Top stories: MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac Pro and iPhone Rumors, Best of CES 2021

This week has certainly been a busy one in the Apple world, with a lot of announcements from CES earlier this week, followed by an eruption of rumors about the Mac and iPhone later in the week.

This week’s new rumors have included details on the updated MacBook Pro, iMac and Mac Pro models, as well as some other information, so be sure to read below to get caught!

Kuo: new MacBook Pro models to include a flat-edge design, MagSafe, no touch bar and more ports

Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a significant report this week that shares more new details about next-generation MacBook Pro models coming in the third quarter of this year.

According to Kuo, Apple will launch Apple’s 14- and 16-inch silicon MacBook Pro models, a redesign with iPhone 12-like edges, MagSafe return for charging, and more ports. It is also said that Apple is getting rid of the controversial Touch Bar that has replaced the traditional function keys in recent years.

BloombergMark Gurman also analyzed the subject, corroborating many of the details shared by Kuo and noting that the new MacBook Pro models will also have “brighter, higher contrast” displays and that MagSafe’s return will allow for faster charging.

Apple is developing a redesigned iMac with thinner frames, Apple’s silicon chips

Along with the redesigned 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple is also planning to redesign its iMac range, according to BloombergMark Gurman.

Gurman says there will be two iMac models to replace the current 21.5-inch and 27-inch sizes and will have a design similar to the Pro Display XDR, with thinner display frames around (including the removal of long-lasting devices). “Chin” below the display) and a flat back. The new iMacs will also be based on Apple silicon chips, with more processing cores and graphics power than those seen in the original batch of M1 Macs launched in late 2020.

Apple is working on two new Mac Pro desktops, one of which will be the Power Mac G4 Cube

Also on the Mac desktop, Gurman says Apple is working on a pair of Mac Pro models. The first is a direct successor to the current model and is likely to continue to use Intel processors.

It is said that the second model is less than half the size of the current Mac Pro and will have a mostly aluminum exterior, with a design that could “invoke nostalgia” for the old Power Mac G4 Cube.

Apple has said it will work on an external monitor at lower prices to make the Thunderbolt display a success

With Apple’s Pro Display XDR priced at $ 5,000 (plus an additional $ 1,000 for the booth), many Apple users have asked Apple to launch a new consumer-oriented display, and Gurman says Apple has one of these as well. in the works.

Few details about the new consumer display are known beyond the reduced specifications compared to Pro Display XDR, but it would be the first consumer display from Apple since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016.

Testing the on-screen fingerprint sensor for Apple 13, foldable iPhone also in the works

In a separate report, Gurman highlighted developments on the front of the iPhone, claiming that Apple is considering adding a touch ID sensor under the display to this year’s iPhone, in addition to the TrueDepth Face ID sensor.

He also says that Apple is indeed working on foldable iPhones and has developed several prototypes of foldable screens with electronics behind the screen and a largely invisible hinge. However, development is still in its infancy, so the launch of a foldable iPhone is “probably years away” if it ever happens.

The best accessories related to Apple at CES 2021

This week marked the first fully digital CES 2021, and although Apple does not directly participate in the convention, there is always a wide variety of Apple-related ads, including HomeKit smart home accessories, AirPlay 2 speakers and TVs, CarPlay receivers and more.

On our YouTube channel this week, we highlighted some of the best Apple-related accessories introduced at CES 2021. This year’s picks include Kensington’s new iPad Pro dock with built-in wireless charging for iPhone and AirPods, LG’s first display UltraFine with OLED technology for Macs, Belkin wireless headphones that will integrate with the Find My Apple app for lost capabilities and more.

Visit our CES 2021 news center for our full coverage and subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more videos related to Apple.

It is announced that the new AirPods Pro and iPhone SE will be launched in April

Apple plans to launch second-generation AirPods Pro and a third-generation iPhone SE in April 2021, according to the Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing information provided by Chinese supply chain sources.

The report claims that the new AirPods Pro will come with a slightly narrower charging case, but no other details have been provided about any of those products.

BloombergMark Gurman previously reported that Apple aims to make the second-generation AirPods Pro more compact by removing the stem that comes out of the bottom, but it’s unclear whether Apple will do that. Gurman said Apple had a more rounded design in the test, which fills more of the ear, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.

As for the iPhone SE, many rumors have suggested that a larger version of the device could be launched. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Apple plans to launch an iPhone with an LCD screen and a Touch ID power button in 2021, and that device may be the new iPhone SE.

Safari allows users to activate the “Articles” tab hidden in the “Find Me” app before launching AirTags

The following rumors of Apple’s AirTags trackers will be handled through the Find Me app on iPhone, iPad and Mac. This week, a simple Safari trick was discovered that allows anyone to watch this tab on these devices in time.

As seen by MacRumors reader David Chu, introducing the findmy link: // articles in Safari on devices running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, macOS 11.1 or later, leads to a hidden “Articles” tab in the Find me where both AirTags and and third-party tracking accessories are expected to be managed. It is not yet clear when AirTags will be launched, but Apple often introduces its first new products of a calendar year in March.

Similar to the new Galaxy SmartTag from Tile and Samsung, AirTags is expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as keys, wallets and backpacks, with users receiving a push notification on their Apple devices when separated from an item. labeled. . AirTags is expected to support Ultra Wideband to improve spatial awareness, while current Tile and Samsung trackers are limited to Bluetooth (both Tile and Samsung will also launch Ultra Wideband trackers in the future).

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