The MacBook Pro has come back to life since Apple outfitted it with the awesome M1 chip in 2020. It looks like it has an exciting future ahead of it, and with many interesting rumors floating around, there is a lot of debate as to this. that could contain the next version of Apple's Pro laptops.
Recently there has been a wave of information, with respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and prominent journalist Mark Gurman both shedding light on a brand new 14-inch version, as well as updates. of the current MacBook Pro 16. their thoughts, along with other industry rumors, to sum up what you can expect from the 2021 MacBook Pro models. Here's everything you need to know, from price and design to battery life. and more.
Price and release date
When Apple last redesigned its line of business laptops with the MacBook Pro 16 in 2019, it kept the price tag exactly the same as the previous MacBook Pro 15, despite the introduction of a slew of new features. and a revamped design. The company has done the same thing by equipping the MacBook Pro 13 with the all-new M1 chip, despite the massive performance boost this upgrade offers.
We expect the same will be true for the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models coming out this year. Apple seems to be happy with its current MacBook Pro pricing structure, and we don't expect that to change anytime soon. In the end, it could mean more for your money.
So when can you get your hands on one of these new models? They are likely to be released around the middle of 2021, with Kuo expecting them to be released in the third quarter of 2021 (July 1 to September 30). Gurman offers a similar schedule, saying they should make an appearance "around the middle of the year."
A new square design
In recent years, Apple has started bringing back many of its square-designed products for the last time to the iPhone SE in 2016 - first the iPad Pro, then the iPhone 12 line. According to reports, the MacBook Pro will join them soon.
Kuo believes the design of the MacBook Pro 2021 will feature square sides on the top and bottom sections, rather than the slightly curved back of current MacBook Pro models. This might just be a minor change, as the bottom half of the existing MacBook Pro could already be considered "squared".
Other than that, you might be wondering if the thermal architecture of the MacBook Pro 16 will make the jump to the MacBook Pro 14. Considering the superb thermal efficiency of the M1 chip in the current MacBook Pro 13 and MacBook Air, it can be quite unnecessary - the new MacBook Air, after all, doesn't even need a fan, such is its chip's ability to stay cool under pressure.
The Magic Keyboard is almost certain to stay put - no return to the ill-fated butterfly keyboard - but there is one long-standing pillar of the MacBook that could ultimately be ditched: the Touch Bar. Since its debut in 2016, this touch strip has been divisive, and it seems Apple has finally lost patience with it rather than trying to fix it. Kuo claims the next MacBook Pro will definitely go without the Touch Bar, while Gurman only says Apple has tested models without the Touch Bar, but both lines of thought seem to indicate there isn't much to come. for Apple's OLED bar. Considering how little he has reached his potential, that might not be a bad thing.
Processor and battery life
Apple caused a stir when it released the first version of its own Apple Silicon processors, the M1, in the latest Mac series. In our testing, they turned out to be blazingly fast, with the Mac Mini delivering the best performance of the bunch.
There is good news on this front, as the 2021 MacBook Pro models are expected to have the next generation of this chip (perhaps called M2 or M1X). We already know from previous reports that Apple is working on processors with more than 32 cores, although this particular chip is almost certainly reserved for the Mac Pro. That said, expect the 2021 MacBook Pro models to ship with more cores and more performance - the M1 was just the start.
A report of Bloomberg claimed that the next generation of Apple Silicon chips could have 16 high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores. They're slated for release this year, which means they could debut in the next MacBook Pro. If those chips don't quite meet the deadline, Apple could release chips with eight or 12 high-performance cores instead. Either outcome would be an increase over the M1 and its four high-performance cores and four high-performance cores.
The processor also means good things for battery life. When we reviewed the MacBook Pro M1, we got 21 hours of battery life in our video playback test and 16 hours in light web browsing. It's around thrice the battery life of the Intel 2020 MacBook Pro. You can expect similar exploits from the 2021 MacBook Pro thanks to the incredibly efficient ARM-based chip that it will use.
A brighter, more contrasting screen
Among all the rumors concerning the MacBook Pro, those concerning its display have remained among the most interesting. Kuo has been arguing for some time that Apple has been working on outfitting its business laptop with a Mini-LED display. This technology crams thousands of small-scale LEDs into the screen, delivering superb contrast and dynamic range without the burn-in issues OLED displays can suffer from.
The latest reports on Apple's MacBook Pro plans leave this mini-LED possibility open, apparently without confirming whether Apple will use it anyway. Gurman, for example, claims that the 2021 MacBook Pro models will have "brighter, more contrasting panels." This is in line with what we expect from Mini-LED displays without referring to them by name, so it remains to be seen what Apple will do.
What's more certain is that Apple will shrink the edges of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, allowing a larger 14-inch panel to fit into the same-sized chassis. It's the same approach the company took when it replaced the MacBook Pro 15 with a 16-inch model without increasing its footprint. This change will result in a more modern laptop and more screen space for your work.
More Port Variety and the Return of MagSafe
Since the 2016 redesign that ushered in the Touch Bar and the Butterfly Keyboard, Apple has resolutely gone for USB-C in its laptops - to the exclusion of all other port options. But that may soon change.
Several reports have suggested that Apple will loosen the USB-C jack a bit and allow a greater variety of ports in the 2021 MacBook Pro. We're not sure which ports might come back (although USB-C is still present. ), but anything that reduces our reliance on adapters and dongles is a good thing.
The increase in port variety means an apparent return for a much loved MacBook feature that was first discontinued with the 12-inch MacBook in 2015: MagSafe. This handy technology magnetically attaches the charging cable to your Mac, which means it quickly detaches if the cable is pulled, preventing your expensive laptop from falling to the ground and crashing. According to industry rumors, Apple will reintroduce MagSafe in the 2021 MacBook Pro and make it work using a pill-shaped port much like its old incarnation. Given the popularity of MagSafe - and how much we've missed it since its discontinuation - this is a welcome change of heart from Apple.
It does mean a return to proprietary charging technology, however, as from 2016 to today, the MacBook Pro charged through the common USB-C port. While you might be worried about whether your old USB-C charger will work with newer MacBooks equipped with MagSafe, don't - as long as the new MacBook Pro comes with USB-C ports, you can. load on this location. , although it also has MagSafe.
MacBook Pro 2021: our wishlist
Despite the many rumors about what could be included in the 2021 MacBook Pro, there are still a few other features that we would like to see emerge. These are not guaranteed but would certainly have an extremely positive impact if Apple gave them the green light.
In addition to a greater variety of ports, we would like to see more ports, period. It's still possible to buy a MacBook Pro with just two ports - in fact, four-port MacBook Pro models are limited to Intel processors, and if you want the much better M1 chips, you have to accept half the number of ports. 'USB-C slots. When you pay $ 1,299 or more for a laptop, that's not enough.
The second feature we would like to see is Face ID. This secure technology already works wonderfully on the iPhone and iPad, and it would be a welcome addition to the Mac. Imagine sitting in front of your laptop and it automatically unlocks without you having to do anything - that's what Face ID could offer, and we know Apple is at least giving it some thought.
However, the industry has been noticeably silent about this lately, and neither Kuo nor Gurman mention it in their latest reports, so we unfortunately think it's unlikely to be a feature of the 2021 MacBook Pro models. Whether it's due to delays caused by COVID-19 or Apple's reluctance to add it to the Mac, we can't say.
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