Apple could finally bring an integrated SD card slot to its upcoming 2021 models from its MacBook Pro laptops, according to a new report from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, in a move that would restore the popular port standard on the company’s computers.
The MacBook Pro series did not offer an SD card slot, as Apple removed the feature in 2016’s redesign, which cut out all the ports of the laptops in favor of four universal USB-C ports. It has forced many professional users, who rely on the popular memory card format, to upload photos and videos to their computers to edit them – to resort to multiple dongles to get the same features.
The news comes after an earlier report by Gurman that originally outlines the changes Apple has planned for the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch design. These changes include the removal of the controversial Touch Bar interface in exchange for physical function tests; offers a more square design that matches the recent iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPhone 12 series; add brighter exhibits; and bring back Apple’s magnetic MagSafe chargers. This is all in addition to the biggest change, with Intel’s high-end laptops moving to a more powerful version of Apple’s internal, ARM-based M1 chipset.
The noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo confirmed the reports by claiming that the new laptops will offer additional ports, but this is the first confirmation of the SD card slot today.
The news of the return of the SD card slot actually comes on the sidelines in a larger report on Apple’s planned refreshment for a ‘high-end’ MacBook Air model, which apparently offers MagSafe and processor benefits than the new MacBook Pros. Unfortunately, however, no mention is made of the SD card slot offered during the upcoming Air refresh – just a few USB-C ports.