Top stories: MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and iPhone rumors, the best of CES 2021

This week was certainly a busy one in the Apple world, with a flurry of announcements from CES earlier in the week, followed by a flurry of Mac and iPhone rumors later in the week.

The new rumors this week include details on updated MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro models, as well as a few other goodies, so read on below to get caught!

Kuo: new MacBook Pro models with flat edge design, MagSafe, no touchbar and more ports

Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a significant report this week that shares several new details about the next-generation MacBook Pro models coming in the third quarter of this year.

According to Kuo, Apple will release 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicone, a redesign with flatter iPhone 12-like edges, the return of MagSafe for charging and more ports. It is said that Apple is also getting rid of the controversial Touch Bar that has replaced the traditional function test over the past few years.

BloombergMark Gurman also weighed in on the subject, confirming many of Kuo’s details and noting that the new MacBook Pro models will also feature “brighter, higher contrast” screens and that MagSafe’s return makes charging faster.

Apple develops redesigned iMac with slimmer frames, Apple Silicon Chips

Along with the redesigned 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple is also planning a redesign for its iMac range, according to Bloombergsee Mark Gurman.

Gurman says there will be two iMac models to replace the current 21.5-inch and 27-inch sizes, and they will have a design similar to that of the Pro Display XDR, with slimmer screen edges all around ( including the removal of the long-lasting “chin” under the exhibit) and a flat top. The new iMacs will also be based on Apple silicone chips with more processing cores and graphical horsepower than was seen in the first series of M1 Macs released in late 2020.

Apple is working on two new Mac Pro desktops, one of which will be reminiscent of the Power Mac G4 Cube

Gurman also says on the front of the Mac for Mac, and Apple is working on some Mac Pro models. The first is a direct successor to the current model and is likely to continue to use Intel processors.

The second model is reportedly less than half the size of the current Mac Pro and has a mostly aluminum exterior with a design that can evoke a nostalgia for the Power Mac G4 Cube of old.

Apple said it is working on a cheaper external monitor to pass Thunderbolt screen

With Apple’s Pro Display XDR price of $ 5,000 (plus an additional $ 1,000 for the booth), many Apple users have asked Apple to launch a new consumer-oriented display, and Gurman says Apple has one of those in the work.

Little detail about the new consumer screen is known as reduced specifications compared to the Pro Display XDR, but it would be Apple’s first consumer-oriented screen since the Thunderbolt screen was discontinued in 2016.

Apple test fingerprint sensor on screen for iPhone 13, foldable iPhone, also available

In a separate report, Gurman highlighted developments on the iPhone front, claiming that Apple is considering adding a Touch ID sensor under this year’s iPhone, in addition to the Face ID TrueDepth sensor.

He also says that Apple is indeed working on foldable iPhones and has developed several prototype folding screens with electronics behind the screen and a mostly invisible hinge. However, development is still at an early stage, so a launch of a foldable iPhone is probably a year away, if it ever happens.

The best Apple related accessories at CES 2021

This week was the first digital CES 2021, and while Apple is not participating directly in the event, there is always a wide range of Apple-related announcements, including HomeKit smart accessories, AirPlay 2 speakers and TVs, CarPlay receivers and more .

On our YouTube channel this week, we highlighted some of the best Apple-related accessories unveiled at CES 2021. This year’s choices include Kensington’s new iPad Pro docking station with built-in iPhone and AirPods cordless charging, LG’s first UltraFine display with OLED technology for Macs, Belkin wireless headphones that will integrate with Apple’s Find My app for lost features, and more.

Visit our CES 2021 full-coverage news hub and subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more Apple-related videos.

Rumors that the new AirPods Pro and iPhone SE will launch in April

Apple plans to release the second generation AirPods Pro and a third generation iPhone SE in April 2021, according to the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, referring to information provided by Chinese sources in the supply chain.

The report claims that the new AirPods Pro will have a slightly narrower charging case, but that neither of the two products is available anymore.

BloombergMark Gurman previously reported that Apple wants to make the second-generation AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the stem that protrudes from below, but it is unclear whether Apple will achieve this. Gurman said Apple had a design with a more rounded shape that fills more of the ear, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.

As for the iPhone SE, many rumors have suggested that a larger version of the device could be released. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier that Apple plans to release an iPhone with an LCD and a Touch ID on-off button by 2021, and perhaps the device will be the new iPhone SE.

Safari allows users to enable the ‘Hidden’ items’ tab in Find Me app before launching AirTags

Apple’s long-rumored AirTags trackers are expected to be powered by the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad and Mac. This week, a simple Safari trick was discovered that makes it possible for anyone to view this page on these devices early on.

As spotted by MacRumors reader David Chu, who accesses the findmy: // items in Safari link on devices running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, macOS 11.1 or later, leads to a hidden “Items” tab in the Find My app, where both AirTags and third-party tracking devices are expected to be managed. It’s still unclear when AirTags will be launched, but Apple often launches its first new calendar year products in March.

Similar to Tile and Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag, AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as their keys, wallets and backpacks, with users receiving a push notification on their Apple devices when they separated from a tagged item. . AirTags are expected to support Ultra Wideband for enhanced spatial awareness, while current Tile and Samsung trackers are limited to Bluetooth (both Tile and Samsung are expected to release Ultra Wideband trackers as well).

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