What you need to know
- Apple is still planning to release new MacBooks in the next few weeks, according to a new report.
- Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that a new 14-inch and 16-inch Macbook Pro are on track to begin production in Q3.
- They are expected to feature new mini-LED displays.
Another report suggests Apple is still on track to release new MacBook Pro models in the next few weeks.
In his latest research note seen buy iMore Kuo states "we reiterate our previous prediction that the newly-designed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro will be equipped with mini-LED displays that will enter mass production in 3Q21."
The referenced quarter runs from July through September, indicating this could begin at any time. Kuo has reported previously on multiple occasions that Apple is planning two new MacBook Pro models including a new 14-inch size, as well as a 16-inch MacBook Pro. He has also stated that these will come with a huge display upgrade thanks to the power of mini-LED, which debuted in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021). From our review:
While Mini LED is in its infancy, its main advantages stem from those OLED-like blacks, which are very clear when compared to the older iPad Pro in a dark room. Apple always puts its best LCD displays into its iPad Pro lineup, but you can't fight physics, and having a single backlight makes black scenes appear more washed out and grey. In comparison, the new iPad Pro has far better dynamic range and suffers from fewer flares when displaying content where it goes very dark, and light pixels are densely packed together.
It has also been rumored that Apple's new MacBook Pro models will feature new Apple silicon in the form of a 10-core M1X chip, a more powerful variant of the M1 that will have eight high-performance cores, two energy efficiency cores, either 16 or 32 graphics cores as well as support for up to 64GB of RAM.
Mark Gurman has also reported that the new MacBook Pro will feature a redesigned chassis and a return of ports such as the SD card slot and the HDMI port, as well as an end to Apple's Touch Bar. If you can't wait for the next few weeks and a new release, or need a MacBook right now then check out the best MacBook deals currently available.
