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Apple is planning a major MacBook Pro overhaul for the third quarter of 2021, according to a research note written by TF International Securities analyst Ming-chi Kuo and reported by MacRumors, 9to5Mac, and Apple Insider. Kuo calls it the first major overhaul of the MacBook Pro since the current generation was introduced in 2016. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman followed up with a report corroborating many of the same details.
The new MacBook Pro is said to have square sides like the iPad Pro and iPhone 12; The current laptop already has sharp edges, but it looks like the top and bottom panels will also be flatter than before. The new model would be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes, both featuring Apple-designed Arm processors, with no Intel options. Kuo says the laptops will use a heat pipe system similar to the current 16-inch MacBook Pro, which will give more thermal headroom and allow better performance. Bloomberg reports that the new models will have “brighter, more contrasting” screens.
New story: For the new high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, Apple is indeed planning the return of MagSafe, the end of the Touch Bar (finally), brighter screens, minor design changes, the next generation M series and more. Launch around mid-2021. https://t.co/eL3r06oexW
– Mark Gurman (@markgurman) January 15, 2021
Perhaps most notably, Kuo believes that the new Pro laptops will reverse some of the controversial changes Apple has made to the current generation. The OLED Touch Bar, for example, would have been completely replaced with physical function keys. Kuo also says there will be a wider range of ports reducing the need for dongles, although he is not specific. And a MagSafe magnetic charging connector is also configured to return. (It’s not clear if it will have anything in common with the new MagSafe accessory system for the iPhone 12.)
A new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 processor was just released in November, but this model otherwise had nearly identical hardware to the existing Intel version. If Kuo is to be believed – and his track record suggests – the next models could be a huge improvement.
Update, January 15, 2:45 p.m .: Added mention of Bloomberg’s subsequent report.
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