Apple Envisioned New Mac Pro's 'Cheese Grater' Design Years Ago

Following the reveal of its much-anticipated Mac Pro redesign at WWDC 2019 on Monday, a handful of reporters met with Apple's marketing chief Phil Schiller and other executives to learn a bit more about the powerhouse machine.

mac pro 2019 verge

Apple's all-new Mac Pro and Pro Display XDR via The Verge

Ina Fried of Axios has provided a few key takeaways from the conversation:

  • Apple's vision for the new ‌Mac Pro‌'s design changed some and it took somewhat longer than it was anticipating.

  • The circular cutouts on the front and back of the new ‌Mac Pro‌ are made by machining out spheres from the solid aluminum chassis. This particular aspect of the design was floating around in Apple's design labs before the new ‌Mac Pro‌ was even on its roadmap.

  • For those who missed the news, Apple is planning a rack-mounted version of the ‌Mac Pro‌ with a different chassis appropriate for a data center. Apple says this version will be available in the fall.

  • The new Pro Display XDR was "front and center" to Apple and is designed to rival so-called reference monitors that can cost over $10,000.

Other tidbits may surface from other reporters who attended this press briefing, in which case we'll update this post.

Related Roundup: Mac Pro
Buyer's Guide: Mac Pro (Neutral)
Related Forum: Mac Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro to Reverse iPhone X Design Decision

Monday July 7, 2025 9:46 am PDT by
Since the iPhone X in 2017, all of Apple's highest-end iPhone models have featured either stainless steel or titanium frames, but it has now been rumored that this design decision will be coming to an end with the iPhone 17 Pro models later this year. In a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo today, the account Instant Digital said that the iPhone 17 Pro models will have an aluminum...
iphone 16 pro models 1

Here's How the iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Compare to the iPhone 17 Pro

Saturday July 5, 2025 1:00 pm PDT by
Apple should unveil the iPhone 17 series in September, and there might be one bigger difference between the Pro and Pro Max models this year. As always, the Pro Max model will be larger than the Pro model:iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3-inch display iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9-inch displayGiven the Pro Max is physically larger than the Pro, it has more internal space, allowing for a larger battery and...
iOS 26 Feature

Everything New in iOS 26 Beta 3

Monday July 7, 2025 1:20 pm PDT by
Apple is continuing to refine and update iOS 26, and beta three features smaller changes than we saw in beta 2, plus further tweaks to the Liquid Glass design. Apple is gearing up for the next phase of beta testing, and the company has promised that a public beta is set to come out in July. Transparency In some apps like Apple Music, Podcasts, and the App Store, Apple has toned down the...
imac video apple feature

Apple Launching These 15+ Products Later This Year

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:05 am PDT by
The calendar has turned to July, meaning that 2025 is now more than half over. And while the summer months are often quiet for Apple, the company still has more than a dozen products coming later this year, according to rumors. Below, we have outlined at least 15 new Apple products that are expected to launch later this year, along with key rumored features for each. iPhone 17 Series iPho...
iPhone Car Key Kia

Here's Which Vehicles Offer iPhone Car Keys

Sunday July 6, 2025 3:03 pm PDT by
In 2020, Apple added a digital car key feature to its Wallet app, allowing users to lock, unlock, and start a compatible vehicle with an iPhone or Apple Watch. The feature is currently offered by select automakers, including Audi, BMW, Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and a handful of others, and it is set to expand further. Apple has a web page with a list of vehicle models that ...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro Coming Soon With These 14 New Features

Friday July 4, 2025 1:05 pm PDT by
Apple's next-generation iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are just over two months away, and there are plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models. Latest Rumors These rumors surfaced in June and July:Apple logo repositioned: Apple's logo may have a lower position on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro models, compared to previous...
iphone 17 pro render majin bu

New iPhone 17 Pro Renders Highlight Apple Logo and MagSafe Design Changes

Sunday July 6, 2025 8:43 pm PDT by
New renders today provide the best look yet relocated Apple logo and redesigned MagSafe magnet array of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Image via Majin Bu. Several of the design changes coming to the iPhone 17 Pro model have been rumored for some time, such as the elongated camera bump that spans the full width of the device, with the LiDAR Scanner and flash moving to the right side. ...
iPhone 14 Pro Dynamic Island

iPhone 17 Models Rumored to Feature Redesigned Dynamic Island

Monday July 7, 2025 7:38 am PDT by
iPhone 17 models will feature a redesigned Dynamic Island user interface, according to a post today from Digital Chat Station, an account with more than three million followers on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The account has accurately leaked some information regarding future Apple products in the past. The account did not share any specific details about the alleged changes that are ...
apple account card feature

Apple Account Card Expanding to More Countries

Tuesday July 8, 2025 7:34 pm PDT by
Apple is expanding the ability to add an Apple Account Card to the Wallet app to more countries, according to backend Apple Pay changes. With iOS 15.5, Apple updated the Wallet app to allow users to add an Apple Account Card, which displays the Apple credit balance associated with an Apple ID. If you receive an Apple gift card, for example, it is added to an Apple Account that is also...

Top Rated Comments

MacFather Avatar
80 months ago
Deleted.
Score: 164 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Saipher Avatar
80 months ago
I think it’s a beautiful machine.
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iSuitUp Avatar
80 months ago
Just for reference, this is the sort of monitors the new Apple Pro Display XDR is set to compete with:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1403557-REG/tvlogic_lum_318g_31_1_true_4k_monitor_4096x2160_10.html

They will sell these to entertainment studios mainly and these won't care about having to pay for a stand for $999, they will probably get the VESA adapter or maybe even get custom adapters to fit exactly what they need so the all outrage about the stand price is ridiculous when you put things in context.

It's like Sunday drivers feeking outraged at the price price of Formula 1 tyres as if they could use the Formula 1 to its full potential in the first place.
Score: 50 Votes (Like | Disagree)
trusso Avatar
80 months ago
Nope, not with those ports on the front.
Yes, exactly with those ports on the front. :rolleyes:
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
keysofanxiety Avatar
80 months ago
This design is over 15 years old and still looks better...

How odd! Before you were complaining about form over function. Now they're giving function over form. The new MP has much better cooling than the 2012. Surely that's important for a real Pro ;)

Mac designs developed under clueless Tim Cook's leadership: 2013 Mac Pro, 2015 MacBook, 2016 MacBook Pro. Form over function. Greed, arrogance and fashion.
Just goes to show where your priorities are: rather than actually wanting Apple to release a product you need or are going to buy, you're just going to find something to complain about instead.
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dominiongamma Avatar
80 months ago
This design is over 15 years old and still looks better...

Classic design that still hold up pretty well
[doublepost=1559664396][/doublepost]
Let the past die.
This design is so much better then hot mess that was shown yesterday
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)