Apple MacBook Pro 2016 Thinness Comes At A Cost; Thicker HP Spectre Offers Better Performance

The latest Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is the tech giant's latest cutting edge laptop. The latest notebook is indeed a refinement of previous models with various design and specs enhancements. But the most noticeable thing at first glance is that the new model is indeed thinner than its predecessor as touted in the company's previous promo materials.

But not everyone is convinced that Apples' preoccupation with thinness makes for a better product. While the latest Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is indeed thinner, there are those who fear that such achievement of shaving off a few millimeters could be too costly performance-wise. In other words, having a very thin MacBook comes with a price, a shaving off in other important specs and other functionality sacrifices.

One such downside to having a very thin Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is that the notebook traded thinness for a drastically shortened battery life, reports Digital Trends. This is because the battery of the new model had to thinner in order to fit the ultra-thin casing of the notebook.

If original plans for a new battery specifically designed for the ultra-thin MacBook Pro 2016 pushed through, battery life would not have been a problem. However, the new battery design had to be scrapped after some issues surfaced and now consumers had to contend with a very thin notebook with a drastically shortened battery life.

Among the various models available, the Apple MacBook Pro 2016 is the 13-inch model with touch bar which is said to have a battery life that is 36 percent shorter than the previous model. On the other hand, the 13-inch MacBook Pro without touch bar is slightly better off with 27 percent lesser battery life compared to its predecessor while the 15-inch model suffers from a 24 percent reduced battery capacity.

Another tradeoff for the thin MacBook Pro 2016 is the elimination of all ports, save for the USB Type-C. As a result of this lack of peripheral support, the device connectivity is greatly compromised, a situation that can only be remedied by buying additional dongles that are both cumbersome and costly.

Thankfully, it seems that not everybody is joining in on the thinness bandwagon. For instance, the HP Spectre x360 15 inch is both a little thicker and heavier that the current model it replaces, reports CNET.

However, the extra bulk and weight are there for good reason. The HP Spectre x360 15 inch will be more powerful with Nvidia GeForce 940MX graphics card and the touted 23 percent increase in battery life.

HP Chief Technologies and VP for Customer Experience / Portfolio Strategy Mike Nash confirms that the decision to buck the trend for thinner notebooks came from the consumers. Apparently, battery life, keyboard quality and a good keyboard are the top concerns for buyers, things that only a relatively thicker notebook could offer.