It was back in February that we first heard about a new 16-inch MacBook Pro in the works, and a new report today supports this, adding some more details. As we noted this morning, the timing does seem a little odd, “As the 15-inch MacBook Pro was refreshed already this year, with newer processors and a revised keyboard design, people are expecting the 16-inch to forge a new, separate, tier in Apple’s product lineup.”
I do think the eventual play here is to swap out the old 11/13/15-inch line-up with a 12/14/16-inch one.
The 12-inch switch has already happened, of course. There’s no longer an 11-inch MacBook Air, the 12-inch MacBook now occupying the slot of the smallest machine on offer. If we get a new 16-inch MacBook Pro, then it would make sense for the 13-inch one to be bumped up to 14-inch.
MacDailyNews Take: 12/14/16 seems like an optimal result. The 12-inch MacBook is certainly small and light enough. It easily replaced our beloved 11-inch MacBook Air units in our backpacks. The 14-inch would be for the general notebook user and the 16-inch would be the professional portable Mac flagship. (Best solution would be for Apple to offer a high-end 14-inch model, thermals willing, for those who want performance in a smaller size that 16-inches. Perhaps Apple is working toward this simpler solution?
This type of move would also allow them to move to a tolerable and workable new keyboard design and save face.
Plus give more leeway on thermal capacity for a top end CPU/GPU in the 16″.
Couldn’t they simply reduce the bezels and offer a different display without altering much of anything else?
They’ve got to “alter” (replace) that keyboard if they ever want me to buy another Mac notebook. I’ve been ready to upgrade for four years.
Otherwise I’ll probably have to a used 2015 pro for PShop work and an iPad pro with a choice of KBs as a (sub-optimal) daily driver, although a 16″ MBP with a workable KB is the solution I’m crossing fingers for.
Apple debuted a world FIRST 17-inch Pro laptop in a press release January 7, 2003.
On day one when it went on sale bought it maxed out. After many years of trusty service, the disk died in May 2018. I could revive it, but not worth the investment.
Suspect you get the point, 17-inch is the sweet-spot to compete with current PCs of the same size. Apple created this market, then shut it down for no discernible reason. They need to OWN IT AGAIN.
Yes, it does disrupt the even number numerology, not a concern. The iPhone naming conventions says it all…
https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/best-17-inch-laptops
Let’s hope not. The latest MacBooks are amongst the worst in hardware design. Apple needs to improve basically everything, especially the keyboard, cooling capacity, and repairability.