352: No One Else Had Calipers

Display Upgrades

The 16-inch MacBook Pro introduces significant display upgrades, enhancing both functionality and aesthetics. Marco Arment and Casey Liss discuss the new display's ability to drive the XDR at native resolution, a feature absent in earlier models 1. Despite these advancements, some trade-offs remain, such as the default scaling mode that slightly blurs the display, which Marco finds disappointing 2.

It's a trade off. I know it's a trade off. I know there's battery life costs. There's actual money costs of the panels, the battery life of driving all the extra pixels that would require to have the panel be the higher resolution to actually be true two x of its default setting.

--- Marco Arment

These changes reflect a balance between performance and user experience, aiming to satisfy both casual and professional users.

   

GPU & Performance

The MacBook Pro's GPU and performance enhancements position it as a formidable tool for professionals. Marco Arment highlights the introduction of the Radeon Pro 5000M series GPUs, which promise improved power efficiency and performance 3. This upgrade, coupled with the existing CPUs, makes the MacBook Pro comparable to a mini iMac Pro, capable of handling demanding tasks like driving two Pro Display XDRs at full resolution 4.

Truly what they've made here, performance wise, is in very many ways like a mini iMac pro or like a mini Mac Pro.

--- Marco Arment

These advancements ensure that the MacBook Pro remains competitive in high-performance computing environments.

   

Battery Innovations

Battery innovations in the 16-inch MacBook Pro support its enhanced display and performance capabilities. Marco Arment explains that the battery capacity has been increased to the maximum allowed for air travel, improving from 84 to 100 watt-hours 5. This increase supports the device's power-hungry components, ensuring longer usage times without sacrificing performance.

The largest battery ever in a Mac notebook. Which is true by 0.5 watt hours. But it's true.

--- Marco Arment

John Siracusa appreciates the balance between power and portability, noting that the MacBook Pro's design accommodates these enhancements without compromising its usability 6.