Apple’s New MacBook Pros: The Notch Has Everyone Talking
Last week Apple unveiled the 14‑ and 16‑inch MacBook Pros, finally finishing up the latest version of the laptop that many had been waiting for. Packed with the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the new machines look to have earned a warm fan‑fare from critics and lovers alike. But there’s one design choice that’s stirred up a bit of debate: the notch on the display.
Why the Notch Is a Hot Topic
The notch houses the new 1080‑p FaceTime HD camera. Some folks have mused that Apple might have found a clever way to use a “reverse notch,” freeing up all the screen real‑time and giving a smoother look. That idea didn’t stick, however. Instead, Apple defended the design during a recent chat with Justine & Jenna from Same Brain. Skip to 10:19 if you’re short on time—there’s a great clip about the notch right there.
Apple’s Take on the Notch
According to Justine, the notch is situated right where the menu bar sits, which is a lot of unused space anyway. And Shruti Haldea, the presenter at last week’s “Unleashed” event, summed it up nicely:
“We’ve actually made the display taller. On the 16‑inch model, you still have a 16.0‑inch active area on the diagonal in that 16:10 window, but we grew the display up from there and moved the menu bar up higher.”
“We just moved it out of the way, giving you more room for your content. And when you’re in full‑screen mode, you still get that 16:10 window that looks seamless.”
For people who rely on a maximized menu bar—like me, for instance—the notch can feel like a nuisance. I rely on iStat Menu for system stats and Music Bar to keep tabs on what’s playing. I’ve got a feeling the notch will bite into the space I have to display all that.
Balancing Act: Pros & Cons
- Pros: The notch allows for a thinner bezel, meaning you get a greater active screen area for the same size notebook.
- Cons: The notch takes up valuable top‑screen real‑time. Certain apps with heavy menu bars might get cramped.
Honestly, not everyone uses the full menu bar, but for those who do (me included), it does feel like a bit of a pain. Yet the overall impact will only become clear once you get your hands on the new notebooks.
Get Your Own 14‑ or 16‑inch MacBook Pro Today!
Orders are now open through the Apple Online Store, and deliveries kick off tomorrow on October 26. So if the notch’s myth is your curiosity, look forward to hands‑on testing when you pick up your fresh MacBook Pro.
—Originally shared by Hardware Zone.
