Apple leaks are usually hard to come by, and this one is definitely one of the most out-there we’ve heard in a long time. Take it with a grain of salt, but multiple related industry sources have hinted at the possibility of a display notch on Cupertino’s upcoming MacBook Pro models. So we’re at least it and taking advantage of the chance to catch up on some other rumours.
As far as we know, Apple will soon unveil a redesigned MacBook Pro range, which will include a new 14-inch and 16-inch model. If history is any guide, we may expect this to happen at their Unleashed event on October 18th. According to previous rumours, the new laptops would include mini-LED screens with much finer backlight zones and the able to attain 1000 nits of brightness. Sources familiar with the actual panel production are now stating that at least one of the two Pro versions will also offer a 120Hz refresh rate, adding to the rumours. Then there’s the issue of a notch in the display.
A new, nearly borderless display design with squared-off corners, similar to the present iPad and iPhone look, is rumoured to be in the works. According to reports, the notch will hold a 1080p camera, a TrueTone sensor, and a microphone. Face ID, which was also expected for the notch, looks to be on hold. The display rabbit hole continues to widen, with some resolution values uncovered in macOS beta files – 3456×2234 and 3024×1964.
A 16:10 aspect ratio is obtained by subtracting 74 pixels from both height components. The theory is that Apple will take an iOS-style move and designate those 74 pixels (the exact height of the notch) as a “special area,” enabling the remainder of the display to be regarded as a regular 16:10 screen, thereby “hiding” the notch. There have even been rumours of well laptop wallpapers floating. In terms of additional rumours and speculation about the MacBook Pro 14 and 16, we believe they will be powered by an M1X processor.
A beefier version of the present Apple M1, featuring a 10-core CPU with 8 large and 2 efficient cores and a GPU core count that has been doubled or quadrupled. TSMC fabbed everything on a 5NP node. The next MacBook Pro model is likely to have a slightly larger and heavier chassis to accommodate two large fans for cooling. To top it off, we have a slew of rumours, courtesy of Kuo, that may or could not come true. The two laptops will reportedly ditch the Touch Bar in favour of a more basic keyboard, but it will be updated.
It will now feature a totally black colour scheme, including the buttons and backplate, according to reports. Touch ID is also rumoured to be present, this time with a backlight. The new MacBook Pros are also said to include a multitude of ports, including an HDMI port, Thunderbolt port, and SD card reader on the right side, as well as two more Thunderbolt ports, a 3.5mm audio jack, and a new MagSafe connector on the left.
We have to add that the further down the list we go, the less plausible and “Apple-like” these rumours get. Nonetheless, they all come from the well industry sources. As a result, we’ll leave it up to you to debate and decide which elements you believe will become reality.
