Apple's new MacBook Pro revives glowing logo and adds DIY battery

Apple rolls out a MacBook Pro that brings back the illuminated logo

Apple unveiled a MacBook Pro that ships with a PROLED XDR display and a back‑lit Apple logo on the lid. The move restores a visual cue that disappeared after the 2016 redesign and signals a broader shift back to legacy ergonomics.

The new machines use the same M5 Pro and M5 Max silicon found in the current lineup, but they arrive in 14‑inch and 16‑inch variants with a flat‑edged chassis reminiscent of the iPhone 12. Apple drops the OLED Touch Bar in favor of physical function keys, reinstates MagSafe charging, and adds a richer port mix that should reduce reliance on dongles.

Design revival and hardware specs

The glowing logo is more than a nostalgic flourish. It is powered by a low‑power LED that draws a fraction of the display’s consumption, offering a subtle brand presence without impacting battery life. The flat‑edged aluminum shell eliminates the curved top and bottom that have defined MacBook Pro aesthetics since 2016, creating a cleaner silhouette that aligns with recent iPhone designs.

Port selection expands to include HDMI, an SD‑card slot, and three Thunderbolt‑4 connectors. The omission of the Touch Bar eliminates the need for an internal OLED strip, simplifying the lid assembly and freeing up space for the new LED logo. Internally, the PROLED XDR panel delivers a peak brightness of 1,600 nits and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, matching the claims made for the existing Pro models.

Repairability gets a boost with a DIY‑friendly battery

A teardown published by Hackaday reveals that the 2023 14‑inch model (part numbers A2779 and A2918) and the 2021 14‑inch model (A2442) share a 6,068 mAh, 69.9 Wh battery (part number A2519). The battery is secured with standard pentalobe screws and removable clips, allowing owners to replace it without resorting to proprietary adhesives—a first for a MacBook since the 2012 redesign.

The replacement process requires a 32‑bit Moray driver set and a spudger, tools that Hackaday sells as part of a “Pro Tech® Toolkit.” Apple’s decision to keep the battery module accessible could improve the device’s overall repair score, a metric that has historically penalized MacBooks for sealed designs. The new battery architecture also leaves room for future capacity upgrades without major chassis changes.

Market expectations and supply chain implications

Ming‑Chi Kuo, an analyst who tracks Apple’s hardware pipeline, predicts that the flat‑edged MacBook Pro will launch in the third quarter of 2021. Kuo’s note projects a 25‑30 % year‑over‑year increase in MacBook shipments, reaching roughly 20 million units. The forecast hinges on the new port array and the return of MagSafe, which Kuo argues will reduce the market for third‑party dongles that have proliferated since 2016.

All models will run exclusively on Apple silicon; no Intel options are planned. The heat‑pipe cooling system from the current 16‑inch Pro is retained, offering better thermal headroom than the 13‑inch Pro and the Air. Kuo also links the MacBook’s thermal design to Apple’s broader cooling research, noting that the company is testing vapor‑chamber solutions for high‑end iPhones slated for 2022.

What to watch next

The next quarter will reveal whether the flat‑edged chassis and expanded I/O set a new baseline for Apple’s professional laptops. Watch the official launch event for confirmation of port counts, battery replacement guidelines, and any refinements to the PROLED XDR panel. Analysts will also be tracking the first‑quarter shipment numbers against Kuo’s 20 million‑unit target, a metric that will indicate how quickly the market adopts the design shift.