Apple is said to be preparing a new version of the MacBook Pro for later in the year, and it could have one particularly unique feature.
The MacBook Pro range has remained pretty much unchanged – but for a Force Touch trackpad addition here and there – for several years now. However, Apple could finally be set for an overhaul.
Noted KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims that a completely new MacBook Pro is coming in Q4, and 9to5Mac has corroborated such claims.
The new MacBook Pro, which will come in 13 and 15-inch models as always, will be thinner and lighter than the current models. It will apparently take design cues from the current 12-inch MacBook, which is the newest MacBook design in the range, and will feature metal injection moulded hinges.
Also interesting is the claim that this new MacBook Pro will come with Touch ID, which is the fingerprint authentication system introduced in the iPhone 5S back in 2013.
But the stand-out claim here is that Apple’s new flagship laptop will feature an OLED touch bar above the keyboard. This will replace the physical function keys that currently sit atop the numerical keys. It’s not the full touchscreen that Windows 10 users get on many new laptops, but it’ll be the first touch element Apple has included in its laptop range.
Related: MacBook Pro vs MacBook Air
In terms of ports, it’s claimed that the new MacBook Pro will come with USB-C (like the new MacBook) and Thunderbolt 3.
Away from the MacBook Pro range, Apple will apparently release a 13-inch MacBook with a similar form factor to the 12-inch model. The MacBook Air will be kept around as the entry-level MacBook.
Next, take a look at our review of the MacBook Pro 2015:
What would you like to see in the next MacBook Pro? Let us know in the comments below.
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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.
