Despite the name "MacBook Pro", this isn't the same lineage as the 14" MBP, remember. For years, there have basically been two lines of MBPs -- the 13"/15" line

Despite the name "MacBook Pro", this isn't the same lineage as the 14" MBP, remember. For years, there have basically been two lines of MBPs -- the 13"/15" line with four USB-C ports that later became the 14"/16" line, and the 13"-only line that always had just two USB-C ports, more limited CPUs, and a variety of other limitations. The move to Apple Silicon has weirdly made this distinction even more stark: now the 14"/16" line has the new design language and new internals (and ports), while the 13" one, despite being one of the first M2-based laptops, retains the old design language, very similar internals going back to the Intel days, and the same two USB-C ports. Also, with the move to the M1 (and now the M2), there's virtually no reason to buy these over the MacBook Air. The Air has MagSafe, a better camera, a better display, better speakers, a better microphone, a better webcam. This low-end "Pro" has, uh, the Touch Bar. And a fan. (Which seems like it may not help the thermals.) From all appearances, this laptop exists solely to hit a price point with the name "Pro", primarily to appease enterprise customers that won't buy Macs that don't have the "Pro" badging. I would't be surprised if the M2-based Airs, which move the Air to the new design, actually have better thermals despite being fanless.