Apple has become quite minimalist with recent MacBook Pro models, which the company designs to be flexible and portable. But how portable can your laptop really be if you have to carry additional dongles and other adapters to connect your Mac?
Apple may have come up with a solution for this next-generation MacBook Pro models. And according to a good analyst from Apple, it involves more ports.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo told investors in a note MacRumors that the 2021 editions of the MacBook Pros “are equipped with more types of I / O, and that most users may not need to purchase additional dongles.” It’s unclear exactly which new ports will be added, but it looks like it’s a key focus for Apple for the line ahead.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch Intel-based model have four Thunderbolt 3 ports, while the MacBook Pro with M1 has only two (actually one of our biggest complaints about that model). MacBook Pros comes with these ports, despite the fact that many other Apple devices like the iPhone use Lightning to connect.
An earlier report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims that the 2021 MacBook Pros will bring back the SD card reader, in addition to making other changes (Farewell, Touch Bar.) The return of an SD card slot would be a great blessing for creators and individuals who rely on removable storage. It will also eliminate the need for dongles that connect and cause less headaches when you drive your MacBook around.
According to Kuo, we could already see these changes in the third quarter of this year with 14- and 16-inch models with the various additions to the port.
Apple, of course, remained motherly about the situation. But since the MacBook Pro laptops do not have access, it is a great decision for those who want to switch from PC to Mac but feel they will lack options. Nothing has been confirmed yet about the future MacBook Pro, but if you are currently buying a new MacBook Pro, it may be wise to wait and see if this rumor comes true.