Apple's New MacBook Pro: Notch and Latest Features

Apple Reconsiders Design Choices in New MacBook Pros

Apple has reversed course on several previously implemented design decisions with its latest MacBook Pro models. The much-criticized Touch Bar has been discontinued, and desired features like additional ports and MagSafe charging have been reintroduced.

However, mirroring a characteristic found in the iPhone, the company has incorporated a prominent, and visually disruptive, notch at the top of what they claim is “the best notebook screen in the world.”

Acknowledging User Feedback

This represents a potentially humbling moment for Apple. Despite projecting confidence, the company appears to have been compelled to admit that many of its design innovations were not well-received by its user base.

The enthusiasm surrounding this new MacBook Pro should be tempered by the understanding that it’s a response to Apple’s earlier, unsuccessful attempts to simplify design for marketing purposes.

The Demise of the Touch Bar

The Touch Bar, while conceptually intriguing, proved impractical due to a scarcity of genuinely useful applications. A significant majority of users preferred the functionality of traditional keys.

Furthermore, the shift to a touchscreen for essential functions created accessibility issues, representing a considerable oversight in design.

The Return of Essential Ports

The transition to an exclusively USB-C configuration was another ambitious move that lacked practical justification. This change primarily benefited the accessory market, forcing users to purchase and carry numerous adapters.

Individuals were required to transport a collection of small cables to connect their existing devices and storage drives.

Keyboard Reversal

The keyboard design has reverted to a more substantial form factor with a purported “mechanical feel,” following the widely acknowledged failure of the butterfly switch mechanism.

Users demonstrated a willingness to sacrifice minimal thickness in exchange for a reliable and comfortable typing experience, free from frequent key failures.

Irony and Reintroduction of Features

Having abandoned or failed to adequately improve upon these elements, Apple now presents their reintroduction as innovative features. The irony is particularly evident in advertisements showcasing the M1 Pro Max chip, alongside a demonstration of the newly added SD card reader.

A New Design Flaw

Despite these positive changes, Apple has introduced a new design element that has drawn criticism.

The Notch Dilemma

I personally find notches quite distracting, both during regular use and when viewing fullscreen content. While opinions vary, I believe they detract from the viewing experience. The latest iPhones, though improved aesthetically, still feature this notch, prompting me to continue using my SE 2. (A moment of silence for the original SE… its return is anticipated.)

Essentially, Apple appears to have maximized the display area extending towards the bezel. However, the webcam’s size prevented it from being fully integrated into this space, as there’s no Face ID functionality present. Consequently, the display area is increased, or so my colleagues who consistently defend Apple products have argued.

They question the necessity of that portion of the menu bar, suggesting media will likely be letterboxed due to the taller screen aspect ratio—exceeding common ratios like 16:9, 2:1, and 21:9. Furthermore, fullscreen applications may black out areas around the notch, negating the gained space. Despite this, they maintain it’s a positive development.

However, its visual impact remains undesirable.

The notch is barely noticeable! Though, a portion of the top screen is obscured. Image Credits: Apple

The core question is straightforward: would you choose a screen with or without a notch? The preference is overwhelmingly for a notch-free display, as the notch disrupts the fundamental purpose of a screen—to display content. Any intrusion into the rectangular display area hinders its full and effective utilization. In essence, all displayed content is either impacted by the notch or adjusted to accommodate it.

Some individuals may not be bothered by it, or may not even notice it. That’s perfectly acceptable. However, some also prefer the “TruMotion HD Smooth” setting on their televisions, resulting in a soap opera-like visual effect. Others mix warm and cool lighting in the same room, or avoid organizing books by color. My aesthetic concerns, admittedly, can be excessive.

Technology should strive for invisibility, becoming as unobtrusive as possible. The industry consistently pursues minimizing wires and maximizing automation to create products that are pervasive and nearly imperceptible. Consider a small, spherical device—available in multiple colors—serving as a gateway to your digital life. Or earbuds that charge wirelessly, connect automatically, and adapt to your unique ear canal.

A display should function as a seamless window, offering a “Retina” display indistinguishable from reality, a 120Hz refresh rate to enhance immersion, and a minimal bezel to blur the line between digital and physical worlds. Every advancement in display technology aims for a more immersive experience. The notch represents a regression, diminishing the sense of realism and introducing an obtrusive, artificial element—a compromise of the digital realm for the sake of the physical.

Even if it doesn’t personally affect you, the truth remains: Apple will eliminate this notch as soon as technologically feasible. They, and we, recognize that screens are superior without them. And when they do remove it, they’ll present it as a groundbreaking innovation, much like they did today when highlighting the reinstatement of features that were previously altered without request.