The MacBook Pro 2021 is an upcoming laptop from Apple that’s rumoured to launch this year with a new M1X processor, Mini LED display and a design refresh.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro looks to be the next laptop that Apple will upgrade with its ‘Apple Silicon‘ processor, as it continues the transition away from Intel chips. Bloomberg reports that the new Pro laptop could feature a new Apple M1X chip with 10 cores (made up of 8 performance cores and 2 high-efficiency cores).
But Apple seemingly won’t be relying solely on a specs boost for the next MacBook, as the company is expected to give the laptop a significant redesign, while also introducing a new 14-inch model to sit alongside the 16-inch version.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumours) has reportedly claimed that Apple will be upgrading the MacBook’s webcam too, boosting the resolution from 720p to 1080p to provide improved clarity for video calls.
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 the laptop is expected to launch before the end of the year.
It’s looking increasingly likely that it will be announced in either September or October this year. Apple will be hosting its annual iPhone event in September, so Apple could either beef up its presentation or hold a separate Mac event in the following month.
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.
Additional reports suggest the M1X is essentially the ‘Pro’ version of the M1 chip, featuring additional CPU and GPU cores.
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 |
This shouldn’t be confused with the rumoured M2 chip however, which will apparently be the successor to the M1 and feature in future MacBook Air models.
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.
Apple leaker and YouTuber, Luke Miani, has suggested the MacBook Pro 2021 will feature up to an 8TB SSD and 32GB of RAM. That means you won’t be able to crank the RAM up to 64GB like you can with the existing Intel MacBook Pro. That shouldn’t be a big deal to the majority of people, but it would still be nice to have the choice of a higher performance ceiling.
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 Rumors) 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 reportedly claims that Apple will boost the webcam resolution from 720p up to 1080p, which will be good news to those who enjoy FaceTime calls.
A 14-inch MacBook Pro model will apparently 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.
Should you wait for the Macbook Pro 2021?
All signs point towards the MacBook Pro 2021 being announced in either September or October this year, which means you’ve probably got a maximum of two months to wait.
We’re not talking about a minor upgrade here either, with Apple rumoured to offering an incredibly fast performance, introducing Mini LED technology and a design overhaul. This could be one of the biggest MacBook upgrades in yonks.
I strongly recommend holding off on a MacBook Pro purchase until this new laptop is announced, especially since it will be running on Apple Silicon rather than an Intel chip.
That said, a MacBook Pro is only a worthwhile option if you need a very powerful GPU performance for the likes of video editing and 3D modelling, as it’s a very expensive laptop. If you just need a speedy day-to-day performance, then check out the MacBook Air M1 instead, as it will be a far more affordable option.
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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.