The 15-inch MacBook Air is fine, but those Apple devices need new screen sizes too.

A wise green puppet once said that “size doesn’t matter.” Obviously, he never had to understand Apple’s product lines.

Recent reports suggest that the Cupertino-based company may soon release a larger 15-inch MacBook Air. Strategically, this makes a lot of sense: the MacBook Air is Apple’s best-selling Mac, and that it will only be available in one size is a missed opportunity. Yes, there are upsell opportunities for those who most want a larger display, but given that it currently entails a jump from $1,200 to $2,000, many buyers won’t settle for that jump, especially if they don’t need power. or the performance of a MacBook Pro.

Screen size has proven to be a key differentiator for many of Apple’s other product lines, and even the MacBook Air has been available in multiple sizes in its past incarnations. But I say, why stop there? There are many other Apple products where a different screen size can make a big (or small) difference.

lighter than air

Let’s start with the same line of MacBook Air. Apple once offered its lightest laptop in two sizes: the 13-inch one it sells today and the smaller 11-inch model. Alas, only the good die young, and the 11-inch Air was discontinued in 2019, the same year that Apple discontinued its another small laptop (and intended Air replacement), 12-inch MacBook.

Foundry

Currently, the smallest Mac laptop you can get is the 13-inch Air, and while it’s shrunk to be a little closer to 11-inch in many sizes, it’s still bigger and heavier than both of these discontinued ones. models. It’s a shame because the small and light laptop has a lot going for it.

As the owner of a 13-inch M1 Air who has previously used about two consecutive 11-inch Air models, I miss the compact size of the smaller laptop. It was easy to fit into a small bag, worked surprisingly well within the confines of an aircraft tray table (a place that even the 13-inch Air struggles with), and weighed almost half a pound less than the current M2 Air, for which my back thanked me. . (Meanwhile, the 12-inch MacBook weighed just over two pounds!) Given the benefits Apple has brought to the current Mac, it would be truly impressive to see what it can do for a smaller, lighter laptop.

With a shield or on a shield

As of August this year, Apple’s iMac has been the company’s flag bearer for 25 years, and the latest M1 isn’t something you can sneeze at: With its Apple silicon internals, sleek new form factor, and wide range of throwback colors, it’s remains a confident entry into the desktop market.

But like the MacBook, the iMac line has suffered some setbacks, especially with Apple’s recent move to silicon. Instead of offering both 21.5-inch and 27-inch versions as it used to, the iMac has been merged into one 24-inch model.

IDG

Unfortunately, this is another place where Apple’s somewhat dictatorial insistence on a one-size-fits-all approach Not suits everyone. After all, there’s a reason Apple is considering a 15-inch MacBook Air: sometimes people just want a bigger screen. They want to have more windows open, work with larger images, or be able to place two documents side by side. Currently, the only way to get a desktop is to buy a separate Mac desktop like mini or Mac Studio and pair it with an external display, and if you choose Apple Studio Display to get the same great 5K panel, iMac , it’s not only expensive, but it also lacks the elegance of the iMac’s all-in-one package.

Rumor has it that the 27-inch iMac may return at some unspecified point in the future, but that’s far from certain. Hey, if HomePod can come back, anything can.

small change

Of all my arguments for screen size, the last one is probably the most controversial: Apple should make the iPhone smaller.

Okay, wait, wait, I know what you’re going to say: all the way to last year’s iPhone 14 lineup, Apple did make the iPhone smaller for at least a couple of years. And it’s clear that if the iPhone 12 and 13 mini models were what customers wanted, then they would buy more phones, and Apple would not have discontinued this model, right?

Foundry

Well, perhaps. But I’d say the minis never got a fair shake. First, the mini models were part of the “vanilla” iPhone 12 and 13 lines, which meant that some would-be buyers found themselves in the unenviable position of having to choose between a compact and light phone or a phone with a better camera. and most features.

So my argument is that Apple should make the screen smaller for the iPhone. Pro line. I know this is counter-intuitive since the Pro line is the most expensive and it seems like a smaller phone should be cheaper, but every time I pick up most of my iPhone 14 Pro and try to swipe the screen to tap the icons on it. the opposite side, I wonder why I do this to myself. I would definitely pay for a smaller and lighter device with all the features of a pro phone.

Simply put, bigger isn’t always better, especially when it comes to a device you want to put in your pocket. Small and light can be a feature too.