising effect on sales of refurbished MacBook Pros.
Demand for older notebooks reportedly went “through the roof” after Apple made its latest MacBook Pro lineup official, then climbed even higher when the first batch of reviews rolled out.
Combined with problems surrounding the LG UltraFine 5K Display that Apple pushed so vehemently during its MacBook Pro press event, the company decided it was time to “double down on professional users.” And a modular Mac Pro isn’t the only thing in its pipeline.
Changes to MacBook Pro and iPad Pro are coming
Apple confirms that a more powerful iMac is also part of its plans, while OS News adds that the company is considering another version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro that will ditch the Touch Bar, presumably in favor of other features that would make it more practical in a pro setting.
In addition, Apple supposedly is developing a new feature for iPad Pro that would allow it to function like a Cintiq drawing tablet when hooked up to a Mac.
Sadly, there’s no word on when any of this stuff might materialize. Apple says the new Mac Pro won’t be ready this year, and sources say it’s unlikely it will be ready next year, either. It’s thought Apple only started development of the machine “a few weeks ago.”
It’s difficult to determine whether there’s any truth behind these claims. They have been reinforced by notable iOS developer Marco Arment, who tweeted to say “this matches up with what I’ve heard as well,” but they’re yet to be backed by bigger news sources.
Killian Bell is a freelance writer based in the U.K. He has an interest in all things tech and also covers Android over at CultofAndroid.com. You can follow him on Twitter via @killianbell.
5 responses to “Apple also plans pro upgrades for MacBook Pro, iPad Pro”
“The machine also had a surprising affect on sales of refurbished MacBook Pros.”
‘Affect?’
I don’t know if removing the TouchBar is necessarily a good idea. I think they should offer more models with and without TouchBar because there are those that simply can’t afford it and don’t see the need for it and then there are some that can afford it and would like it to be there. So maybe offering more models without one in addition would be nice. I would like to see them make a keyboard that is spill proof. I think that’s an important feature, plus it will reduce a lot of repairs which always help boost customer satisfaction.
I’m still on the fence when it comes to having a touch screen. I think there are some that would like macOS to be Touch Screen enabled, but most people probably don’t care.
I think it would be cool to offer Apple Monitors with a 2 slots for GPUs so anyone with a Mac with Thunderbolt 3 can connect it to the monitor and gain access to a high end GPU card that can be upgraded for newer cards when available.
When we talk about ‘pros’, we’re really talking about video editors / musicians and recording studio technicians / software engineers, and probably another few categories I can’t think of at the moment. And we all have different needs. As a software engineer I couldn’t care less about the Touch Bar, I prefer the mechanical fn keys, but the touch bar is fine, whatever. What *is* important is at least 32 Gbytes of RAM, and possibly 64 (a new Lenovo P50 can be outfitted with 64, and if you’re running multiple VMs and containers to do software development, it’s a genuinely useful thing; but 32 Gbytes is kind of table stakes for a pro machine these days). Lots of fast SSD NVMe Storage, check. Long battery life, well….put the 99.5 Whr battery back in. But unlike video editors, I don’t care much about graphics. In fact, if it would save battery life, I’d be glad to forego the AMD card altogether. It’s not needed to run a couple of 4K monitors showing Xcode and Interface Builder and so forth. However, for video editors, the graphics card is of paramount importance. For the Logic Pro or Pro Tools user, somewhere in between these two extremes, probably. Light and thin? NOT AT ALL. Of all the sliders they have to compromise between (storage, RAM, CPU power, battery size, battery life, graphics card, etc.) the thickness and weight is absolutely the least important aspect for me, and the thing I wish they would optimize for the least. I like my 2016 MBP and its 4 pound weight, but…..I’d gladly have it be a pound heavier to get the 99.5 Whr battery back. I mean it’s a no-brainer.
If Apple wants to make Pro machines again, in addition to consumer devices, they have to change the calculus a little bit. I’m not saying my priorities are the same as video editors and musicians and other pros; but for sure, they need to throw out consumer users’ priorities for these devices. They already make great consumer machines in the current MBP, MBA, and 12″ MacBook lineup. But don’t think like a consumer for Pro machines. Thin and light matters. A little bit, and it varies with the person. But when they leave out stuff that helps us get our work done (like 32 Gb of RAM) in order to be thin and light, then they’re missing the boat.
I’ve always thought the fuss of the USB-C only ports on the MNP touch was an overreaction. I’m managing just fine with a USB-C dock/hub/thing. I hope Apple embraces USB-C on the new MacPro. When I’m on the road I don’t need legacy ports. In the studio it becomes more important but This is just the natural evolution of tech. Does anybody here miss the 3.5″ floppy? When was the last time your burned a CD or DVD? USB-C peripherals are becoming more available every week. TBH I can’t wait for the day when everything (TVs included) are USB-C or wireless.
I still love my 2011 MacBook Pro 17″. Upgraded to include a 1.1TB Fusion drive, Bluetooth 4.0 (with Continuity), 16GB of RAM, and USB 3.0. Since my machine is upgradable – unlike current MacBooks – Ill be switching to 100% SSD at some point in the future, when the price drops low enough for my tastes.
I also see no reason to replace my 2012 MacBook Air 13″.
Both of these machines are built like Sherman tanks! About the only thing Apple did wrong with them was to scrimp on thermal paste. So naturally I upgraded that, too!