This week was certainly eventful in the Apple world, with a flurry of CES ads earlier in the week followed by a wave of Mac and iPhone rumors later in the week.
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This week’s new rumors included details about the updated MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro models, as well as some other rumors, so be sure to read below to update!
Kuo: new MacBook Pro models with flat edge design, MagSafe, touch bar and more ports
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a meaningful report this week sharing several new details about the next generation MacBook Pro models that will arrive in the third quarter of this year.
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According to Kuo, Apple will launch 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicone, a redesign with flatter edges like the iPhone 12, the return of MagSafe for charging and more ports. Apple is also getting rid of the controversial Touch Bar, which has replaced traditional function keys in recent years.
BloombergMark Gurman also expressed his opinion on the matter, corroborating many of the details shared by Kuo and noting that the new MacBook Pro models will also feature “brighter, high-contrast” screens and that the return of MagSafe will allow for faster loading.
Apple develops redesigned iMac with thinner bezels, Apple silicone chips
Along with the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple is also planning a redesign for its iMac line, according to Bloombergis Mark Gurman.
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Gurman says there will be two iMac models to replace the current sizes of 21.5 inches and 27 inches, and they will feature a design similar to the Pro Display XDR, with thinner screen bezels around (including removing the old “chin” “below the screen) and straight back. The new iMacs will also be based on Apple’s silicon chips with more processing cores and graphics power than seen in the initial batch of M1 Macs launched in late 2020.
Apple working on two new Mac Pro desktops, one of which will be reminiscent of the Power Mac G4 Cube
Also in front of the Mac desktop, Gurman says Apple is working on a pair of Mac Pro models. The first is a direct successor to the current model and will likely continue to use Intel processors.
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The second model will be less than half the size of the current Mac Pro and will feature a mostly aluminum exterior with a design that could “invoke nostalgia” for the old Power Mac G4 Cube.
Apple said it was working on a low-cost external monitor to succeed with the Thunderbolt Display
With Apple’s Pro Display XDR costing $ 5,000 (plus an additional $ 1,000 per booth), many Apple users have been calling for Apple to launch a new consumer-oriented monitor, and Gurman says Apple also has one of these under construction.
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Few details about the new consumer display are known beyond the reduced specs compared to the Pro Display XDR, but it would be Apple’s first consumer-focused display since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016.
Apple testing fingerprint sensor on display for iPhone 13, foldable iPhone also under development
In a separate report, Gurman highlighted developments in front of the iPhone, claiming that Apple is considering adding a Touch ID sensor under the screen to this year’s iPhone, in addition to the Face ID TrueDepth sensor.
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He also says that Apple is in fact working on foldable iPhones and has developed several prototype folding screens with electronics behind the screen and an almost invisible hinge. Development is still in its early stages, so the launch of a foldable iPhone is “probably years away”, if it will happen.
The best Apple-related accessories at CES 2021
This week marked the first all-digital CES 2021 and, although Apple does not attend the convention directly, there is always a wide variety of Apple-related announcements, including HomeKit smart home accessories, AirPlay 2 speakers and TVs, CarPlay receivers and More .
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On our YouTube channel this week, we highlight some of the best Apple-related accessories featured at CES 2021. This year’s picks include the new Kensington docking station for iPad Pro with built-in AirPods wireless charging, LG’s first UltraFine monitor with OLED technology for Macs, wireless headphones from Belkin that will integrate with Apple’s Find My app for lost and found features and more.
Visit our CES 2021 news hub for our full coverage and subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more Apple-related videos.
New AirPods Pro and iPhone SE to be launched in April
Apple plans to launch second generation AirPods Pro and a third generation iPhone SE in April 2021, according to the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing information provided by Chinese supply chain sources.
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The report states that the new AirPods Pro will come with a slightly narrower charging case, but no additional details have been provided about any of the products.
BloombergMark Gurman previously reported that Apple intends to make the second generation AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the rod that sticks out from the bottom, but it is unclear whether Apple will achieve this. Gurman said Apple had a test project with a more rounded shape that fills the ear more, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.
As for the iPhone SE, many rumors suggest that a larger version of the device could be released. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said earlier that Apple plans to launch an iPhone with an LCD and a Touch ID on / off button in 2021, and perhaps that device is the new iPhone SE.
Safari allows users to enable the “Hidden Items” tab in “Find My” application before AirTags is released
Apple’s AirTags item trackers are expected to be managed through the Find My app on iPhone, iPad and Mac. This week, a simple Safari trick was discovered that allows anyone to take a look at this guide on those devices.
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As seen by MacRumors reader David Chu, insert the link findmy: // items in Safari on devices running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, macOS 11.1 or later takes you to a hidden “Items” tab in the Find My app where airTags and third-party tracking accessories await if they are managed. It is not yet clear when the AirTags will be launched, but Apple tends to launch its first new products in a calendar year in March.
Similar to Tile and Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag, AirTags are expected to help users track their personal belongings, such as keys, wallets and backpacks, with users receiving a push notification on their Apple devices when they are separated from an item tagged. AirTags are expected to support Ultra Wideband to improve spatial perception, while current Tile and Samsung trackers are limited to Bluetooth (both Tile and Samsung are also expected to launch Ultra Wideband trackers in the future).
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