Apple’s relentless pursuit of thinner devices continues, but is it truly beneficial? The new M4 iPad Pro is Apple’s slimmest device to date, even surpassing the iPod Nano in thinness. According to reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple aims to slim down its entire portable lineup, including the iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook Pro. While this might sound appealing at first, thinner devices come with significant drawbacks, such as reduced repairability and shorter battery life.
The Perils of Thinness
“You are absolutely correct that the smaller and thinner a device gets, the less repairable it will be as well,” says Cassandra Gluyas, CEO of Thomas Instrumentation Inc., an electronics design and manufacturing company. “Personally, I would like a more repairable device that doesn’t need to be replaced as often. I believe it’s more something we’re forced into by sales and not really a necessity to buy new phones every year.”
This sentiment highlights a growing concern among consumers and industry experts alike: we have likely reached a reasonable level of thinness for devices, and pushing further may be counterproductive.
A Shift in Preferences
For years, Apple has been making its devices thicker, and this trend was generally well-received. The current iPhones are noticeably heavier than earlier models, and the MacBook Pro embraced a chunkier design to reintroduce ports that had been previously eliminated. This resulted in one of Apple’s best computers to date, appreciated for its practicality and functionality.
Now, Apple seems intent on reversing these improvements. While people might initially express a preference for a slimmer phone, in reality, thinness is not a top priority. Modern usage habits involve carrying phones in bags or holding them rather than keeping them in pockets. Larger phones have become more popular, suggesting that users value screen size and battery life over thinness.
The Cost of Compromises
When components are squeezed into an ultra-thin design, compromises are inevitable. The newest iPad Pro, for instance, improves battery replacement ease but still poses challenges. Its ultra-thin casing requires pull-release glue strips to secure the battery, complicating repairs. This issue would be less pronounced in a design with more internal space.
Repairability is crucial for both economic and environmental reasons. Imagine if replacing a phone battery or screen was as simple as loosening a few screws. Fairphone achieves this, albeit with a slightly thicker body. Catherine Rohde, senior product manager at Batteries Plus, points out, “[A] more repairable [phone is] more cost-effective in the long run because you’ll spend potentially thousands less on a repairable phone rather than a newer, thinner phone on a two-year appointment schedule. Also, a more repairable phone means less hazardous waste in the environment.”
Rethinking Priorities
While skinny phones and laptops might look sleek, thinness is one of the least important specifications in today’s world. With climate change becoming a pressing issue, big tech companies should focus on minimizing their environmental impact rather than their product dimensions. By prioritizing repairability and battery life, Apple could make more meaningful contributions to sustainability and user satisfaction.
In the end, consumers want devices that are durable, long-lasting, and easy to repair—qualities that often conflict with the pursuit of ultra-thin designs.
