Bloomberg: the next MacBook Pro with an SD card reader

Last week, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo laid out his expectations for the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models later this year, including the return of the MagSafe charging connector, the removal of the Touch Bar, a new design with flat edges and the return of more ports built into laptops for extended connectivity.

A modern MacBook Pro concept with an SD card reader

Kuo did not specify which ports could make a return, but BloombergMark Gurman announced today that the next MacBook Pro models will feature an SD card reader to transfer photos taken with a digital camera and other files:

The upcoming MacBook Pro is an example of Apple’s renewed focus on the Mac loyalists. The company plans to bring back an SD card slot for future MacBook Pros so users can insert memory cards from digital cameras. This feature was phased out in 2016, much to the dismay of professional photographers and video makers, key segments of the MacBook Pro user base.

The latest MacBook Pro models only have Thunderbolt ports, forcing photographers to use an adapter or docking station to access an SD card reader.

In his research note last week, Kuo mentioned that “most users may not need to purchase additional dongles” for the upcoming MacBook Pro, so it’s possible that a card reader SD is not the only port to return. As recently as 2015, the MacBook Pro also came equipped with an HDMI port and USB-A ports, but it would certainly be surprising to see these make a comeback given the tech industry’s transition to technology. ‘USB-C.

Kuo expects new MacBook Pro models to launch in the third quarter, which runs from July through September. They would replace the high-end 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models released in May 2020 and November 2019, respectively. The base model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro was already updated with Apple’s custom M1 chip a few months ago.