The long-running rumors of Apple releasing a 14-inch MacBook Pro have got some cadence today after NikkeiAsia published an article saying two new “MacBooks” will see mass production in the second half of 2021.
Earlier, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who is known for reliable before-the-fact reports, said that Apple was developing two new laptops in 14-inch and 16-inch variations. According to him, the new laptops might be released in the third quarter of this year.
Return of the Ports
Kuo predicted that the new MacBook Pros will see significant design changes. The 2021 models of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will feature a brand new mini LED display. They will also have more ports — rumored elsewhere to be HDMI and SD card slots — and come with MagSafe charging.
It’s not clear if there’s a new type of MagSafe in the works since Apple abandoned MacBook’s original MagSafe in 2016, and the new iPhone’s MagSafe is vastly different.
14-inch MacBook Pro
A 14-inch MacBook Pro has been rumored for a long time now, even before Apple M1 laptops were announced. While the announcement of Apple M1 Macs without a complete visual redesign of the laptop disappointed many, the surprisingly powerful performance of the M1 Mac Mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro has overshadowed that disappointment for many.
Still, for people who have been waiting for a redesigned MacBook Pro, the 14-inch maybe it. I personally tell people to skip the first generation of any product, but Apple’s last two first-generation hardware (the Apple Silicon chip, namely M1, and the Butterfly Keyboard on the 16-inch MacBook Pro before that) have performed better than expected. That makes it less scary to get a redesigned MacBook Pro whenever it releases.
New MacBooks and iMacs in 2021
While we still don’t know when Apple might actually release the new products, chances are, we’ll end 2021 with at least three new Macs — the 14-inch MacBook Pro, a redesigned 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a brand new iMac 2021.
Personally, I’m most excited about the 14-inch MacBook Pro and the redesigned iMac which is rumored to follow the design language of Apple’s Pro Display XDR.
Apple has already discontinued the iMac Pro. I believe it’s now only a matter of time before some sort of official announcement comes our way regarding a redesigned iMac and iMac Pro.
What MacBook are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments.
