New MacBook Pro 2016 Rumors: Release Date To Be Revealed Next Week Confirms Analyst
Apple’s MacBook Pro still remains largely untouchable in the laptop market. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that Apple’s latest iteration of their flagship laptop is hugely anticipated. However, Apple fans might not have to wait much longer to get their hands on the new MacBook Pro, with a reveal and release date expected next week. The new 2016 model of the MacBook Pro was largely rumored to be making an appearance at an Apple event next week, with an analyst now confirming that will be the case.
Rhoda Alexander, Director Tablet and Notebook PCs at IHS Markit Technology, spoke to Forbes about Apple’s newest MacBook Pro model. The widely trusted analyst confirmed that Apple will be refreshing their 13.3-inch and 15.4-inch MacBook Pro models. She also added that IHS was predicting a launch in late September or October 2016. However, with only a few days left in September, Alexander revised the prediction to confirm that the new MacBook model will materialize next week.
When is MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 2016: Arriving? Probably Soon @mbrookec @Forbes https://t.co/U8t6bJuwhd pic.twitter.com/tdyXQASvvU
— Rob in Portland ? (@RobShiveley) September 25, 2016
Perhaps the most interesting revelation, however, is that alongside the aforementioned new MacBook Pro models, Apple is also expected to refresh their MacBook Air lineup with a new 13.3-inch variant. That’s something of a surprise considering Apple was widely expected to be dropping the MacBook Air line in favor of the revised MacBook model.
Alongside when the new MacBook Pro model will be available to purchase, Alexander has also been predicting what specs she expects to see inside the new models. As it stands, Alexander believes that it’s unlikely Apple will include the new Intel Kaby Lake chip in their models, given the timing of the laptop’s production. With that in mind, IHS is predicting that Apple will opt for the slightly older Skylake processor. That being said, there’s always a chance Intel could have brought forward production of Kaby Lake for the new MacBook Pro.
There’s also been a good deal of speculation that Apple plans to up the graphical performance of their MacBook Pro line with AMD’s latest graphics cards. However, Rhoda Alexander was quick to quash those rumors, claiming that it would be incredibly unlikely for Apple to opt for an AMD GPU.
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MacBook Pro 2016: Apple Event In October, Release Date And Rumors
The new 2016 MacBook Pro is expected to be Apple’s biggest update to their signature laptop yet. According to Bloomberg, the new MacBook Pro will be packed into a thinner form factor, closer to that of the standard MacBook and MacBook Air models. That being said, whilst the new MacBook Pro variants are expected to be thinner than their predecessors, they’ll still retain the series’ signature design. Apple apparently has no plans to bring a tapered design to the Pro models as it stands, as we’ve seen with other MacBook models.
The other big standout feature of the 2016 MacBook Pro will be an OLED function bar. Apple has been rumored for a while to be replacing the function keys on the MacBook Pro with an OLED display that adapts to what users are doing on the laptop. Despite still being a speculative feature, that hasn’t stopped fans from creating mock-up designs that foreshadow what that new OLED function bar will look like physically. Similarly, Apple is expected to bring the new USB-C type ports to the 2016 MacBook Pro and Touch ID.
If IHS Markit Technology is correct with their prediction, the new 2016 model MacBook Pro will be revealed by Apple next week. If that’s the case, the new laptop should be available in Apple stores across the globe by the end of October.
[Featured Image by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images]
