Top Stories: MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and iPhone Rumors, Best of CES 2021

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

This week’s new rumors included details on updated MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro models, along with a few other tidbits, so be sure to read below to catch up!

Kuo: New MacBook Pro Models With Flat-Edged Design, MagSafe, No Touch Bar, And More Ports

Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released an important report this week sharing several new details on the next-gen MacBook Pro models coming in the third quarter of this year.

According to Kuo, Apple will launch 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models featuring Apple silicon, a redesign with flatter iPhone 12-like edges, the return of MagSafe for charging and more ports. Apple is also said to be getting rid of the controversial Touch Bar which replaced traditional function keys in recent years.

BloombergMark Gurman’s Mark Gurman also weighed in on the topic, corroborating many details shared by Kuo and noting that newer MacBook Pro models will also feature “brighter, more contrasting” screens and that the return of MagSafe will allow for faster charging. .

Apple develops redesigned iMac with thinner bezels and Apple Silicon chips

In addition to the redesigned 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple is also planning a redesign of its iMac lineup, according to BloombergIt’s Mark Gurman.

Gurman says there will be two iMac models to replace the current 21.5in and 27in sizes, and they will feature a design similar to the Pro Display XDR, with thinner screen bezels all around ( including the removal of the old “chin” under the screen) and a flat back. The new iMacs will also be based on Apple silicon chips with more processing cores and graphics power than in the initial batch of Mac M1 released in late 2020.

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

Still on the desktop Mac front, Gurman says Apple is working on a pair of Mac Pro models. The former is a direct successor to the current model and will likely continue to use Intel processors.

The second model would be less than half the size of the current Mac Pro and feature a predominantly aluminum exterior with a design that could “invoke nostalgia” for the Power Mac G4 Cube of yore.

Apple said it was working on a cheaper external monitor to make Thunderbolt display successful

With Apple’s Pro Display XDR priced at $ 5,000 (plus an additional $ 1,000 for support), many Apple users are asking Apple to launch a new consumer-focused display, and Gurman says Apple has also one of these in preparation.

Few details about the new consumer display are known beyond the reduced specs compared to the Pro Display XDR, but it would be Apple’s first consumer-focused display since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016.

Apple display in-screen fingerprint sensor test for iPhone 13, foldable iPhone also in preparation

In a separate report, Gurman highlighted developments on the iPhone front, saying Apple was considering adding an under-display Touch ID sensor to 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 prototypes of foldable screens with electronic components behind the screen and an almost invisible hinge. Development is still in its early stages, however, the launch of a foldable iPhone is “probably years away,” if that ever happens.

The best Apple accessories at CES 2021

This week marked the first fully digital CES 2021, and while Apple isn’t attending the convention directly, there is still a wide variety of Apple-related announcements, including HomeKit smart home accessories, on top. – AirPlay 2 speakers and televisions, CarPlay receivers and more.

On our YouTube channel this week, we highlighted some of the best Apple-related accessories showcased at CES 2021. This year’s picks include Kensington’s new iPad Pro dock with built-in iPhone wireless charging and AirPods, the LG’s first UltraFine display with OLED technology for Mac, Belkin wireless headphones that will integrate with Apple’s Find My app for lost and found functionality, etc.

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

New AirPods Pro and iPhone SE set to launch in April

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

The report claims the new AirPods Pro will come with a slightly narrower charging case, but no further details have been provided on either product.

BloombergMark Gurman previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the second-generation AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the rod that protrudes from the bottom, but it is not known if Apple will achieve this feat. Gurman said Apple tested a design with a more rounded shape that filled the ear more, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.

As for the iPhone SE, many rumors suggest that a larger version of the device may be released. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Apple plans to release an iPhone with an LCD screen and Touch ID power button in 2021, and maybe that device will be the new iPhone SE.

Safari allows users to enable the hidden ‘Items’ tab in the ‘Find My’ app before AirTags launches

Apple AirTags item trackers should be managed through the Find My app on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. This week, a simple Safari trick was discovered that allows anyone to take an early look at this tab on these devices.

As spotted by MacRumors reader David Chu, entering the findmy: // items link in Safari 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 AirTags and third-party tracking accessories should be managed. It’s still unclear when AirTags will launch, but Apple often introduces its first new products of a calendar year 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 keys, wallets, and backpacks, with users receiving a push notification on their Apple devices when they are separated by a labeled element. . AirTags are expected to support Ultra Wideband for better spatial awareness, while current Tile and Samsung trackers are limited to Bluetooth (Tile and Samsung are also expected to release Ultra Wideband trackers in the future).

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