The MacBook Ultra could be very good news for MacBook Pro users

Rumors indicate that Apple’s long-awaited redesign of the MacBook Pro will instead be branded “MacBook Ultra.” Here’s why this could be good news for MacBook Pro users in light of a previous redesign misstep.

The history of the MacBook Pro redesign contains examples of success and failure

Apple’s current MacBook Pro is, in many ways, a model of apology.

The MacBook Pro design we still have today first arrived in 2021. And it gave users exactly what they asked for after years of a very unpopular previous design.

In 2016, Apple unveiled a new MacBook Pro that proved problematic in several ways.

The infamously unreliable butterfly keyboard was a big part of that. But the new model also removed several ports that creative professionals rely on, moving to an entirely USB-C setup. The Touch Bar also proved controversial as a replacement for function keys. And the new design was thin, which isn’t ideal for professional users who value performance and battery life.

It took five long years before a new redesign arrived. But when that happened, Apple gave pro users everything they asked for.

The MacBook Pro 2021 was enlarged to maximize performance and battery life, it fixed the keyboard, ditched the Touch Bar and added ports such as HDMI, SDXC card and MagSafe.

Now the time for another redesign is almost here.

But according to the latest rumors, Apple could take an unusual route: naming its new design “MacBook Ultra” while the current design of the MacBook Pro continues.

Here’s why this could be good news for MacBook Pro fans.

The addition of “MacBook Ultra” means MacBook Pro can continue to prioritize what professionals want

Apple clearly learned its lesson after the MacBook Pro debacle in 2016. However, some rumors about the next MacBook design sound eerily familiar.

According to Mark Gurman, the new model will be thinner and lighter than Apple’s current MacBook Pro. This could impact performance and battery life, and could also mean it’s missing some ports offered by the MacBook Pro.

And it will have a touchscreen, which some users might consider an unnecessary “innovation” like the Touch Bar before it.

I’m confident that Apple won’t have another 2016 disaster on its hands. However, I think using the “MacBook Ultra” branding could be a smart way to prevent history from repeating itself.

If Apple launches this new model as the first MacBook Ultra, rather than being a new MacBook Pro, it will accomplish two things:

1. The current MacBook Pro design will continue to be available without changes
2. Apple’s new design won’t have to follow “Pro” standards

By splitting the line and creating a new MacBook Ultra, the MacBook Pro can continue to be exactly what it is today: the thick, capable, port-heavy model for the “pros.”

Meanwhile, the MacBook Ultra can continue innovation and advance the Mac in new ways without risking alienating professionals.

MacBook Ultra vs Pro: Summary

Personally, I’m very excited about the prospect of a MacBook Ultra because it looks like a model more suited to my needs.

I want a Mac with cutting-edge, innovative technology. So the prospect of OLED, a touchscreen, a completely new design and possibly a cellular option seems great.

Battery, performance, and ports are all important to me, but I’m glad the Ultra strikes a different balance with these features compared to the Pro.

If Apple replaced the current MacBook Pro with its new design, it could once again upset many Pro users. But by splitting it into the Ultra model, we hope it can keep professionals on board while pushing the Mac forward in exciting new ways.

What do you think about the rumor that Apple has named MacBook Ultra for its new model? Let us know in the comments.

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