I dropped by my local Apple Store yesterday to spend some time with the new MacBook Pro.
I currently use a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Max. It is a completely fantastic machine. The screen is far more capable than any of my work requires, and the size is just perfect.
It seems that the new MacBook Pro improves on both of these things.
For years, any time Apple released an updated display, it would talk about how close the pixels seemed to the surface of the glass. Just think back to the last pre-laminated display you used on a regular basis, then look at something more modern. It’s hard to believe that there used to be a physical air gap between the display and the cover glass on Apple’s products.
The PROLED brings this to the next level. It really feels like the pixels are the glass. The brightness and vibrancy are just unreal.
Way back in the day, I had a 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro with the matte display. It lacked some of the punch of its glossy siblings, but I preferred it.
I have never lived with any of Apple’s current nano-texture displays, but even in the bright lights of the Apple Store, I could not help but notice the slight difference in sharpness between the two PROLED machines sitting side by side.
I was initially a little turned off by that, but then I touched the displays. The nano-texture felt much better; my fingers glided with far less effort than on the regular glass.
Touching macOS felt weird. I suspect I’d end up using this the same way I use an iPad with a keyboard case. Reaching up is great for big, inexact actions like scrolling or swiping between apps, but when it comes to my day-to-day work, a mouse or trackpad makes a lot more sense.
I think that is totally fine by me and by Apple. Touch is not the point of this laptop, but for some people, it’s going to be a huge addition.
After spending some time in awe of the display and swiping around macOS, I picked up the 14-inch model and was shocked at how much lighter it feels than my 14-inch M4 Max. Shaving half a pound off the notebook makes a big difference. Apple doing so without removing any ports or reducing battery life is very impressive, and counter to what the company has done in the past. If you’re a 16-inch person, the weight difference is even more noticeable.
If I carried my notebook around every day, I would be much more tempted to switch. As it is, I am staying put, but next time I buy a MacBook Pro, I’m in for a heck of an upgrade.