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With two recent product launches, Apple has shown that it prioritizes form over function. Both the new USB-C Magic Mouse and Mac mini have bizarre design elements that make me question Apple’s entire design ethos.
Apple’s Magic Mouse Still Charges From the Bottom
In 2015, Apple made the controversial decision to put the Lightning port (for charging) on the underside of the Magic Mouse 2. This meant you couldn’t use the mouse while it was charging, which is a pretty ridiculous design decision that was rightly mocked at the time by critics and users alike. Even though manypeople love the Magic Mouse, they understand the ridiculousness of the port placement.
Fast forward almost a decade, and Apple has refused to change the position of the port despite switching to a USB-C port for charging. Releasing a new Magic Mouse with a USB-C port gave Apple the perfect opportunity to improve the design—to move the charging port from the underside to the end of the mouse.
That way, when the Magic Mouse is low on battery, users can continue using the mouse while it’s plugged in and charging—with very little effect on its appearance.
The New Mac Mini Has the Power Button on the Underside
The same week Apple launched its USB-C Magic Mouse, it unveiled the redesigned Mac mini powered by the M4 and M4 Pro chips. And while many people have praised the hardware upgrades, one design decision stands out as pretty ridiculous.
As with the Magic Mouse, Apple has decided to utilize the underside of the Mac mini. This time, for the power button. Yes, you heard that right. Apple thinks that a good place to position a switch that needs to be accessible is the underside of the Mac mini, meaning that you have to lift it and tilt it to switch it on or off.
Sure, as many Apple enthusiasts have pointed out, you shouldn’t have to access the power button very often. But that’s beside the point. A button that is a fundamental part of a product shouldn’t be hidden out of sight and somewhere pretty inaccessible. Doing so isn’t user-friendly, even if the Apple apologists who can’t admit that Apple ever does anything wrong think otherwise.
Thenew Mac mini may be perfect for some, but the placement of the power button is ridiculous.
Why Apple Should Stop Prioritizing How Things Look
I get that Apple has a well-earned reputation for creating beautiful products. But form should never take precedence over function. If you’re making products for the masses, which Apple is, then the end users should be the main priority when designing and developing said products. And if and when that stops being the case, you’re doing your customers a disservice.
I’m all for clean lines and an awesome aesthetic. After all, we’re paying a fortune for these products, so they should look good. However, the need for them to look good should never be prioritized over the need for them to fulfill a user’s needs.
Apple is clearly making conscious decisions here, weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of placing elements in certain places. However, I think the company missed the mark with these specific aspects of both the Magic Mouse and Mac mini.
