Apple looks set to reintroduce the MacBook Pro’s biggest display yet, if renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed
The 2019 MacBook Pro will come with a 16in to 16.5in display set within an all-new design, according to renowned Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (via MacRumors).
A research note released on Sunday 17 February outlined Apple’s release schedule for 2019, including some details of the updated laptop. Unfortunately, Kuo hasn’t shed light on any other features, but this news will come as a surprise to avid Apple followers, given that the MacBook Pro last saw a redesign only a couple of years ago.
Kuo also adds that Apple may offer a 32GB RAM version of the 13in MacBook Pro, but doesn’t elaborate any further.
Will this rumour turn out to be true? Well, Kuo has an astonishingly good track record when it comes to predicting Apple release schedules. He doesn’t always get it spot-on, but uses his contacts in the Asian Apple supply chain to great effect when releasing research notes for his clients in the far east. As a result, we’re putting money on a 16in MacBook Pro seeing the light of day at some point in 2019.
Below, you’ll find everything else we know so far about the MacBook Pro 2019, including when we think it will launch, how much we think it will cost, and which new features we’re sure it will include. In addition, we’ll offer our thoughts on what else we’d like to see from a MacBook Pro refresh.
Apple MacBook Pro 2019: Everything we know so far
Apple MacBook Pro 2019 release date: When will it launch?
We can make a pretty safe assumption that an updated MacBook Pro will appear this year. The annual routine has barely changed in six years, and given that last year’s new MacBook Air introduced a plethora of new features there’s all the more reason to anticipate a refresh at some point in 2019.
But when, exactly? A quick glance at the recent history of MacBook Pro launches tells us that these annual events are more likely to take place in the summer months, between June-August. This is of course no more than an educated guess: in the past two years, the MacBook Pro line has been updated twice, during the summer on both occasions, but the 2016 fourth-generation MacBook Pro was launched in October of that year.
That said, the original MacBook Pro with retina display was unveiled at WWDC in June 2012, so the significance of a summer launch might not be purely imaginary.
Apple MacBook Pro 2019 price: How much will it cost?
The current line of MacBook Pro laptops (Touch Bar and non-Touch Bar, 13in and 15in) can cost you at entry level anywhere from £1,249 to £2,699. The MacBook Pro is the most customisable Apple laptop, and as such prices can vary hugely depending on your choice of components. It’s quite possible to spend a little over £7,000.
Based on those figures, and the woes currently facing Apple’s share price, it would be very surprising to see a significant hike in the cost of a MacBook Pro. Indeed, the current MacBook Pro received a price increase that was received unenthusiastically by fans on social media. That said, the price obviously reflects the specs, so a truly significant update (in the vein of last year’s MacBook Air) will inevitably come with a higher price tag.
Apple MacBook Pro 2019 features: What we’d like to see
Last year’s model featured True Tone technology for the retina display, as well as the usual updates to processors and an all-new quieter keyboard, so what can we expect for 2019? So far, information is thin on the ground, but given the borderline inevitability of a refresh or new launch there is already plenty to say.
A MacBook refresh of this sort will always introduce the latest processors, and will occasionally include hardware alterations such as the T2 chip or Touch Bar. In addition, it’ll be a showcase for the latest version of Mac OS. It’s safe to assume that these bases will be covered, then, but what else might we see from the new MacBook Pro 2019? Here’s the lowdown of what we want from the new laptop.
1. Better battery life
Let’s get the most obvious one out of the way first. The current MacBook Pro does not last particularly long on one charge, and breathes its last almost two hours sooner than its predecessor. This is seemingly the product of an upgrade to Kaby Lake-generation processors, which begs the question: can Apple update the battery to meet the demands of these high-power components? The answer needs to be a resounding “yes,” or we’re not interested.
2. Support for 9th gen Intel cores
Intel announced their 9th generation of CPU at CES 2019. The new line will encompass everything from the low-budget i3 to the very recent i9 core model, so it would make sense for the next iteration of the MacBook Pro to feature support for these improved processors.
3. Touch ID and individual key backlights
The new MacBook Air 2018 introduced a variety of hardware changes alongside the more obvious improvements to the Air range itself. The full Touch Bar was substituted for a designated Touch ID key in the top right of the keyboard. The keyboard, in turn, featured individual LED backlights for each key.
The MacBook Pro – offering as it does a broad array of optional extras – will hopefully make use of these new features, particularly the Touch ID key. The range of non-Touch Bar models might benefit from this addition, and we’d love to see a MacBook Pro keyboard with individually-lit keys.
4. Less bezel, more screen
There’s no denying that the MacBook Pro has a phenomenal retina display. The same display was added to the new MacBook Air – 13.3in, with a native resolution of 2,560 x 1,600p. But we won’t settle, and as such it would be impressive to see a display that increases in size whilst simultaneously cutting back on bezel.
5. Facial recognition
It’s a travesty that the MacBook Pro doesn’t already feature any facial recognition capabilities, particularly seeing as the iPhone X, XR and XS offer Face ID. We weren’t all that fussed by it until we tried the Surface Laptop 2, after which point we realised that being able to unlock your laptop with just a glance is a remarkable function that every laptop should adopt with immediate effect. If you’ll excuse the pun: we’re looking at you, Apple.
Source: expertreviews.co.uk
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