If you remember Apple's 'Let Loose' event, you'll remember that one of the biggest selling points of the iPad Pro OLED was how thin the tablet is. With the slogan “thin as possible”, Apple made a big deal because it is currently the thinnest Apple device ever, and this could be the start of a new size reduction trend.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, this is just the beginning of Apple's thin and sleek era. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman details the company's plan to launch a “significantly thinner” iPhone next year. He also notes that thinner MacBook Pro and Apple Watch models are also on the way, although the leaker doesn't give us any more information than that.
Gurman further notes that this move could lead to the creation of “the thinnest and lightest products in their categories across the entire tech industry,” no less.
Of course, while Gurman has a long history of being one of the most reputable sources of Apple leaks, we should take every rumor with a grain of salt, no matter where it comes from. However, if true, this move to thinner devices would be a change in Apple's strategy, considering that the latest versions of its iPhones and MacBooks have remained the same size for the most part.
Furthermore, this rumor makes us wonder to what extent thinner Apple products can actually work without becoming potentially fragile pieces of paper-like hardware! At some point, I have a hard time imagining the reasons for pushing the boundaries of ever-thinner technology even further, other than simply seeing if it's possible.
Still, it will be interesting to see if there will be a future trend where rival tech giants rush to match Apple in making their products much thinner. While I would hesitate to call Apple a trendsetter, it is true that it is such a popular brand that the company tends to set the tone for the computer industry in many different ways. Moves like getting rid of headphone jacks or the gray MacBook style and simplicity have definitely had an impact on other rival brands.
So if Apple decides to make its various product ranges much thinner, including MacBooks, could the rest of the computing industry follow? It is not unthinkable.
