Apple is facing renewed criticism for proudly promoting the ports on its new MacBook Pro, years after removing several of those same connections and forcing customers to rely on adapters. The company’s latest marketing highlights the convenience of built-in connectivity, bringing back an uncomfortable reminder of its earlier design decisions.
The criticism surfaced after Apple unveiled its new MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR display on October 28. In a post on X, one user called out Apple’s changing attitude toward laptop ports, accusing the company of spending years pushing limited USB-C connectivity before celebrating the return of familiar connections.
Apple Spent Years Making MacBook Users Carry Dongles
Apple’s obsession with thinner laptops and USB-C connectivity started with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, which had just one USB-C port for charging and accessories.
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Things became worse in 2016 when Apple redesigned the MacBook Pro, removing HDMI, the SD card reader, MagSafe, and traditional USB-A ports in favor of Thunderbolt 3 connections.
That decision created several unnecessary inconveniences:
- Photographers needed adapters to transfer images from SD cards.
- Professionals had to carry dongles just to connect external displays.
- Users with older USB accessories needed additional cables or hubs.
- Charging occupied one of the limited USB-C ports.
For a laptop marketed toward professionals, removing commonly used connections was a questionable decision that placed Apple’s design preferences ahead of everyday practicality.
Apple eventually reversed course in 2021, bringing back HDMI, MagSafe, and the SD card slot.
Now Apple Is Marketing Those Same Ports as a Selling Point
Five years later, Apple’s latest MacBook Pro marketing prominently celebrates its connectivity options, including:
| Port | Practical benefit |
|---|---|
| Thunderbolt 5 | High-speed accessories and displays |
| HDMI | Direct external monitor connections |
| SDXC card slot | Camera memory card transfers |
| MagSafe 3 | Dedicated charging connection |
| Headphone jack | Wired audio without an adapter |
There is something frustrating about watching Apple advertise these connections as premium features after spending years making customers work around their absence.
The company deserves credit for restoring useful ports, but that doesn’t erase the inconvenience its earlier decisions created.
Apple’s latest MacBook Pro demonstrates that dedicated connections remain valuable, even as USB-C and Thunderbolt continue improving.
And perhaps that is what makes the marketing particularly irritating. Apple is now selling convenience to the same customers who spent years buying adapters to compensate for its pursuit of minimalism.
The ports were useful all along. Apple simply took years to acknowledge it.
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