While the iPhone 12 has several color options, the MacBook has remained boring in terms of design over the past few years Currently, the darkest color on the MacBook is "space gray," which is not that dark Given our love of black technology products, this seems like an odd oversight

However, if we take the new patent at face value, it appears that Apple is finally planning to catch up Interestingly, the patent begins by revealing why black MacBooks don't exist

"An enclosure for a portable electronic device may include an anodized layer that can be dyed a variety of colors to enhance its visual appeal to consumers," the patent states

It goes on to explain, however, that "certain colors are much more difficult to achieve than others," and that "true black" is often a dark gray because the high-gloss finish of the anodized metal "reflects too much light

Apple's answer to this problem is an "etched anodized surface" with "light trapping capabilities" Not only can this absorb "almost all visible light," but the patent has a second trick for the unabsorbed portions It explains that "any visible light not absorbed by the light trapping feature is diffusely reflected by the light trapping feature"

Apple describes the material as having a "matte, low gloss finish" And while the patent application does not guarantee real-world activity, given the world's desire for black electronics, this feels like one of the safest bets

The technology Apple describes in its patent is reminiscent of the Vantablack paint developed by UK-based Surrey NanoSystems to achieve the darkest black the human eye can see However, given that artist Anish Kapoor owns the exclusive rights to the color, Apple will not be able to use Vantablack on future laptops

Those with long memories will recall the days when black was an option on Apple laptops Of course, that was more than a decade ago, and before the switch to aluminum and other metals, Apple used polycarbonate material for laptop casings

It is hard to predict a black model of the MacBook without thinking of the short-lived Jet Black iPhone; this expensive Jet Black model, which was only available as a color option for the iPhone 7, is extremely scratch-resistant, and Apple's website says even added a note on Apple's website about "minor scuffs and scratches associated with use" It is worth noting that since then, Jet Black has not been used on any iPhone

The MacBook's black color sounds different enough so that lightning doesn't strike twice When making cosmetic changes to a long-running product line, it is important to avoid unintended consequences in the process

Brittany Vincent contributed to this article