Following a report by Ming-Chi Kuo offering a variety of new details about the 2021 MacBook Pro update, Bloomberg comes out with its own report on the changes. The report adds additional details about the return of MagSafe and causes a redesign for the MacBook Air.
In case you missed it overnight, Kuo reported that Apple has some important changes in store for the MacBook Pro 2021, which will be available in 14 and 16 inch variations. It is rumored that the new MacBook Pro adopts a flat edge design similar to the Phone 12 and iPad Pro, adds more IO ports on the side, brings back MagSafe charging and dispenses with the controversial Touch Bar.
Bloomberg’s report corroborates that the new MacBook Pro will feature MagSafe for charging, with the added detail that this will allow laptops to charge at a faster rate:
The return of MagSafe with the next MacBook Pros will also allow these laptops to charge at a faster rate, the source said. The connector will look like the elongated pill-shaped design of the older MagSafe port. Despite moving away from USB-C for charging, Apple will still include several USB-C ports on its future Macs.
The report also offers additional information about 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro monitors, which are expected to use mini-LED:
In addition to the more powerful chips, Apple also plans to enlarge the screens of its new MacBook Pros with brighter and more contrast panels, the source said. The new Macs will be similar to the current versions, albeit with minor design changes. Apple plans to launch the new MacBook Pros in the middle of the year.
finally the Bloomberg report proves that Apple is also “planning a redesigned MacBook Air”, but that it will not be released until “long after the next MacBook Pros”.
Notably, we heard earlier that Apple would launch a more affordable MacBook Air in 2022. It is not clear whether this is the same machine, or whether Apple could be planning a redesigned version and keeping the current MacBook Air at a lower price.
Take from 9to5Mac
2021 seems to be a great year for the Mac, both with the expansion of Apple Silicon into new models and with other changes, such as the return of MagSafe, the end of the Touch Bar and more ports.
In many ways, it looks like Apple is planning to combine the best of the pre-2016 MacBook Pro with the best of the latest models. Similar to how Apple abandoned the famous butterfly keyboard, it now appears to be doing the same with the fully USB-C design and the touch bar.
What do you think of the recent MacBook Pro rumors? Are you excited to see Apple reverse some of the controversial changes of the past five years? Let us know in the comments!
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