The new MacBook Pro’s biggest update is its OLED display, which finally brings the technology to Apple’s professional laptop lineup after years of speculation. The redesigned screen is paired with a Dynamic Island-style cutout, while the keyboard, trackpad and ports remain unchanged. The main obstacle is the price: a 16-inch model with an M5 Max chip, 64GB of memory and 2TB of storage costs $5,799.
OLED and Dynamic Island come to the MacBook Pro
OLED took a long time to reach the MacBook Pro, but Apple has used the technology in a premium system without cutting corners on quality. Based on the announcement and early time with the device, the display appears to be the laptop’s biggest attraction.
The area near the top of the screen that replaces the camera notch is what Apple calls a Dynamic Island. It can resize to show live activities and other information. The feature has been a favorite on the iPhone because Apple turned what could have been an awkward design compromise into a useful interface element.
Familiar keyboard and ports
Beyond the display, the new MacBook Pro follows the established design of the lineup. The keyboard and trackpad are unchanged, as are the available ports.
High-end specifications, high-end pricing
The 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip, 64GB of RAM and 2TB of storage is currently priced at $5,799. Those are high-end specifications, but the cost is substantial, with memory and storage contributing significantly to the total. Increasing the memory from 64GB to 128GB adds $1,600.
Most users do not need that much RAM, although it could appeal to people who want to future-proof local AI workflows.
The new MacBook Pro appears to continue the lineup’s established pattern: impressive high-end components, including an outstanding OLED panel, paired with a price to match. There are no major surprises in that formula, although after more than a decade of speculation and back-and-forth, the arrival of a touchscreen is surprising. It finally happened.
Source: arstechnica.com