During a brief test on a crowded showroom floor in Los Angeles, Ars Technica got a firsthand look at the new MacBook Pro, highlighting its standout OLED display and updated physical features.
Design and Display Impressions
The new laptop does not represent a radical redesign, but its brilliant OLED screen immediately steals the spotlight. Compared to an older M1 Max 14-inch model, the new device feels noticeably lighter without shifting into a completely different weight class. Another notable exterior return is the glowing Apple logo on the back, offering a nostalgic touch for longtime users.
Dynamic Island and Touchscreen Integration
The addition of the Dynamic Island appears much less intrusive on a larger laptop screen than it does on an iPhone. However, questions remain regarding how fullscreen games will handle the cutout, as previous notched MacBooks allowed users to scale apps just below the notch. This touchscreen laptop marks a major shift in Apple’s hardware strategy, following years of debate and a historical opposition to touchscreens by Steve Jobs before the company ultimately decided to move forward under Tim Cook and John Ternus.
