According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at least two MacBook Pro models due to debut in the second half of 2021 will come equipped with an SD card reader and HDMI port.
Adding details to previous predictions, Kuo in a note to investors on Tuesday said the additions will come with a major design change that includes more options for external device connectivity. Apple over the past six years has reduced the MacBook I / O options to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. The move to a more inclusive mobile platform will be welcome for those averse to dongles.
The MacBook Pro last included an SD card slot and HDMI port in 2015, with subsequent models avoiding those parts altogether.
Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive controller supplier for the upcoming SD card reader and may play a bigger role in the advancing Apple product line, says Kuo. The company may be ready to fulfill requests for a hardware update planned for the USB 4.0 protocol.
In a report last month, Kuo said he expects Apple to launch 14- and 16-inch mini LED MacBook Pro variants that boast a “flat” appearance more in line with the company’s modern design language. The first of these angled devices was the iPad Pro 2018, with the iPhone 12 in last year’s series following suit.
Also resurrected from previous MacBooks will be MagSafe charging technology, a version of which was introduced with the iPhone 12 series last year. The much-maligned OLED touch bar will have the advantage of physical function buttons, according to Kuo.
The analyst predicts a launch in the third quarter.
As a result of new design and specification changes, Kuo expects global MacBook shipments to grow between 25% and 30% year on year, to reach 20 million units in 2021.