5 Crazy PC Concepts That Would Be Even Better on Mac

igamesnews columnist Jason Snell recently wrote about how Apple should take more risks with its products – and I couldn’t agree more, especially when it comes to the Mac. Windows PC makers often implement odd features to stand out in a crowded market. This is something Apple doesn’t need to do because Apple relies on the Mac’s elegance, reliability, and role in a well-functioning ecosystem.

But unique, bold features could breathe new life into the Mac and help it grow. So, taking inspiration from what’s in current PC laptops and what was showcased at the recent Consumer Electronics Show, here are five features I’d like to see Apple interpret and use in its Mac products. Some of them are wild, very common, and wouldn’t sell in large numbers, much like the Apple Vision Pro. But they could lead to future innovations and products that would be essential.

Facial recognition

Okay, we’re not going too crazy just yet. Face ID is a feature we’ve been looking into for a while now. Yes, Touch ID works well on Mac, but Face ID is more powerful and convenient. PCs come with Windows Hello, which lets you use facial recognition, a fingerprint, or a password to sign in. Since it’s already the best mobile biometric recognition on the planet and the Mac already has a notch, why can’t Apple put Face ID’s True Depth sensor on the Mac? And, as I’ve suggested before, Apple could make this a pro feature if it’s too expensive for the Air, but I can’t wait for the day when I can unlock my Mac just by looking at it.

Removable screens

One of the best features of Vision Pro is Mac Virtual Display, where you can connect a Mac to a Vision Pro and open a giant workspace in visionOS. The Mac screen goes blank when this feature is enabled. The execution of this feature is very good and opens up both the Mac and Vision Pro to huge possibilities.

Lenovo

It feels like there’s an opportunity here to create a Mac specifically for use with Vision Pro. It could be portable with just a built-in keyboard and trackpad – essentially, a MacBook without a screen. Does this seem far-fetched? Yeah. Will Apple sell a lot of them? Probably not. But it might help sell a few more Vision Pro headsets.

To make it an even more versatile product, Apple could install an HDMI port and Thunderbolt/USB 4 connectors so you can connect a display. Or, since we’re thinking outside the box here, Apple could make it with a detachable screen. Take it out when using the Vision Pro and put it in when using it like a typical MacBook. I’m thinking of something similar to the Lenovo ThinkBook Plus Gen 5 Hybrid, which lets you use the screen as a tablet and the keyboard as a PC when connected to an external display.

Holographic MacBooks

This is another product that is a natural extension of Vision Pro. The headset will be a boon for those whose work involves spatial environments, introducing new ways of doing things – it could create a workflow unique to Apple’s ecosystem. But what about this job when you don’t have a headset? A Mac with a holographic display would be a perfect addition.

Space displays are being prepared by third parties. For example, Looking Glass plans to ship its 16-inch Spatial OLED this summer. At $3,000 for the screen – costing about as much as a Vision Pro – a MacBook with a spatial display would be extremely expensive, but it would be a very cool product that would stand out in Apple’s lineup and give Apple another foot in the world of spatial computing.

Mirror

Curved iMac

The iMac is a great computer, but at 24 inches it’s too small for many users. A 27-inch iMac is in high demand, but Apple should go even further: create an iMac with a 38- or 42-inch curved screen. Since curved displays tend to be marketed toward gamers, I’d like to see a gaming iMac with a high-end M-series Pro chip and high-end memory options.

Apple doesn’t have to market it as a gaming iMac, but focusing on the main area it’s been neglecting would certainly help generate interest. Apple has tried to tout its gaming prowess with the Mac, and a machine like this would certainly help. We saw plenty of curved monitors at CES, but none were as cool as an Apple-designed all-in-one.

Illuminated trackpad controls

Apple discontinued the 13-inch MacBook Pro last year, meaning the once-promising Touch Bar is no more. Even though the Touch Bar wasn’t executed correctly, it was a good idea. igamesnews columnist Jason Snell would like to see a Magic Trackpad with programmable buttons, but why not take a cue from Acer’s Swift Go 14 laptop? It has media controls built into its trackpad. Apple could do the same thing, perhaps with programmable controls.

Acer