In 2021, Apple has solved the mistakes of the past

When Apple Announced upgraded MacBook Pro early this fall, the popular chorus is that the company has finally give customers what they ask for. But while the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro updates represent the most obvious case of Apple owning (and correcting) past mistakes, the company has actually been moving in this direction for several years. via. And at the end of 2021, Apple just finished replacing some of its most problematic designs.

Reviews of the new MacBook Pro are mostly positive (aside from the high price), but it’s still worth noting the big changes these laptops represent compared to their predecessors. Both new sizes are significantly thicker and heavier than the models they replace; For a company that has shown an almost fanatical obsession with thin and light design over the past decade, that’s an important aspect. But the older, 4-pound, 15-inch MacBook Pro often had trouble keeping cool under heavy processor load, a problem that couldn’t be solved without increasing the size and weight of the laptop. It’s as if Apple remembers it already has a MacBook Air, and people buying a Pro are willing to add a little extra weight to get a machine with better performance.

Apple is said to have started moving in this direction with a mid-cycle refresh a few years ago. In 2019, the company started to ditch the unreliable and uncomfortable butterfly keyboard for a significantly improved scissor switch model. That modified keyboard has arrived on the first 16-inch MacBook Pro. Along with the new keyboard, that laptop weighs a third of a pound and is larger in every size than its predecessor.

It’s the first sign that Apple is willing to correct some of the wrong decisions it made with the MacBook Pro lineup, which brings us to this fall’s refresh. Users still had a laundry list of things they wanted to change, and Apple delivered for the most part. The new models bring back the SD card slot and HDMI port that the company removed in 2016. The MagSafe charging port, one of Apple’s smartest innovations, is back, too. Finally, Apple replaced the Touch Bar with a standard row of function keys.

Of course, Apple only deserves a lot of credit for repairing the wounds caused by its own hands. But it seems the company has a much clearer vision of what people spending (at least) $2,000 on a MacBook Pro really want. And more than simply fixing previous bugs, the Apple-built M1 Pro and M1 Max processors also deliver higher performance and better battery life. Add in a striking new display and great keyboard, and MacBook Pro buyers have a lot to look forward to. The fact that these computers are thicker and heavier than the ones they replace will hardly be a consideration, especially since larger laptops have space for things like ports. extras, bigger battery and better cooling system.

While the MacBook Pro is a clear example of Apple giving people what they want this year, it’s not the only one. Launch of iPhone 13 begins. The company once again released two standard models and two “Pro” models, like it did in 2020. In most ways, these phones are iterative updates to the 12 series – but all four phones have significantly better battery life than the human their predecessors. Increasing longevity is an obvious way to keep customers happy, but the good news is that Apple quickly identified the iPhone 12 series’ weakness and fixed it. Perhaps not coincidentally, all iPhone 13 models are also slightly heavier than last year. (They’re also imperceptibly thicker, at 0.30 inches versus 0.29 for the iPhone 12.)

Again, though, lately there’s been some preference for Apple to put battery life above a slim design at all costs. iPhone XR 2018 is a cheaper and a little less elegant version of the flagship iPhone XS – but the larger screen and thicker body make room for a battery that appeals to the “premium” XS. So in 2019, Apple made the iPhone 11 Pro bigger than the XS it replaced, but it also significantly improved battery life. It’s especially surprising to see Apple make a larger iPhone after pursuing thinness at all costs for so long, but it’s certainly welcome. Finally, the company seems to realize that a device that is incredibly thin and constantly has to be charged doesn’t provide a good user experience.

Another good example is that of Apple Substantial change of heart around product repair. Specifically, Apple announced the plan sells repair parts and guides to customers who want to fix their iPhones themselves, a win for those who feel they can open their iPhone and install a new battery or fix a broken screen. While the repair teams say Apple can still do more in this area, they still hail it as a big step forward from the completely self-contained nature of its products, which most of which have not been served by users before. Apple is starting with the iPhone, but says it will also roll out some self-repair tools and parts for M1-based Macs in 2022. The threat of government regulation may have played a role play a big part in this new initiative, but the end result is still good for consumers.

Apple is even having a little more fun with its products than it did back then. Take iMac supports M1, Eg. I wish it had more ports and, for the price, it should have more RAM and storage – but the variety of colors Apple chooses is amazing. I’m desperate for these color schemes to come to a redesigned MacBook Air (fingers crossed in spring). The new three colors in the HomePod mini lineup is another good example of Apple realizing that the hardware you put in your home doesn’t just have to be gray or silver.

While the new MacBook Pro is a big step forward for those who want serious power on the go, Apple has yet to give professionals the full desktops they need. Because Apple is in the midst of its transition to Apple Silicon, larger iMacs and Mac Pro machines are hard to come by right now. Hopefully Apple will bring the power of the M1 Pro and M1 Max to a larger iMac and a new Mac Pro tower by 2022. If they can wrap up this final transition next year, Mac buyers will Covered at all of the company’s product line points. It’s been too long since we can’t say that.