M2/M1X MacBook Pro “Confirmed”: Expected Release Date, Features, Design
After the Apple M1 chip’s success, we’re now expecting the next-generation Apple M2 or M1X powered MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. We’re surely getting an upgrade in 2021, and there are some sweet features rumored to be exclusive to the Apple M2 MacBook Pro.
TF International Securities analyst and credible Apple leakster Ming-Chi Kuo told about the new design and features of the M2 MacBook Pro. If Kuo’s note is to be believed, the M2 MacBook Pro or the M1X MacBook Pro will add a lot more muscle to the Pro model than the Air. Here’s everything you need to know about the M2 MacBook Pro.
M1X MacBook Pro Release Date
The M2/M1X MacBook Pro release date is pegged to be around the third quarter of 2021. We can expect major design and feature changes. The upcoming Apple silicon-backed MacBook Pro is due for additional ports and possibly the return of MagSafe charging on MacBook.
It’s Confirmed!!! (Accidentally)
Apple has listed “M1X MacBook Pro” among the YouTube tags for WWDC 2021 keynote video. MacRumors tweeted about the tags. It means the Cupertino giant has quietly confirmed the name of the next-generation Apple Silicon, and the machine powered by it. We expect the M1X MacBook Pro to come in 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes.
If rumors are to be considered, the M1X will have a 10-core CPU and a 32-core GPU. Apple may not have officially announced the M1X MacBook Pro, but thanks to the tags, we can expect the launch at WWDC 2021 itself.
In the meantime, you can also read our coverage on what to expect from the M2 chip. If you’re planning to buy a new Mac, check out the M1 MacBook Air Vs MacBook Pro specs comparison to get a better idea.
M2 MacBook Pro Design
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the Pro will come with a “flat-edged” design. This will be in tune with the company’s other products. Apple has already squared off the edges on the iPhone 12 lineup and the new iPad lineup. So it’s no surprise that the next-gen MacBook Pro design will not be as curved as the current one.
The new Pro models are expected to come in 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes with a Mini LED display. It is certainly an upgrade over the current panel, and it means sharper, brighter images on the new Mac. You may notice design changes on the sides too, where Apple is expected to add more ports. Yes, Apple is likely to reverse its USB Type-C-only design. This means we may get more ports on the M2 MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro 2021 New Features
Now that the release date and design are out of the way, let’s talk about the 2021 MacBook Pro features. According to Kuo’s note, the new MacBook Pro will sport an HDMI port, an SD card slot, and MagSafe charging. Apple killed off the SD card slot after the 2015 MacBook Pro model. Then the HDMI and MagSafe were gone too.
Apple might actually add back HDMI and SD card support to the newer Pro models. It is so because the Pro has to offer more to justify its price over the Air now. The current M1 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models are almost at par, making it difficult to justify the Pro as the ‘Pro’ choice.
With the addition of an HDMI port and an SD card slot, Apple may try to utilize the thicker design of the Pro model to deliver extra functions. As for the MacBook Air, we expect it to count on the adapters to get additional ports.
Kuo says that Genesys Logic will be making the SD card readers, and they’ll be USB 4.0 compatible. Both the HDMI as well as SD card reader are popular features among photographers and video editors. So we can say that Apple is tapping deeper into a territory that already prefers the MacBook Pro over other machines.
MagSafe: The Prodigal Son Returns!
Lastly, MagSafe on the M2 MacBook Pro will probably be a good decision. I’ve been using a MagSafe MacBook Air, and I’ve also used a MacBook with Type-C charging. The MagSafe model lets you confidently charge your MacBook on a table in a cafe. If someone accidentally topples on the cable, it just disconnects easily, saving your laptop.
With the Type-C port, it is likely that you’ll wreck your MacBook if someone yanks the cable. However, it remains to be seen if Apple offers a 90 watt MagSafe charger just like the Type-C one that comes with the current MacBook Pro.
Rest assured, if these upgrades make it to the next-gen MacBook Pro, it’ll better justify the price for not just the premium, but the added functionality and design.
