New MacBook Pro Models Will Feature Flat-Edged Form Factor, MagSafe, More I/O, No Touch Bar [Report]

Apple’s much awaited redesigned MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon will feature a flat-edged form factor, the return of MagSafe, more I/O, no Touch Bar, and more, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

The MacBook Pro will purportedly come in 14-inch and 16-inch size options. Its flat-edge design is described as “similar to the iPhone 12” with no curves. Apparently, MagSafe is coming back and the OLED Touch Bar is going away in favor of function keys. Additionally, Kuo says there are more ports which means that most users won’t need additional dongles.

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1. The two new models are equipped with about 14-inch and 16-inch displays, respectively.
2. In terms of casing design, the new models cancel the curvy design of existing models’ top and bottom parts and adopt a flat-edged form factor design similar to the ‌iPhone 12‌.
3. The ‌MagSafe‌ charging connector design is restored.
4. The OLED touch bar is removed, and the physical function buttons are restored.
5. There is no Intel CPU option for the new models.
6. They are equipped with more types of I/O, and most users may not need to purchase additional dongles.
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Apple still plans to use the same heat pipe design as the current 16-inch MacBook Pro which outperforms the current 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Unfortunately, Kuo doesn’t expect Apple to launch the new MacBook Pro models until the third quarter. However, they will likely help boost total MacBook shipments by 25-30% year-over-year to 20 million units.

Finally, Kuo says Apple is “aggressively testing” a vapor chamber thermal system for high-end 2021 iPhone models. This would help keep the device cooler when under heavy stress, allowing for improved performance. Although the system has yet to pass Apple’s tests, Kuo expects it to be implemented in high-end models in the near future.

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Apple’s new M1 Macs can be ordered here:
● 13-inch MacBook Air with M1 Chip
● 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Chip
● Mac mini with M1 Chip