SHANGHAI, CHINA – 2020/01/12: MacBook Pro at an Apple Store in Shanghai. (Photo by Alex Tai / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photographer: SOPA Images / LightRocket
Photographer: SOPA Images / LightRocket
Apple Inc. is planning upgraded MacBook Pro laptops this year with much faster processors, updated screens and the return of its magnetic charger, according to a person with knowledge of the plans.
The new laptops will be offered in two screen sizes, a model named J314 of 14 inches and a version of 16 inches called internally J316. Both will use next-generation versions of Apple’s in-house Mac processors, upgraded with more persons and improved graphics, the person said and asked not to be named as the products have not yet been announced.
These devices will be the first high-end laptops from Apple to move away from Intel Corp. components. The company updated its basic 13-inch MacBook Pro with its own M1 chip in November to huge positive reviews.
In addition to the more powerful chips, Apple also plans to sharpen the displays in its new MacBook Pros with brighter, higher contrast panels, the person said. The new Macs look similar to the current versions, albeit with minor design changes. Apple plans to launch the new MacBook Pros around the middle of the year.
An Apple spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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An important change in the new computers is how it loads. Apple has relied on USB-C ports for the past five years for power and data transfer on its laptops, making it compatible with chargers from other manufacturers. But the company is now bringing back MagSafe, the magnetic power adapter that means the power cord accidentally jerks, it will simply disconnect it from the laptop rather than unplugging the entire computer. It was a favorite feature of the company’s portable computer range, first launched in 2006 and recently revived for its latest range of iPhones.
The return of MagSafe with the next MacBook Pros will also allow the laptops to load faster, the person said. The connection will be similar to the elongated pill-shaped design of the older MagSafe port.
Despite moving away from USB-C for charging, Apple will still include multiple USB-C ports on its future Macs.
In developing the next set of Mac laptops, Apple has also tested versions that remove the Touch Bar from its laptops. Launched as part of the latest MacBook Pro redesign in 2016, the Touch Bar transforms the top row of keyboards from function keys into a touchscreen strip that can display a variety of information and a changing set of controls to suit programs and tasks. Some professional users have said that the control scheme is less convenient than physical keys.
Apple is also planning a redesigned MacBook Air, but it is expected to be released only after the next MacBook Pros.