For quite some time now, in a very fluid fashion, we’ve been seeing a small change in how Apple approaches the size-performance pair. A change that started with the iPhone 13 and has now grown even stronger with the new 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros. A change that allows us get the device we want without having to add extras.
It all started with the iPhone 13
I will explain myself through a few examples. The only difference between the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 mini is the size. It is true that this implies a shorter battery life, but it is something totally inevitable. Beyond that, the fact wanting to go for a small phone does not mean losing any advantage.
Something similar is happening between iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. In the previous generation, with the iPhone 12, if we wanted the best cameras, we had to get the Max model, which is bigger in size and price. Now with the iPhone 13, the only difference between the Pro model and the Pro Max is, again, in the batteries. Something it looks like we’ll see in the iPhone 14 as well, with just two sizes and a distribution that would be equivalent to the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Max, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. .
The result of this small but important change is that we can buy the iPhone size which is the best for us without fear of losing any advantage. In other words, the relationship between size and performance is unclear. This is a change that already caught my attention during the presentation of the iPhone 13 last September and that we have now seen repeated during the launch of the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
And continued with the new MacBook Pros
Before continuing let me say that Personally, I like laptops with a big screen.. I work long hours in front of the Mac, and the combination of mobility, no external monitors, and a spacious screen is ideal for me.
At the same time, I don’t need a very powerful computer. Considering the performance that the MacBook Air M1 can achieve, my pre-keynote approach was as follows: I want a “16 inch MacBook Air”. Referring, it is understood, to a 16-inch MacBook Pro with the minimum possible specifications.
During the presentation, Apple first told us about the new chips. Presentation of M1 Pro and M1 Max. At this point one possibility was that the 14-inch MacBook Pros carried the M1 Pro and that the more powerful M1 Max were reserved for 16-inch models.
The decision, ultimately, was another. And I refer to the title of the article, Apple separates the size from the advantages. It is true that there is a price difference between 14 inch and 16 inch MacBook Pro, but it is also true that the difference is moderate. Both start with 512 GB of storage, for example, which is more than enough in many cases. They also start from the same RAM configuration. And, although they improve the number of cores on the chip, the truth is that the difference between the 2,249 dollars for the entry-level 14-inch model and the 2,749 for the entry-level 16-inch model. is, affordable for those of us who want a big screen Mac without requiring all the power and maximum configurations.
With this approach, Apple makes it easier for us to choose between size and performance according to our needs. These are, in fact, two rather disconnected variables. Do we want a small iPhone with the best cameras? Do we want a huge Mac at the lowest possible price? Everything seems to indicate that we can get the model that works best for us.
