Apple has long been rumoured to be preparing a refresh of its MacBook Pro range for 2016, and it seems we’ve just learned of a particularly interesting new feature.
While the new range is yet to be confirmed, we’ve already seen numerous reports suggesting Apple will be adding a new OLED touch panel to the laptops. But now a report from 9to5Mac claims the company has also added a Touch ID fingerprint scanner to the machines’ power buttons.
Citing a ‘source who has provided reliable information in the past’, the report seems to confirm what was suggested by an initial KGI note which first mentioned the OLED panel. That note also hinted at the Touch ID functionality, but did not elaborate on how it would be integrated.
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Renders have shown what the rumoured OLED touch panel could look like
While there’s no way to confirm today’s report as accurate, adding Touch ID to the power button would certainly make a lot of sense. Apple’s iPhones also contain fingerprint scanners in the Home Button, and, as Engadget points out,
Adding Touch ID to the MacBook Pro could allow you to do more than unlock the device using your fingerprint, of course. There’s also the possibility of authorising online payments using the technology.
We’re expecting to see 13-inch and 15-inch models when the new MacBook Pros eventually go on sale, but at this point, Apple is yet to confirm it is even working on a refresh. In spite of this, numerous reports and rumours have proliferated, suggesting the new machines will be thinner and lighter than the current range and may come with USB Type-C connection ports with built-in Thunderbolt 3 capabilities.
The new MacBook Pros are expected to launch later this year, perhaps in late October, although nothing has been confirmed at this point.
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Are you excited to see Touch ID make it to the MacBook Pro? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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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.