Apple will unveil the highly-anticipated MacBook Pro 2016 at its next fall event scheduled on Oct. 27, expected to take place at or near Apple's Cupertino campus rather than in San Francisco.
MacBook Pro 2016 Launch
The Verge reports that Apple is expected to launch its next generation of the MacBook Pro by the end of the month, at an event planned on Oct. 27. Apple did not update in a significant way its top-of-the-line MacBook Pro since a long time. Actually, the last time when it did it was way back in 2012.
The MacBook Pro laptop has been updated since then to include a Force Touch trackpad and a Retina display. However, these are just minor changes. A major revamp of Apple's flagship MacBook Pro line has been long overdue.
The Oct. 27 launch of Apple's MacBook Pro 2016 has been confirmed to Recode by insider sources. It seems that the long wait for a new model of Apple's flagship laptop will be over soon. Apple's fans will finally be able to purchase a new MacBook model. It's about time, after four years of insignificant changes.
Given that Apple released MacOS Sierra last month, the move to introduce new computer models featuring the software had long been expected. The launch of the next generation MacBook Pro also comes just in time for the company to offer the new products on sale for the coming holiday season.
Over the past few years, sales of Mac computers have dropped, following the general decline in the PC market. For instance, Mac sales reduced in the second quarter of 2016 to 4.4 million from 4.8 million for the same period a year ago. Many Apple fans are waiting to purchase a new Mac only after the current lineup is updated.
MacBook Pro 2016 Rumors
Bloomberg has previously reported on rumors claiming that, aside of MacBook Pro laptops, a fall hardware event could include a new MacBook Air and a new iMac desktop, along with a new standalone 5K monitor. However, most of the tech experts agree on the fact that Apple will discontinue its MacBook Air line. With a "Dynamic Function Row" and a flatter keyboard, the upcoming MacBook Pro will be slimmer than the existing model.
Some other reports suggest that the MacBook Pro 2016 will come with a touchscreen OLED strip that will replace standard function keys. The MacOS Sierra will add the ability to copy and paste between iOS and MacOS devices as well as support for Apple's Siri voice assistant, among other features.
Tech experts have also predicted fingerprint-based security and Touch ID support as the iPod and iPhone currently offer. Intel's latest seventh Generation Core chips will power the MacBook Pro laptop lineup. As Apple is interested in expansion of virtual reality apps, more powerful AMD GPUs are also expected.
But Apple's refreshed MacBook Pro could also bring pain to those unready to embrace new connectors. While the MacBook Pro released in May 2015 still came with support for Thunderbolt 2 and USB 3.0 ports, a considerable change is expected to be implemented in the new lineup, according to Slash Gear. Rumors and speculations suggest that the new MacBook Pro will have USB-C only, as many as four ports depending on the model. USB Type-A and Thunderbolt 2 ports will be discontinued in the new model.
The benefit consists in size reduction and flexibility. This is arguably a natural evolution for Apple's laptop design, but not all the customers will be happy about it. As the MacBook Pro laptops are the everyday working machine for many, not all would approve losing traditional ports.
