Rumor has it that Apple’s long-anticipated MacBook Pro redesign will instead be branded “MacBook Ultra.” Considering previous redesign failures, here’s why this could be good news for MacBook Pro users.
The history of MacBook Pro redesigns includes successes and failures.
Apple’s current MacBook Pro is in many ways an apologetic model.
The MacBook Pro design, which is still in use today, first appeared in 2021. And it gave users exactly what they were looking for, after years of very unpopular previous designs.
In 2016, Apple introduced the new MacBook Pro, which turned out to be problematic in several ways.
A big part of that was the notoriously unreliable butterfly keyboard. But the new model also removes some ports that creative professionals rely on, switching to an all-USB-C setup. The Touch Bar was also a controversial replacement for function keys. The new design was also thinner, which wasn’t ideal for professional users who value performance and battery life.
It took a long five years before a new design appeared. But when it did, Apple gave pro users everything they wanted.
The 2021 MacBook Pro is larger to maximize performance and battery life, has a revised keyboard, eliminates the Touch Bar, and adds ports including HDMI, SDXC cards, and MagSafe.
Well, it’s almost time for the next redesign.
However, the latest rumors suggest that Apple could take the unconventional path of keeping the current MacBook Pro design alive while branding its latest design as the “MacBook Ultra.”
Here’s why this is good news for MacBook Pro fans.
Addition of MacBook Ultra means MacBook Pro can continue to prioritize professional demands
Apple clearly learned a lesson from the 2016 MacBook Pro fiasco. But some rumors about the next MacBook’s design are eerily nostalgic.
According to Mark Gurman, the new model is thinner and lighter than Apple’s current MacBook Pro. This can affect performance and battery life, and can also mean you’re missing some ports that your MacBook Pro offers.
There’s also a touchscreen, which some users may see as a useless “innovation” like the previous Touch Bar.
I’m confident that Apple won’t repeat the disaster of 2016. However, I think using the “MacBook Ultra” branding could be a smart way to avoid history repeating itself.
If Apple were to launch this new model as the first MacBook Ultra, rather than a new MacBook Pro, it would accomplish two things.
- Current MacBook Pro design remains available unchanged
- Apple’s new design doesn’t have to follow ‘Pro’ standards
Splitting the lineup to create the new MacBook Ultra allows the MacBook Pro to remain exactly the chunky, high-performance, port-heavy model for today’s “pros.”
MacBook Ultra, on the other hand, allows you to pursue innovation and move the Mac forward in new ways without risking alienating experts.
MacBook Ultra and Pro: Summary
Personally, I’m very excited about the arrival of the MacBook Ultra. Because the MacBook Ultra sounds like a model better suited to my needs.
I want a Mac with cutting-edge, innovative technology. So the possibility of OLED, touchscreen, a completely new design, and perhaps a phone option all sound great.
Battery, performance, and ports are all important to me, and I’m happy that the Ultra strikes a different balance between these features than the Pro.
If Apple replaces the current MacBook Pro with a new design, it could upset many Pro users again. But by splitting it out as an Ultra model, we hope we can move the Mac forward in exciting new ways while retaining experts.
What do you think about Apple’s rumored naming of its new MacBook Ultra? Let us know in the comments.
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