Apple's new MacBook Pros for 2021 are set to launch in late Q3, at least according to one new report. Following rumors that Apple would announce its new MacBook Pro computers at WWDC, all signs are now pointing to a release this fall.
2020 was both a huge and small year for the Mac. Apple upgraded its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops with the M1 chip, delivering substantially better performance and battery life than the Intel CPUs used previously. Outside of that, however, the rest of the MacBook experience didn't change all that much. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but it appears that 2021 is when even bigger change is coming. Following the iMac's redesign earlier this year, rumors are pointing to similarly massive overhauls for the Mac mini, MacBook Air, and — of course — the MacBook Pro.
In the case of the MacBook Pro, specifically, a new report from DigiTimes suggests the Pro lineup will be here fairly soon. Per the report, "Zhen Ding Technology and Tripod Technology have both entered the supply chain for Apple's upcoming miniLED-backlit MacBook series, and will be ramping up their shipments of backlight boards starting the third quarter." Because of that shipping timeline, Apple is expected to launch new 14-inch and 16-inch variants of the MacBook Pro "in late third-quarter 2021." That means the computers will arrive in September, likely alongside the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, MacBook Air, and Mac mini.
Latest 2021 MacBook Pro Rumors
As noted in the quote above, one of the most anticipated features for the 2021 MacBook Pro is the miniLED display technology. This is the same tech used in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, allowing for intense blacks, vibrant colors, and high brightness levels. For MacBook Pro users that rely on the machine for photo/video editing or other creative use, this alone is reason enough to start getting excited for September.
Another big upgrade to look forward to is a more powerful M1X or M2 chipset from Apple. It's expected to offer more CPU and GPU cores than the current M1, along with support for more RAM — all good things for people who'll rely on the 2021 MacBook Pro as their main workstation. A big shift in the IO is also expected. Current rumors point to more USB-C ports, a full-size HDMI port, an SD card reader, and even MagSafe charging. Compared to the four USB-C ports that the MacBook Pro is currently limited to, the 2021 model sounds a lot like the computer fans have been praying for Apple to make for years.
Now that a September release date is all but confirmed, when exactly in September will Apple announce the new MacBook Pros? Apple events typically occur on a Tuesday, meaning the 2021 MacBook Pros could be announced on September 7, 14, 21, or 28. Apple should send out press invites a couple of weeks before the event happens, meaning a firm date should be revealed in late July or early September.
Source: DigiTimes