New reports indicate that the just revealed 2016 MacBook Pros may not be compatible with all Thunderbolt 3 devices, adding to the list of complaints about Apple’s controversial new laptops.
Accessory and peripherals manufacturer Plugable first reported the issue on its blog (H/T AppleInsider) where it claimed that:
“Apple has made design decisions which prevent all currently available Thunderbolt 3 peripherals from being compatible with the 2016 MacBook Pros.”
Specifically, the company said that its compatibility testing had revealed that certain Thunderbolt 3 devices featuring older Texas Instruments chips were unable to communicate with Apple’s latest laptops, due to support issues with macOS Sierra.
Apple has so far declined to comment on Plugable’s complaint, but told AppleInsider in a statement:
“While we have no comment on Plugable’s specific complaint, products using the newest Thunderbolt chipsets, with up-to-date drivers, will have no difficulty connecting to any 2016 MacBook Pro.”
In other words, the problem seems to be non-compliant hardware in some of Plugable’s products, rather than a concerted effort on Apple’s part to tick off consumers.
Still, it’s worth being aware of before making any Thunderbolt 3-related purchases. Apple accessories don’t usually come cheaply, so double-check yours is compatible before splashing out.
Related: Should you upgrade to the new MacBook Pro?
WATCH: MacBook Pro 2016 first look
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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.
