SHANGHAI, CHINA – 01/12/2020: MacBook Pro in an Apple retail store in Shanghai. (Photo by Alex Tai / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images)
Photographer: SOPA Images / LightRocket
Photographer: SOPA Images / LightRocket
Apple Inc. is planning to upgrade its MacBook Pro laptops this year with much faster processors, updated displays and the return of its magnetic charger, according to someone who knows about the plans.
The new laptops are planned to come in two screen sizes, a 14-inch model called code J314 and a 16-inch version called J316 internally. Both will use next-generation versions of Apple’s internal Mac processors, updated with more cores and improved graphics, the person said, asking not to be named because the products are not yet announced.
These devices will mark the first high-end Apple laptops to move away from Intel Corp. components. The company updated its 13-inch base MacBook Pro with its own M1 chip in November for positive reviews.
Beyond the more powerful chips, Apple also intends to intensify the displays of its new MacBook Pro with brighter panels, with higher contrast, said the person. The new Macs will look similar to current versions, although with minor design changes. Apple aims to launch the new MacBook Pro in the middle of the year.
An Apple spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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A major change in new computers will be the way they load. For the past five years, Apple has relied on USB-C ports for both power transfer and data from its laptops, making them compatible with other manufacturers’ chargers. But the company is now bringing back MagSafe, the magnetic power adapter, which means that any accidental pulling of the power cord would simply detach it from the laptop, rather than pulling down the entire computer. It was a favorite feature of the company’s range of laptops, which was first introduced in 2006 and most recently was revived for its latest range of iPhone devices.
The return of MagSafe with the next MacBook Pro will also allow those laptops to charge at a faster rate, the person said. The connector will be similar to the elongated pill-shaped design of the older MagSafe port.
Despite removing USB-C for charging, Apple will still include more USB-C ports on its future Macs.
In developing its next set of Mac laptops, Apple has also tested versions that remove the touch bar from its laptop keyboards. Touch Bar, introduced as part of the latest redesign of the MacBook Pro in 2016, turns the top row of keyboards into a touchscreen strip that can display a variety of information and a set of changing controls to suit applications and tasks. Some professional users have stated that they have found the control scheme less convenient than physical keys.
Apple is also planning a redesigned MacBook Air, but does not expect it to be released until after the next MacBook Pro.