According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, according to the TF Securities analyst, there are at least two MacBook Pro models that are rumored to be equipped with an SD card reader and HDMI port in the second half of 2021.
Kuo said in a note to investors on Tuesday that the additions will offer a major design change that includes more options for external device connectivity. Apple has been diverting MacBook’s I / O choices on USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 for the past six years. The move to a more inclusive mobile platform will be a welcome choice for those who do not like dongles.
The MacBook Pro last included an SD card slot and HDMI port in 2015, with subsequent models completely dodging those parts.
Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive provider of controllers for the upcoming SD card reader and could play a bigger role in Apple’s product range going forward, Kuo says. The company may be typing to fill orders for an expected hardware upgrade of the USB 4.0 protocol.
Kuo said in a report last month that he expects Apple to launch a 14- and 16-inch mini-LED MacBook Pro version that boasts a ‘flat side’ that is more in line with the company’s modern design language. The first of the angular devices was the 2018 iPad Pro, featuring last year’s iPhone 12 series.
MagSafe charging technology, which was revived from previous MacBooks, will also be revived, the version of which was introduced last year with the iPhone 12 series. According to Kuo, the heavily polluted OLED touch bar will get the boot in favor of physical function buttons.
The analyst predicts a launch in the third quarter.
Due to the new design and specification changes, Kuo expects total MacBook shipments to grow between 25% and 30% year-on-year in 2021 units.