Apple’s decision to add a notch to the new MacBook Pro has ignited keyboards around the world. But is the indignation justified? We do not think so. Here’s why the notch makes sense.
More screen, less bezel
The 2021 14 “and 16” MacBook Pro refresh features the thinnest bezels of any MacBook Pro to date. The bezels are so thin that Apple decided that squeezing a 1080p FaceTime camera into dead space wasn’t an option, and that’s why the MacBook Pro notch was born.
This decision is best illustrated by the contrast of the 2020 MacBook Pro 13 ″ M1 with the 2021 revision. In the older model, the laptop has a much thicker bezel at the top of the screen where the webcam sits. That’s about double the width of the borders on the left and right edges of the screen.
Rather than treating the notch as an imposition on available screen space, consider that the display has been extended well into bezel territory. Apple offers more screen space at the expense of the bezel, rather than a notch at the expense of screen space.
Compared to the keyboard-height webcam alternative (unflattering), a thicker top bezel or no webcam at all; the notch is a good compromise. It’s also a minor sticking point in what will likely remain the best MacBook Pro review for most of a decade.
The decision not to include Face ID is a bummer for sure, but the notch likely paves the way for its addition in a future review. Remember, Touch ID is present and does a great job — and, if you have one Apple watch, you can still unlock your Mac just by sitting in front of it.
The fastest way to unlock a Mac
If you want Face ID to unlock your Mac quickly, consider getting an Apple Watch. You won’t even need to press the Touch ID button to unlock your Mac.
App developers must register
Perhaps the most valid criticism of the notch is that it eats away at menu bar space, but it remains to be seen what impact it will have on real-world usage.
Apple has already confirmed that app developers will need to register if they want the notch integrated into their full-screen apps. This means that apps will not be impacted at all by the notch in full screen mode without developer intervention.
Instead, a black bar will be displayed on either side of the notch, mimicking the effect of a much thicker top bezel.
Not all MacBooks have a notch
Apple’s fascination with the notch on the iPhone and now the MacBook Pro continues to divide opinion, but the point is, there are alternatives if you can get away with a less powerful MacBook.
The Macbook Air M1 and 13-inch MacBook Pro M1 haven’t received the notch treatment yet, and given Apple’s somewhat predictable update cycle, it’s likely to stay that way for a while.
For some, the notch can be a downside, but it’s easily overwhelmed by the power and performance / watt ratio of the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, the 120Hz ProMotion display, and Apple’s decision to finally add useful ports to his Laptop pro after years of dongles and adapters.
