Apple impressed the industry with its M1 chip-based MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini last fall. Now we’re waiting for an even more exciting round of professional hardware with the rumored 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro updates. Here is everything we know so far.
Ports, many!
When Apple redesigned the MacBook Pro in 2016, the USB-C / Thunderbolt 3 caught up with everything and literally replaced all the I / O through the ports. Several models included 1, 2 and 4 USB-C ports for charging, data transfer and the use of dongles to adapt the new ports in more practical I / O, such as SD card readers, HDMI and USB-A.
Five years later, Apple is expected to give pro users what they have been asking for since the MacBook Pro in 2016: more ports! The redesigned MacBook Pro is currently expected to retain USB-C ports for Thunderbolt 3, but will revive MagSafe charging, HDMI and a built-in SD card reader. If true, all Thunderbolt 3 ports will be available for fast data transfer and eliminate the need for essential adapters that MacBook Pro users are currently relying on.
It is also expected that the new machines will have a full keyboard and no Touch Bar like the MacBook Air.
Did you say 14 inches?
Oh yeah, the 14-inch review of the MacBook Pro series has long been rumored. Apple slightly modified the screen and body of the 15.4-inch MacBook Pro to create a 16-inch version in the latest version. Rumors have been swirling ever since about a natural update to the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro that reduces the rings around the screen and raises the real estate to 14 inches. Unlike the 16-inch MacBook Pro, this never happened in the Intel era, but it’s all set for a new Apple Silicon chip version.
Speaking of exhibitions …
A 0.7-inch increase is not the only screen change rumored for the next MacBook Pro version. It is rumored that for the first time in years, Apple is planning the display type changes for the new Mac notebooks. Both models currently use high resolution LED background LCD screens with IPS, or in-flight switching, technology. Supply chain reports indicate that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro screens will be the first Apple laptops to switch to a new mini-LED technology.
Mini-LED is exactly how it sounds. Smaller LED components are used for taillights. This means that bright pixels are illuminated and that dark areas can be darkened. In turn, this allows for higher contrast ratios, deeper blacks and generally less radiation effects.
A new style
Apple has shied away from introducing new designs in the MacBook Pro, Mac mini and MacBook Air (apart from removing its fan) for the first round of Apple Silicon computers. Several sources expect this to change as the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro updates drop. Our best description so far based on rumors is something more similar to the current iPad Pro, iPad Air and iPhone 12 design. Hard right angles are expected to remain, but light bulb lids and bottoms are expected to flatten to create a uniform depth.
There’s a lot to look forward to in the next round of MacBook Pro updates. From a noticeable increase in screen size on the smaller model, more ports for both models, a new display type for an increased contrast ratio and a refreshing design for the first time since 2016, it should be a crowd pleaser – unless you heart on Face ID and built-in cellular. Both features do not appear to be on the cards for 2021.
This is still before the switch from Intel to Apple Silicon is mentioned for the first time on the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Based on the performance and battery life of the current M1 chip computers, any further progress in the performance of a successor chip will make an impression. In terms of timing, rumors point to the second half of this year for product announcements and availability.
FTC: We use revenue to earn automatically affiliate links. More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: