Apple’s Innovative Yet Thermally Deficient ‘Trash Can’ Mac Pro Now on Vintage Product List, Owners Can Still Access Service and Repairs If Parts Are Available

Over a decade ago, Apple unveiled a product that many would categorize as one of the most visually stunning designs the company has released, regardless of its practical applications. The 2013 Mac Pro, often referred to as the “trash can”Mac Pro, quickly became a hallmark design for Apple’s workstation-class offerings. However, following extensive discussions about its limitations, Apple shifted back to a traditional tower design with the advent of its Apple Silicon chips, ultimately designating the unique “trash can”model as vintage in its product lineup.

The ‘Trash Can’ Mac Pro: A Vintage Design Reconsidered Amid Apple Silicon’s Efficiency

The inclusion of the Mac Pro in Apple’s vintage product list took longer than expected. This was largely due to its sustained popularity—the product remained in demand long enough that 12 years passed after its debut before being classified as vintage. Normally, Apple incorporates products into this list five years post-launch; however, the Mac Pro was an exceptional case.

For those unfamiliar with Apple’s vintage product designation, devices that fall into this category continue to have parts available for purchase and can be serviced, provided the components are still stocked at authorized service outlets. Once the five-year vintage period lapses, products transition into the “obsolete”category, which generally encompasses items that have been off the market for over seven years.

Notably, the discontinuation of the Mac Pro occurred in 2019, making way for the “cheese grater”model, which effectively managed the demanding Intel Xeon processors. Despite an initial wave of excitement—amplified by Phil Schiller, Apple’s former SVP of worldwide marketing, famously retorting “can’t innovate anymore, my ass” —the “trash can”version ultimately fell short of user expectations.

Beyond its eye-catching design, the workstation’s thermal management proved inadequate, preventing users from fully leveraging the hardware’s capabilities due to insufficient cooling systems. Compounding the issue was the lack of upgradable components, a vital feature present in its predecessor. Craig Federighi, Apple’s current SVP of Software Engineering, later acknowledged that the design inadvertently pushed the product into a “thermal corner.”

However, there is a silver lining. With the advent of Apple Silicon, known for its power efficiency and lower thermal demands compared to the original Mac Pro, there could be potential for a revival of the iconic design. Since Apple Silicon integrates RAM and graphics processing units within the chip itself, reintroducing the unique structure is technically feasible. Whether Apple will decide to revisit this design is a question that remains to be answered.

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