The notch integrated into the 2021 MacBook Pro lineup is a "smart way" to give users more space for their content, Apple explains in a new interview.
The introduction of a notch in the completely redesigned MacBook Pros was a surprise and one of the few rumors that was spread at the last minute. Interestingly, few fans initially took it seriously, which is why those who did were all the more surprised. Shruti Haldea, a manager for the Mac product line and one of the moderators of the Apple event, said in an interview on Same Brain podcastthat the notch is a “smart” solution for the Mac, as it gives users more space for their content by essentially pushing the macOS menu bar out of the way.
MacBook Pro 2021: macOS can make the notch disappear
What we did is we actually made the display taller. On the 16-inch notebook, you still have 16.0 diagonal active area of the 16:10 window. We just made the display bigger and moved the menu bar up. So we moved it up and out of the way. That way you have more room for your content and in full screen mode you have the 16:10 window and it looks great. It's seamless.
Compared to previous versions of the MacBook Pro design, the new 14- and 16-inch models have significantly smaller bezels. Apple says the bezels on the left and right sides of the display are just 3.5mm thinner than the previous generation, at just 24 %. At the top, the bezel is 60 % thinner thanks to the notch, also measuring just 3.5mm. While the notch is noticeable at first glance, Apple is betting that some macOS software features, such as Dark Mode, will help make it less noticeable for some users in everyday use. For example, when macOS apps are in full-screen mode, the system adds a black border to the top of the display that obscures the notch without affecting the user's content.
New Apple Silicon chips are intended for professional users
In addition, developers can choose whether the content of their app should be displayed on both sides of the notch. The notch is one of many new features on the new MacBook Pro models. The devices have a completely redesigned housing, additional ports such as HDMI and an SD card slot, MagSafe, a miniLED display with ProMotion and either the M1 Pro or M1 Max chip, the first Apple Silicon chips designed for professional users. Both the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro have been available for pre-order since last week. Delivery is scheduled to officially start on Tuesday. Depending on the features and model, costs range from 2,249 to 6,839 euros. (Image: Apple)
