Episode Summary
Executive Summary: The episode centers on Marco’s first impressions of the 16-inch MacBook Pro, celebrating its return to a better keyboard, larger battery, improved speakers/mics, and stronger thermals while still criticizing the unchanged port situation and default display scaling. The hosts also discuss iOS 13.2.2 fixes, Catalina-related input lag on an iMac, and the broader implications for Apple’s laptop lineup.
Main Topics: 16-inch MacBook Pro first impressions: Marco describes the new MacBook Pro as a major upgrade over the butterfly-keyboard era, especially for typing comfort, acoustics, thermals, and overall pro usability. He frames it as a refined continuation of the 2015-era design with major internal improvements. Keyboard redesign and butterfly-keyboard reversal: The keyboard receives the strongest praise: more key travel, wider spacing, inverted-T arrow keys, and a real Escape key. The hosts argue this fixes the worst long-running complaint about Apple laptops and should restore confidence in the Mac notebook line. Battery, performance, and thermal improvements: Apple increased battery capacity to 100Wh, improved the cooling system, and updated the GPU while keeping the same CPU generation. The result is better sustained performance and quieter operation, with performance compared favorably to an iMac Pro. Display and scaling trade-offs: The screen is larger and slightly denser, but still ships in a scaled mode that Marco considers a compromise. They discuss the lack of a sharper default option and note new refresh-rate controls for video workflows. Ports, dongles, and Apple design choices: The machine retains the same four USB-C/Thunderbolt ports and headphone jack, with no SD card slot or other legacy ports. The hosts debate Apple’s continued reliance on dongles and the trade-off between enclosure design and connectivity. iOS 13.2.2 and Catalina-related bugs: The conversation opens with iOS 13.2.2 fixing multitasking/background-app issues, including problems affecting audio apps. Casey also reports severe cursor/input lag on his Catalina-upgraded iMac, prompting speculation about software versus hardware causes. Future laptop directions: The hosts speculate about trickle-down effects to the rest of the Mac lineup, including 13-inch Pros, the Air, cellular connectivity, Face ID, and more aggressive changes to laptop ergonomics and port layout.
Key Arguments: Apple’s new keyboard is the most important improvement, because reliability and typing comfort matter more than thinness or aesthetics. The 16-inch model feels like the right balance of portability and capability: still similar in size to the 15-inch, but with a bigger battery, better cooling, and stronger pro performance. The battery and thermal budget were spent well; the extra weight appears justified by a larger 100Wh battery and improved cooling hardware. The display is good, but Apple is still making a compromise by shipping it in a scaled mode rather than making the panel match a sharper native 2x setting. The port situation remains a weak point: Apple is still forcing many users to rely on dongles for common workflows. The return to a scissor-style keyboard signals a shift away from overly aesthetic, symmetry-driven design decisions toward usability. The new machine is effectively a mini iMac Pro / mini Mac Pro in performance and capability for many workloads. Casey’s Catalina input lag sounds like a lower-level hardware or I/O issue, not simply an OS bug, though software cannot be ruled out. The iOS 13.2.2 release appears to have fixed a significant multitasking/background-app bug that was hurting apps with audio playback behavior. Apple’s laptop lineup is likely to improve further as this keyboard design spreads to lower-end models and perhaps future size classes.
Data Points: Mac Pro release timing: December - Apple gave a more refined release window during the episode. iOS version: 13.2.2 - The hosts discuss Apple’s point update fixing multitasking/background-app issues. Holiday store deadline: November 17 - ATP merch store was said to remain open until the upcoming Sunday. New MacBook Pro display size: 16 inches - Marco’s review unit is the newly announced 16-inch MacBook Pro. Previous display size: 15.4 inches - The previous MacBook Pro screen size referenced for comparison. Weight: 4.3 pounds - The 16-inch MacBook Pro is slightly heavier than its predecessor. Previous weight: 4.0 pounds - Weight of the previous generation used for comparison. Battery capacity: 100 Wh - Apple increased the laptop battery to the FAA’s carry-on limit. Previous battery capacity: 84 Wh - Referenced as the prior 2019-generation battery size. Battery life claim: 11 hours - Apple’s quoted battery-life improvement over the prior 10-hour claim. Previous battery life claim: 10 hours - Quoted battery life for the earlier generation. Power adapter: 96 W - The new laptop ships with a 96-watt adapter, up from 87W. Previous power adapter: 87 W - Older MacBook Pro power adapter comparison. Maximum RAM: 64 GB - The new model raises the memory ceiling. Maximum SSD: 8 TB - The new model offers an unusually large storage option. Screen brightness: 500 nits - The display brightness remains unchanged from the prior model. Display density: 226 PPI - Marco notes the panel is slightly denser than before. Keyboard travel: 1.0 mm - Marco measured the new keyboard travel with calipers. Butterfly keyboard travel: 0.5 mm - Used as the negative comparison point. 2015 MacBook Pro key travel: 1.5 mm - Referenced as a closer historical comparison for typing feel. Magic Keyboard travel: 1.2 mm - Used as an Apple desktop-keyboard benchmark. New MacBook Pro key spacing: 2.5 mm - Measured between keys with calipers. Magic Keyboard key spacing: 2.8 mm - Desktop keyboard comparison. 2015 MacBook Pro key spacing: 3.5 mm - Historical comparison for the older scissor keyboard. Butterfly keyboard key spacing: 1.8 mm - Shows how cramped the old design was. Worst-case sustained thermal headroom increase: +12 W - Apple claimed the thermal system can sustain 12 watts more heat output. Built-in display refresh options: fractional rates below 60 Hz - The new display settings include custom refresh options for video work. USB-C/Thunderbolt ports: 4 - No change in external port count. Main key region height: ~90 mm - Marco measured multiple keyboards and found the main typing area surprisingly consistent. External display support: 2 Pro Display XDRs at native resolution - Marco reports the laptop can drive two XDR displays at full resolution.
Pivotal Quotes: "Mac Pro coming December." — Host: A joking sing-song recap of Apple’s newly clarified Mac Pro timing. "This is the best typing experience ever on a Mac notebook." — Marco/Apple presentation paraphrase: The keynote-style presentation’s core claim about the new keyboard. "The death of the butterfly keyboard begins today." — Marco: Marco’s emotional conclusion that the new model finally ends the butterfly era.
Implications: Apple’s laptop line is moving back toward practical, user-centered design. If this keyboard spreads quickly, it should reduce complaints and repairs, restore trust, and pressure Apple to improve ports, cellular, Face ID, and ergonomics next.