The next MacBook Pro may bring back the MagSafe connector
- by Nick Cohen
- in Industry
- — Jan 16, 2021
Beyond the more powerful chips, Apple is also planning to step up the displays in its new MacBook Pros with brighter, higher-contrast panels, the person said. Both will use next-generation versions of Apple's in-house Mac processors, upgraded with more cores and enhanced graphics, the person said, asking not to be named as the products are not yet announced.
(Pocket-lint) - Reports suggest Apple will be introducing new MacBook Pros before too long and that these models will introduce a new design.
"Last month noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo gave out confirmation that Apple's upcoming 2021 MacBook Air and 13" MacBook Pro will debut with mini LED displays and M1 chipsets.
If the changes are accurate (always a big "if" with Apple) and assuming it doesn't change anything before the new laptops are released, the updates would mark a big shift in philosophy from current models.
An Apple spokeswoman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Bloomberg says that the revitalized MagSafe for new notebooks will also offer faster charging vs. USB-C, in addition to those other benefits. It was a favorite feature of the company's portable PC lineup that was first introduced in 2006 and most recently revived for its latest lineup of iPhones. Physically, they'll resemble existing notebooks, according to the report's sources, but they'll see the return of MagSafe, the dedicated magnetic charging interface that Apple used prior to switching power delivery over to USB-C on its laptops. The connector will be similar to the elongated pill-shape design of the older MagSafe port. The most radical design change, however, will be the removal of the somewhat controversial OLED Touch Bar strip that replaces most of the function keys on the top row of existing MacBook Pro models. Kuo says there will be no Intel option for the new Macs, and that they'll be equipped with more types of port so that users "may not need adapters". The new MacBook Pro 16 and MacBook pro 14 are expected to launch by mid-2021.
Gurman also reiterated Apple is "testing" new Macs with no Touch Bar, citing how some professional users have found the feature to be less valuable than physical keys.
