New M1 MacBook Pros said to be delayed, but still landing this year
Out with the new ports, in with the old
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Two newAppleSilicon-poweredMacBook Promodels are expected to arrive in the second half of 2021 – slightly later than originally planned.
According to aNikkei Asiareport, Apple has rescheduled its plans to begin mass producing two new MacBook laptops in the latter half of the year, whereas previously it was thought they might arrivesome time in Q2 2021.
Even though the report refers to a delay, it nonetheless corroboratesprevious commentsmade by respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who suggested we’d almost certainly see two new MacBook Pro models at some point in 2021.
We’vepreviously reportedon the upgrades expected of Apple’s next MacBook Pro iterations, with the focus likely to be on aesthetic changes to their design and port types.
For example, we anticipate the return of theHDMI port and SD card readerin the upcoming devices, features which have been omitted in favor of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 connections since 2015.
We’re also expecting the new MacBooks to come equipped with an improved Apple Silicon chipset, which rumors suggest might be called the M1X. Arecent leakshows an Apple M1X with 12 cores, an increase over its predecessor’s 8, which will reportedly arrive in the form of 8 high-performance ‘Firestorm’ cores coupled with 4 efficient ‘Ice Storm' cores.
The CPU will allegedly see an even more impressive upgrade in the graphics department. The leaked benchmarks, which are said to come from a “pre-sample” of the M1X, suggests the processor will feature a 16-core GPU with 256 execution units.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Return of the Mag
What’s more, it’s likely the new MacBook Pros will play host to the return of the MagSafe charging connector.
Rumorsindicate that the returning MagSafe port will be a standalone charging port used instead of USB-C, with the new port located next to the existing USB-C ports.
The design of the new MagSafe connector will allegedly be similar to the design of the previous MagSafe connector used on Macs, and will allow for faster charging speeds than are possible with USB-C – a technology it seemsApple is unwillingto entirely embrace.As with all rumored information, don’t take any of this as gospel. We can’t confirm any details until they come directly from Apple or the product hits the shelves, but it certainly bodes well for Mac fans if these leaks prove accurate.
ViaWCCFTech
Axel is TechRadar’s UK-based Phones Editor, reporting on everything from the latest Apple developments to newest AI breakthroughs as part of the site’s Mobile Computing vertical. Having previously written for publications including Esquire and FourFourTwo, Axel is well-versed in the applications of technology beyond the desktop, and his coverage extends from general reporting and analysis to in-depth interviews and opinion.
Axel studied for a degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick before joining TechRadar in 2020, where he then earned an NCTJ qualification as part of the company’s inaugural digital training scheme.
iStorage Group acquires Kanguru Solutions as it looks to expand security offering
Phishing attacks surge in 2024 as cybercriminals adopt AI tools and multi-channel tactics
Arcane season 2 finally gave us the huge Caitlyn and Vi moment we’ve been waiting for – and its creators say ‘we couldn’t have done it in season one’
