Kuo: USB-C AirPods and other Apple accessories coming alongside iPhone 15
Reports from both Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg over the last week have claimed that Apple could switch the iPhone from Lightning to USB-C for charging as soon as next year. Now, Kuo is doubling down further on this claim and saying that Apple will also transition its other Lightning products, including AirPods, to USB-C on a similar timeline.
USB-C AirPods, iPhone, and more
As for the reasoning behind Apple finally releasing a USB-C iPhone, Kuo explains that the company’s initial goal of going completely port-less likely turned out to be too ambitious. Kuo and other sources initially reported that Apple was aiming to release an iPhone without any charging port as soon as 2021, and while it is still testing such a product, it’s unlikely to be released soon.
Kuo explains today that a port-less iPhone would “cause more problems due to current limitations of wireless technologies & the immature MagSafe ecosystem.”
Alongside the release of a USB-C iPhone, Kuo reports today that Apple would also release new USB-C versions of its other products that currently charge via Lightning. This would include AirPods, the Magic Keyboard, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Mouse accessories for Mac, and the MagSafe Battery Pack accessory for iPhone.
“Other Lightning port products (e.g., AirPods, Magic Keyboard/Trackpad/Mouse, MagSafe Battery) would also switch to USB-C in the foreseeable future,” Kuo explains.
9to5Mac’s Take
Effectively what Kuo is reporting today is that Apple is slowly but surely going to start the process of dropping the Lightning connector on all of its products and accessories. When Apple SVP Phil Schiller first introduced the Lightning connector in September of 2012, he explained that Lightning would be Apple’s charging standard “for the next decade.”
One possibility that I wouldn’t rule out is that some Apple accessories actually end up switching to USB-C before the iPhone. This would help spur more people to buy USB’C charging cables and bricks ahead of the iPhone’s switch in 2022.
What do you think about Apple’s plans to bring USB-C to the iPhone and other products like AirPods? Let us know down in the comments!
GSMArena merch store: introducing new designs and products
Five months ago we launched our merch store and we wanted to thank everyone who bought our products. We are glad to have you as a part of our community and that you proudly our brand, even though we’re only Internet famous and not movie star famous.
When we launched the store, we promised to keep things fresh with new designs. Today we’re introducing a few new designs and a product we didn’t offer before. More on that in a moment.
Of the current selection, the most popular product is our Est 2000 Tee, particularly the one in the Leaf Green color. For those of you who don’t have one yet, here’s what it looks like (and as you can tell, it’s popular at the office too).
Est 2000 Tee (in Leaf Green) • We love it too
First up is a new design for the Bella+Canvas Supersoft T-shirts and the Hanes Classic Crewneck sweatshirts. It was inspired by the camera islands of modern smartphones, which come in all shapes and sizes.
Fittingly, we call this design “Camera Islands”. Here’s what it looks like on Will – he is wearing the ‘on light’ version, but it is also available ‘on dark’. Visit our merch store for a closer look at the new T-shirts and sweatshirts Pop quiz: which phones did we use to spell out “GSMArena”?
Will wearing our new Camera Islands design
Here are a few of the color options for T-shirts and the sweatshirts with this design:
Camera Islands Tee on dark • Camera Islands Tee on light
Camera Islands Crewneck Sweatshirt on dark and light
And here is the second new design – a mouse pad we call Ishihara. It is produced by Spoke and measures 46 x 30 cm / 18” x 12”, so it’s really more of a desk mat. Be sure to zoom in on this one as it’s not just random colorful dots as it may first appear. Head over to the store if you want one.
Our new mouse pad/desk mat, Ishihara
All the new products that we have introduced today are available with a discount for a limited time – check them out at our merch store, where you will also find our previous designs as well.
Finally, we’d love to hear what you think of the new designs and what you would like to see next.
Sleek kitchen appliances to help you prepare your morning beverage of choice with ease
I don’t know about you, but my morning cup of coffee is extremely essential for a happy and positive start to my day! Once, I’m done chugging down my morning caffeine, I’m ready to take over the world. I’m sure that’s the case for most of us, although our preferences may differ, some may crave tea, while others may crave coffee. However, brewing coffee or tea is an intimate and intricate process by itself, and a few handy products are always needed to peacefully create and enjoy our beverage of choice. So, we’ve curated a collection of product designs including unique coffee machines and innovative tea makers to make your morning tea/coffee routine just a little bit more enjoyable!
1. The Gevi
At first glance, the Gevi doesn’t look like your conventional 2-in-1 coffee maker. Those are much bulkier, and look industrial, while Gevi has a sleek, slim appearance to it. On the inside, however, the Gevi can both grind as well as brew your coffee beans… and it can weigh the beans out beforehand too, resulting in a well-calibrated brew that’s just right.
Why is it noteworthy?
A 2021 winner of the Red Dot Design Award, the Gevi rubbishes the notion that a coffee machine needs to look like a large, bulky, boxy appliance. With its cylindrical design that branches out into the cantilevered coffee grinder and brewer, the Gevi capitalizes on visual drama, looking almost sculptural, like a ballerina on a single leg. While that description maybe a little too artistic for what’s essentially a coffee machine, it drives home a point… that even a mundane kitchen appliance can be designed to look beautiful.
What we like
Comes with a base platform that has its own dedicated weighing scale to help you weigh the beans before you add them to the grinder
The commercial-level 60mm flat steel burrs help create a consistent grind of your beans
What we dislike
No complaints!
2. The Origin coffee maker concept
Whenever I take my first sip of coffee in the morning, I am always thankful to whoever it was that first developed coffee and the farmers who harvested this particular blend I’m drinking. While some of the world’s best coffee is generally known to come from Brazil, Colombia, and Vietnam (my country, the Philippines, will hopefully someday be included in that list), one of the unsung heroes of the industry is Ethiopia where coffee beans have been thriving since the 7th century. This concept design for a coffee maker pays tribute to the East African country.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Origin coffee maker concept wants to bring “meaningful coffee” to your cup by reminding you of its origins. The shape of the coffee maker is inspired by the map of Ethiopia, although of course it’s not in the exact shape but is modeled after the basic outline. This way, the designer is able to “honor” the origin of coffee, although historians can’t really say that the locals who grew the beans cultivated or consumed these precious beans there.
What we like
There are just a few buttons you need to press including the on/off and open/close buttons
You have the option to make an espresso or an americano and there’s also a button or level for the water and the beans
What we dislike
The finishing is not smooth though as it intentionally makes it look like it has corrosions and scratches – which may not be liked by everyone
3. DADO
This minimalist-looking capsule tea machine is a concept design that can maybe someday fulfill my wish. It’s named DADO which is a term in East Asia that refers to making and drinking tea formally. The device doesn’t look like what you would use in a typical tea ceremony but the designer created something inspired by it but with a modern twist. The kettle part is inspired by what is used in traditional tea making and the minimalist design aims to bring a sense of calm and peace, things usually associated with drinking this caffeinated beverage.
Why is it noteworthy?
If you’ve used a coffee capsule machine then this follows pretty much the same procedure. There is a kettle and two cups placed on top of a “heating pad” that looks like an induction stovetop or a wireless charger. You need to fill the kettle with water in the bucket part located at the back. Then you have to preheat the cup or cups that are beside the kettle and all you have to do is press a button. In the traditional DADO, cups are pre-heated as well as part of the ceremony so that’s a pretty nice touch to add to this modern concept.
What we like
A mix of traditional + minimal aesthetics
Different flavors for the tea capsules
What we dislike
Disposable capsules with a substantial carbon footprint
4. The Platypus Coffee Machine
This coffee machine concept will probably remind you of Perry the Platypus. Perry who? He’s the fictional platypus from the animated series ‘Phineas and Ferb.’ The younger generation may be quick to identify the character but don’t fret if you don’t recognize him; perhaps after having a cup of coffee, you will remember.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Platypus Coffee Machine is yet another quirky-designed kitchen appliance that can make you start the day right. Our life cannot be perfect, but coffee can be, and the Platypus will do it right for you. The streamlined style of the coffee maker starts with solid lines that make it stand out from the other coffee machines available in the market.
What we like
The choice of sapphire (although it looks teal to me) as color makes it another fun device that can make your kitchen countertop or coffee area cheerful
Easy to maintain with the catch pan to store used grounds
What we dislike
The quirky aesthetics may not be everyone
5. The Bariseur 2.0
In its second edition, the beverage-brewing alarm clock comes with an updated design featuring a better brewing system using a one-of-a-kind immersion brewer that works equally well with tea or coffee. Rather than brewing your drink right into the cup, the immersion brewer keeps your beverage contained in a chamber, allowing you to pour yourself a cuppa whenever you need it. The smell, however, wafts out pretty effortlessly, allowing you to wake up to the aroma of coffee beans or aromatic tea.
Why is it noteworthy?
Bariseur’s ability to cross over into the multisensory realm makes waking up an absolute treat, because not only does it wake you up with sound, it tantalizes your nostrils with the smell of fresh coffee, getting you out of bed with something to look forward to, and probably a sunnier disposition too.
What we like
Comes with a mini-fridge to keep a small glass of milk refrigerated for you to pour into your coffee or tea
The immersion brewer is detachable, so you can brew multiple cups in a day
What we dislike
No complaints!
6. The ECLIPSE
Meet the ECLIPSE, a portable tea brewing station that isn’t as limiting or as archaic as the teabag. It combines a travel thermos and a french-press-style brewing system in one easy-to-use, easy-to-carry design, and lets you brew two cups (or one large mug) of the tea of your choice.
Why is it noteworthy?
In all fairness, I’m not surprised that a device like the ECLIPSE hasn’t become ubiquitous all this while. Tea is the second-most consumed beverage in the world, and as far as tea cultures go, its brewing methods are still deeply rooted in tradition. What ECLIPSE does is simply modernize it, by providing the same steps you’d expect in regular tea brewing. The multi-part travel press comes with a measuring cup, a brewing teapot, a plunger (that acts as a strainer), and a drinking vessel.
What we like
Portable and easy-to-carry design
The inner layer of the ECLIPSE is lined with a ceramic coating to honor the traditional practice of brewing in ceramic teapots
What we dislike
No complaints!
7. USM-inspired kettle
One thing that a lot of product designers like doing is to imagine and re-imagine what other products famous brands can come up with. They bring the original aesthetic of these design-focused brands and then think of what other furniture, appliances, or basically related (sometimes even unrelated) products they can come up with. We’ve seen some pretty interesting concepts out there. If you’re a fan of the Swiss modular furniture brand USM, this is something you’d like to take a look at.
Why is it noteworthy?
The base and the body of the kettle itself are the circles while the handle is rectangular. The spout where the water pours out is where the triangle comes in. The 3D renders also show the various colors that the kettle can have, which are the basic colors that the USM Haller line has: blue, orange, red, yellow, and white. The end product concept seems to be something I would like to have in my kitchen. It’s minimalist but sleek and really embodies the idea of form following function.
What we like
Clean + minimal aesthetics
Variety of USM-inspired colors
What we dislike
It’s still a concept!
8. The Flair 58
Created to let you manually brew your own coffee, the Flair 58 is an espresso maker that requires a bit of elbow grease. A lever-operated design lets you physically ‘pump’ your espresso, while a pressure gauge lets you know whether you’re hitting the exact 9 bars needed to make a delightfully brewed cup.
Why is it noteworthy?
The Flair 58, as its name suggests, comes outfitted with an industry-standard 58mm portafilter, allowing you to use existing filters/tampers with your device. If you’re the kind of person to obsess over the coffee they drink (as are a lot of people), the Flair 58 is the perfect addition to your coffee-making ritual, giving you the ability to make a cup that’s as artisanal and fresh as it gets!
What we like
The aluminum, complete with a black anodized finish, withstands years upon years of constant and consistent use, so your coffee tastes stunning even a decade from when you buy the Flair 58
The Flair 58 offers 3 temperature settings to choose from
What we dislike
No complaints!
9. The Apple Drip
The Apple Drip officially becomes the first Apple concept we’ve seen that’s designed for the kitchen. Truth be told, Apple’s brand of minimalism fits pretty much anywhere, after all, a HomePod looks pretty darn good in a kitchen, right?
Why is it noteworthy?
The Apple Drip has a style that’s comparable to the Ember Mug (fun fact, Ember’s lead designer Robert Brunner worked extensively at Apple) with a slick, black design that looks equal parts mysterious and approachable. Uncomplicated, yet professional. The black cylinder comes with a touchscreen interface on its upper rim, with just three buttons – a power button, a temperature button, and a coffee dispensing button. Designed to work (one assumes) with an app or even with Siri, the Drip dispenses coffee into a sleek looking mug that sits in its designated place on a larger rectangular platform.
What we like
Turns an ill-received desktop computer into a tabletop brewer
Features a dispenser nozzle that slides out to dispense coffee
What we dislike
It’s still a concept!
10. Muuto
Muuto is a minimalist coffee maker made from ceramic steel that operates with the click of a single button.
Why is it noteworthy?
When all we want is a cup of coffee, the frills can take the backseat. The Muuto Coffee Maker from PDF Haus is a minimalist coffee maker that ditches all the bells and whistles for a clean, elemental build. The only button on the entire operation is an easy-click power key located on Muuto’s main, rounded chamber. A small LED light can be found just above the main power switch and indicates three different signals to users: on, off, and fill.
What we like
Intuitive design
Designed in an array of soft colors, ranging from sage green to a taxi yellow
Research: Wearables, including Apple Watch, are poor at tracking calories
In a paper published in January this year, researchers try to evaluate the usefulness of wrist-worn smart devices for tracking energy expenditure and heart rate. The Apple Watch Series 6, Polar Vantage V and the Fitbit Sense were used by 30 healthy male and female participants engaging in weight training, cycling, running walking and even sitting. As reference devices, the team used the Polar H10 chest strap and the MetaMax 3B.
We won’t go into detail about the research or the methodologies used, as these seem well-founded. Instead, we’ll talk about the results. The Stronger team from Science compiled it into an easy table to evaluate the reliability, accuracy and variability of each device.
It turned out that all the watches were terrible at keeping track of calories for almost every activity. Not only that, but the average deviation from the actual daily expenditure was unpredictable and wildly varying rendering the watches useless at tracking calories. That’s because you can’t reliably track progress even if absolute values are off. The wearables seem to be more inconsistant for individuals with lower than average and higher-than normal energy consumption.
The research seems to have been in keeping with other attempts to evaluate the same capabilities using different wrist-worn devices.
The good news is the Apple Watch Series 6 was pretty reliable in tracking heart rate across all activities. Polar Vantage V, and Fitbit Sense watchables show a variation depending on how hard you exercise. Steps count also seems to be on point for all of the devices involved in the research.
The bottom line? Despite its limitations, such as the small sample size of devices and individuals, the research seems to be in line with previous ones suggesting that the commercially available smartwatches and wrist-worn fitness trackers don’t provide reliable measurements of your daily energy expenditure. Moreover, they are highly unpredictable.
However, features such as heart rate monitoring and steps counting can be very useful and reliable. Research suggests smart watches alone can have a positive effect on your fitness. People who use smart wearables tend to increase overall activity and steps count.
Weekly poll results: smartwatches are becoming more popular, especially the advanced ones
Smartwatches are the most popular type of smartwatch. Nearly half of respondents have one according to last week’s poll. The challenges for makers are laid out in the second poll, the most important feature of a smartwatch or band is long battery life.
Depending on the usage, watches that run watchOS, Wear OS or Tizen, they can last for between 1 and 4 days. Improving on that will take a lot of work as the form factor limits battery capacity while advanced features require more power.
For those wearing a smart device on their wrists, the basic smartwatch was the second most popular option, though a very distant one with only about a third of the popularity. This is surprising considering their performance in meeting the requirements of the second poll. Some smartwatches have advanced health monitoring (e.g. ECG) and there is a variety of cool and/or durable designs to choose from.
They are not very good at app support or advanced connectivity features but they rank at the bottom in the second poll.
The requirement for a big display is in the lower half, which explains why some are happy with their smart bands. These bands can be as affordable as the basic smartwatches and are often just as reliable, however they were the least-popular of all three.
By the way, the second poll allowed users to pick more than one option. On average, voters chose 3 options as what matters to them. Smartwatches do not have to excel at all things, but they must be good at certain important tasks.
Makers of full-powered smartwatches need to focus on improving battery life, but they probably know that already. Makers of basic smartwatches should focus on better marketing, perhaps, as their products feel underappreciated.
The Design Intelligence Award’s judging process occurs in two stages – a preliminary, and a more hands-on final one. During this time, an elite panel of 550 multidisciplinary design experts evaluates the entries based on three criteria/layers – 1) The fundamental layer emphasizes the “Principles of Design”, covering functionality, aesthetics, technicality, user experience, and sustainability. 2) The advanced layer emphasizes the “Direction of Design”, spanning contribution to humanity, industry, and the future. 3) The top layer emphasizes the “Impact of Design” in regard to social influence and industrial development.
Based on these criteria, the DIA Jury Panel selects 30 outstanding projects that are innovative and positively impactful. Winners get access to the DIA’s prize fund of Y=5 million RMB ($750,000 USD) with the winner alone getting Y=1 million RMB. This is not the end. All winners are invited to the DIA Award Ceremony to engage face-to-face with global representatives from various industries such as design, academic circles, media, etc. The award also organizes a set of expert lectures known as the D-WILL, sponsored by Zhejiang Modern Intelligent Manufacturing Promotion Center and Design Innovation Center of China Academy of Art, with the intent to spearhead innovation and connectivity. With “Meet design, Meet future” as its initial intention, the Lecture invites education experts, industry elites, and pioneers to share their achievements and insights in their personal research and careers with younger generations. Finalists are featured in media to promote their work. In fact, you can scroll down to see a few winners and honorable mentions from last year’s Design Intelligence Awards.
Movable “Huo-Yan” product series by BGI Genomics Co., Ltd. (GOLD WINNER)
Designed as a response to the pandemic and an emerging need to rapidly turn vacant plots of land into testing labs and isolation wards, the Movable “Huo-Yan” features a series of negative-pressure inflatable tents that can be transported to a site and quickly deployed on the spot. The tents can then be used as isolation wards or nucleic acid testing labs. This allows scientists to quickly respond to outbreaks.
New Urban Rail Train Without Catenary Power Supply by CRRC TANGSHAN Co., Ltd. (SILVER WINNER)
Any astute observer will immediately notice what’s different about the train in that picture above. No, it’s not its edgy aesthetic, but rather, the absence of a catenary power supply, or that wire that connects the train’s engine to the power line on top. CRRC TANGSHAN developed this train system that uses wireless power and relies on an inductive power supply network to charge the train.
WAVE by d’strict holdings, Inc. (SILVER WINNER)
If you’ve spent any amount of time on social media, chances are you’ve seen videos of this building somewhere on the internet. Located in Gangnam in the heart of Seoul, the ‘WAVE’ is a public media artwork realistically expressing consistently crashing waves through an anamorphic illusion technique on a giant L-shaped LED display. Sure, you could use the display to show advertisements, as they do in Times Square, but go ahead and tell me that you’d rather stare at billboards than a VR anamorphic piece of artwork!
T-dot Smart Bluetooth Braille Keyboard by KunYoong IBC (SILVER WINNER)
Designed to be perhaps the first portable keyboard for Braille users, the T-dot is small enough to be carried around your neck. It opens up almost like a reverse tripod, folding open in a T-shape on a desk. The T-shape’s keys allow visually impaired people to use Braille to write and to have text transcribed in their preferred language. This accessible tool effectively allows the visually impaired to type without having to navigate around a traditional QWERTY keyboard. A tiny thumb-stick at the center of the T-dot also makes it easy for users to navigate around pages and on machines.
X-Craft AR Headset by Rokid (BRONZE WINNER)
Designed by the makers of some of the earliest available AR headsets, the Rokid X-Craft is the world’s first explosion-proof AR headband equipped with a 5G module. The X-Craft can be attached to many safety helmets or hard hats. It is specifically designed to work in high-risk industries such as aviation, oil & gas and electric power. The glasses come equipped with an AI algorithm and AR technology which enables frontline workers to update information automatically and increase overall efficiency.
Realme Narzo 50 5G’s leaked images reveal new color option
Realme will introduce the Narzo 50 5G on May 18. The company hasn’t divulged anything about it yet, but we know what the smartphone will look like thanks to a couple of images that leaked earlier this week, which also showed off the smartphone in black color. Now, a new set of Narzo 50 5G’s pictures have surfaced, showing the smartphone in a blue shade while also corroborating the previous design leak.
The source claims that the Narzo 50 5G will be 8mm thick, and its rear panel’s design is inspired by the Kevlar speed texture. Furthermore, the source says that the Narzo 50 5G will also be sold in black color, which will be much darker than the one that appeared in previously leaked renders.
The Realme Narzo 50 5G is expected to come with the Dimensity 810 SoC, 6. 58″ 90Hz FullHD+ AMOLED screen, 6GB RAM, 128GB storage, Android 12-based Realme UI 3.0, and 4,800 mAh battery with 33W fast charging. The primary camera is said to use a 13MP sensor, which will be joined by a 2MP depth unit.
Realme Narzo 50 5G black color variant (Source: 91mobiles) * Realme Narzo 50 5G blue color variant
The Narzo 50 5G will be accompanied by the Narzo 50 Pro 5G at the event next Wednesday, which is confirmed to have the Dimensity 920 chip at the helm.
Realme will also introduce TechLife Watch SZ100 at the event with a 1. 69″ color display, skin and body temperature monitoring, and heart rate sensor. Realme says the smartwatch’s battery will offer 12-day endurance on a single charge, but it hasn’t revealed the battery size yet.
This funky retro-futuristic computer is actually a laptop in disguise
You can actually use this rather fancy computer that looks like a TV prop, but whether it’s usable is a different question entirely.
We’ve seen a lot of makers, tinkerers, engineers, and even designers take a stab at making their own personal computers, with an emphasis on “personal.” Thanks to the availability of off-the-shelf parts for computers and the ubiquity of 3D printing, it has become easier but still not trivial to bring some of those dream designs and visions to life. Many of the DIY computer projects we’ve seen, while admirable, often fall short of looking ready for use or having enough power to actually be useful. This is why the “Mainboard Terminal”, which looks quite impressive and has the actual guts of an advanced laptop, stands out from the rest.
The majority of projects we see that involve crafting your own computer often involve the Raspberry Pi or one of its cousins. They are low-power, single-board computers, or SBCs, that are easy to carry around. They don’t have the computing power to handle most tasks. Not even Windows. This is unless you are an expert Linux user who can use very little computing resource.
The RPi, as it is lovingly nicknamed, isn’t the only game in town, of course, and there are other SBCs out there that take things up a notch in terms of performance and software support, but the newest addition to that roster really changes the game. Although it’s primarily meant to repair or upgrade the world’s most modular and most repairable laptop, the Framework Mainboard can also be used as a standalone computer if you have the right parts to make it work. The catch? Prices start at $399 versus a Raspberry Pi’s humble $35.
Needless to say, hacker and modder extraordinaire Penk Chen took advantage of that openness to craft another out of this world computer. The same engineer introduced the world to his Penkesu pocket computer, ala a cyberdeck, and is now taking inspiration from a different genre. Its off-white colour, chunky keycaps and curved silhouette make it feel right at home in retropunk television sets.
It’s not all looks, of course, because it has the beating heart of a typical laptop. Although it can run most operating systems in theory, its creator chose to use the open-source Ubuntu Linux Linux distribution. As with his other projects, Chen provides the list of parts used as well as the files for 3D printing that oddly-shaped chassis. Most of these parts can be bought from online retailers, but, as usual, you’ll need access to a 3D printer one way or another.
The biggest strike against this otherwise usable computer is the 5-inch 1080×1080 round LCD screen. The square aspect ratio is smaller than the smartphone’s screen and doesn’t suit software or content that was designed for a rectangular LCD. The circular screen means parts of it will not be visible at all. Although it is a matter of form over functionality, the computer can probably be designed to connect to an external monitor.
Here’s a non-pro look at how the new 14” MacBook Pro stacks up
In November, Apple launched the 2021 MacBook Pro. Available in two sizes (14- and 16-inch), the company also introduced two new chips, the M1 Pro and the M1 Max. While I thought this new Mac would be overkill to me – I didn’t need the ports, ProMotion, miniLED, or the processor – I recently broke my 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro and needed a replacement.
Between buying the entry-level 2020 M1 MacBook Air and the new 14-inch M1 Pro MacBook Pro, I decided to go with the latter. Here’s my review of this computer from a heavy but non-pro user perspective.
First impressions on the design of the 2021 MacBook Pro
At first, the MacBook Pro’s notch was not something I liked. The entire black keyboard was also strange to me when it arrived in the shop. In addition, I really used to love the Touch Bar (for the wrong reasons – it’s so convenient to send emoji with that). As the days pass, however, I find myself just as obsessed with this design.
Coming from a 16-inch to a 14-inch is not that big of a deal. I can open Safari from two different windows and still work. Not only that, but the weight was super important in my decision, and the 14-inch is way lighter than my previous Intel Mac.
I find the trackpad and keyboard to be very reliable. Touch ID works well and this LED display is really appealing with ProMotion. It’s just really smooth to switch between my iPhone 13 Pro and this Mac.
Last but not least, the reason why I’m not typing from the Intel Mac anymore is that I stumbled over the charger and completely destroyed the computer. With the new MacBook Pro, it adds back the MagSafe connector, and wow, I didn’t realize how much I missed this feature that was once available on my 2010 MacBook Pro.
Is the entry-level M1 Pro enough for me?
As I told you at the beginning of the article, I was between the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro. The difference is wild: MacBook Air comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD, while the M1 Pro Mac comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of SSD.
If Apple had already introduced the rumored new MacBook Air, I would have probably gone with that instead, but between these two existing models, I decided it was worth spending an extra $1,000 to have the latest and greatest tech with the new MacBook Pro.
I am not a professional user but I do use it a lot. This is why I recommend Jeff Benjamin’s review on the 2021 MacBook Pro (if you wanna talk specs). Let me give you a view from someone who writes all day, edits photos with Pixelmator Pro, uses iMessage, Mail, Slack, WhatsApp, and needs to keep them open at all times.
For these tasks, it’s easy to see that the powerful computer makes everything run like a breeze. It’s quiet, does not get hot, and can open everything in just a few seconds.
It’s important to say that I’m pretty sure that I would be able to do the same with the M1 MacBook Air, but I would probably upgrade it with double the RAM and storage to feel more secure with it throughout the years. These were my reasons for not buying the Air version .
Old design;
Lack of MagSafe connector;
Terrible webcam;
The display looked a bit too small.
Last question: does this MacBook Pro has an all-day battery?
While the first batch of M1 MacBooks was praised for the everlasting battery life, I was worried that a Pro chip would consume way more energy and I would need to keep charging the Mac more than once during the day.
To my relief, the entry-level 2021 MacBook Pro holds up very well when I’m using it for the tasks I mentioned above. That said, it can last easily handle 10 hours of nonstop usage, but I do think it’s possible to stretch it a bit more to 12 hours.
Having both MagSafe or USB-C charging options for this machine makes it even more convenient.
Wrap up and final considerations
There’s a lot I don’t mention in this mini-review of the entry-level 2021 MacBook Pro. The reason is simple: we already reviewed this machine. You can get a more detailed look at the machine here.
For this piece, what I’m trying to answer is whether this MacBook Pro is a good deal for a heavy (but not a pro) user. This is what I answer: Yes. It’s stunning. You honestly don’t even pay attention to the notch – just like when Apple introduced the iPhone X. Having more ports is great, although having a MagSafe connector is the big deal. Keyboard, trackpad, and Touch ID are reliable as ever. Last, but not least battery life is great, which works out well for me since this was another feature I really needed.
Will I change my mind when Apple releases a new MacBook Air? Maybe. But as we can’t predict when or exactly what this MacBook Air will feature, I can say that, right now, if you need a machine and want it to last for years to come, the entry-level M1 Pro MacBook is more than enough.
Tweak it if needed, but I rely heavily on iCloud, and use only the essential apps. I don’t see any reason why I should need additional RAM or storage right now or over the next few years.
You can find the 2021 M1 Pro MacBook Pro here at Apple’s Amazon store.
Do you own this computer? Or are you planning to buy one?
Do you have this computer? If so, what are your thoughts?
Related:
MacBook Air vs MacBook Pro: Which should you buy in 2022?
OnePlus Nord gets stable OxygenOS 12 based on Android 12
OnePlus released the beta version of its OxygenOS 12 software for the original OnePlus Nord not long ago. It seems that the initial release was somewhat successful as the company is already moving on with the distribution of the stable OxygenOS 12 based on Android 12.
It is important to remember that only Indian users can access the OTA upgrade, while the European version of firmware is still being validated.
In any case, users outside of India probably won’t be waiting much longer for the update that weighs in at 4GB also packing the April 2022 security patch.
OnePlus shared the news via its community forum and also highlighted some of the known issues that a future update of the software will aim to iron out.
Known issues:
The display of some pages in Settings will be different from the system.
The screen will glitch in specific scenarios when calling.
Camera can crash while shooting portrait mode photos.
An abnormal display of thumbnails when you take burst photos.
The abnormal display of Quick device connect when in the Guest mode.
