The MacBook Pro 2021 failed to make an appearance at WWDC 2021, despite prior reports suggesting an imminent reveal. But Apple tipster Mark Gurman has indicated that the laptop could still arrive this year.
In his Power On newsletter on Bloomberg, Mark Gurman indicated that the MacBook Pro is still set to be release ‘later this year’.
Apple has a new entry-level iPad for students and revamped MacBook Pros and iPad minis coming later this year.
Mark Gurman via Bloomberg
Mark Gurman also previously reported that the MacBook Pro 2021 could launch ‘early this summer’. If still accurate, it means we could see the new laptop before the end of September.
However, Digitimes (via MacRumours) claimed the 14-inch MacBook won’t enter ‘volume production’ until Q4 2021, indicating a slightly longer wait.
Launch date aside, what can we expect to see from the new MacBook Pro 2021? Reports suggest Apple will be ditching Intel processors altogether for the MacBook Pro 2021 line, as the transition to Apple Silicon continues. Bloomberg reports that the new Pro laptops could feature a new Apple M1X chip with 10 cores (made up of 8 performance cores and 2 high-efficiency cores).
The new MacBook Pro is widely expected to see a significant redesign, while also introducing a new 14-inch model to sit alongside the 16-inch version. Renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests (via MacRumors) that the MacBook Pro could feature a “flat-edged form factor design” that’s inspired by the iPhone 12.
Kuo also reportedly said Apple will be ditching the OLED touch bar (replacing it with the traditional function keys), restoring the MagSafe charging connector, and opting for an even brighter display with mini-LED technology. Apple will apparently be adding more port connections such as HDMI and an SD card reader, so users will no longer have to be reliant on dongles and USB-C connectivity.
Keep scrolling down for everything else we know about the upcoming Apple MacBook Pro 2021, and make sure this page is bookmarked for future updates.
Release date
The release date for the MacBook Pro 2021 is still up in the air, but is expected to launch before the end of the year.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via Mac Rumours) suggests Apple’s new laptops won’t hit shelves until the third quarter of 2021, which would imply a September launch at the earliest.
Meanwhile, Digitimes (via MacRumours) claims the new 14-inch MacBook Pro won’t enter ‘volume production’ until Q4 2021.
With so many conflicting reports, it’s difficult to know what’s accurate right now so take everything with a pinch of salt.
Price
There’s been no indication of price so far, but it’s possible Apple will stick to the same price point as the existing Intel MacBook Pro model.
The existing 16-inch MacBook Pro currently has a starting price of £2399, although we’ve no idea how much Apple will charge for the rumoured 14-inch MacBook Pro.
Specs
The one thing we know for sure about the MacBook Pro 2021 specs is that it will feature Apple Silicon. Twitter account LeaksApplePro suggests this new chip could be called ‘M1X’, although clarified that the name is not final.
A report from Bloomberg claims this new MacBook Pro chip could feature up to 8 high-performance cores and 2 energy-efficient cores. Bloomberg sources claim that such specs would help the new chip “greatly outpace the performance and capabilities of the current M1 chips.”
Bloomberg also reports that the new MacBook Pro will come in 16 and 32 graphics core variations, which are both a substantial increase from the eight-core graphics found in the existing Apple M1 chip. All of the signs point towards Apple launching one of the more powerful laptops on the market.
| Apple M1 | Untitled Apple Chip | |
| High-performance cores | 4 | 8 |
| Energy-efficient cores | 4 | 2 |
| Graphics Cores | 7 / 8 | 16 / 32 |
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests there will be no Intel configuration made available for the MacBook Pro 2021, as Apple looks to edge closer to completing its transition over to Apple Silicon.
Design
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says that 2021 will see “the most significant design update to the MacBook Pro in the past five years.”
Such a redesign will apparently see Apple ditch the TouchBar, implement its MagSafe charging connector, and introduce a new case design with a more “flat-edged form factor” akin to the iPhone 12.
A mini-LED display could also be introduced to the next MacBook Pro, with DigiTimes reporting that Taiwanese company Ennostar has begun production of mini-LED backlight units for Apple. The inclusion of a mini-LED display would potentially offer superior contrast, wide colour gamut performance, and HDR compared to existing Apple laptop displays.
Both Kuo (via Mac Rumours) and Mark Gurman (via Bloomberg) also suggest the next MacBook Pro will feature an SD card reader. Older models of the MacBook Pro haven’t previously featured an SD card reader, so it will be interesting to see Apple make a U-turn and reinstate the port. Kuo also claims Apple will be adding an HDMI port to the MacBook Pro, making the laptop less reliant on USB-C.
A 14-inch MacBook Pro model will reportedly be added to the line-up, too, which would be great for creative professionals who like to work on the go. Maybe Apple will even be able to reduce the heft of the 16-inch model, although that’s just wishful thinking on our part.
We also expect Apple to retain the super-skinny bezel that was introduced in the 2019 model, as well as the scissor-switch keyboard that represents a massive improvement on the previous Butterfly switches.
Keep this page bookmarked for future updates on the MacBook Pro 2021.
The Trusted Take
The rumoured MacBook Pro looks like a very exciting device, addressing the existing model’s flaws by boosting the performance and giving it a more modern design.
I’m excited to see how powerful the new Apple Silicon processor will be, especially following its resounding success in the MacBook Air. This could very well become the most powerful laptop on the market, which will no doubt irk the likes of AMD and Intel.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.