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Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today outlined his expectations for all-new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models later this year, including the return of the classic MagSafe charging connector, the removal of the Touch Bar, a new flat-edged design, and the return of more ports built into the notebooks for expanded connectivity.

2015-macbook-pro-side-profile-article.jpg

One of the most controversial design changes to the MacBook Pro came in 2016, when Apple removed the majority of ports from the notebook, forcing users who still rely on I/O options like USB-A and HDMI to purchase adapters or docks. Apple used the removal of ports as an opportunity to tout its "thinnest and lightest MacBook Pro ever," but the decision was criticized by many users and even prompted a "dongle hell" meme.

While current MacBook Pro models are equipped with only two to four Thunderbolt ports and a 3.5mm headphone jack, it wasn't always this way. From 2012 to 2015, the 15-inch MacBook Pro offered a wider selection of I/O, including a MagSafe connector, two Thunderbolt ports, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, an SD card reader, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

2015-macbook-pro-ports.jpg
2015 model of 15-inch MacBook Pro

In 2011, the 15-inch MacBook Pro offered even more connectivity options, including MagSafe, a Gigabit Ethernet port, FireWire 800, a Thunderbolt port, two USB-A ports, an SD card reader, separate audio in and audio out jacks, a CD/DVD drive, and a slot to connect a Kensington security lock. This model also had a small strip of LEDs built into the chassis that showed how much charge the battery had remaining with the push of a small button.

2011-macbook-pro-ports.jpg
2011 model of 15-inch MacBook Pro

For now, it remains unclear what new ports will be added to the 2021 MacBook Pro, if the rumor proves to be accurate. In his research note, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said that the notebooks will be "equipped with more types of I/O, and most users may not need to purchase additional dongles," but he did not share anything more specific.

Kuo expects the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models to launch in the third quarter of 2021, which begins in late June.

Article Link: 2021 MacBook Pro Rumored to Feature More Ports: Here's a Look at What Previous Models Offered
 
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DHagan4755

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Jul 18, 2002
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Well if we look at Kuo's note:
MacBook Pro has not changed its design for 5 years. We believe that the launch of 2 new models with new designs in 3Q21 will attract consumers' attention and significantly increase the demand for replacement. The following are our relevant predictions:
  1. The 2 new models are equipped with approximately 14-inch and 16-inch displays respectively.
  2. In terms of chassis design, the new model's top and bottom cover cancels the existing curved design, and adopts a flat right-angle design similar to the iPhone 12
  3. Restore the MagSafe charging connector design.
  4. Remove the OLED touch bar and restore the physical function buttons.
  5. There is no Intel CPU option for the new models.
  6. Equipped with more types of I/O, most users may not need to purchase additional adapters.
  7. Benefited from the replacement demand of new models, we predict that the total MacBook shipments will significantly grow by 25-30% YoY to 20 million units in 2021 (vs. 10-15% YoY to 16 million units in 2020). We estimate that the newly designed MacBook Pro will account for 60–70% of the total MacBook shipments in 2021.

You can imagine an iPad Pro sitting on a surface will be how the base of the new MacBook Pro will be. I don't know if it will have rubber feet? I'm thinking it will sit on a table much like Gooogle's Pixelbook from a couple of years ago.

5e51799018034ade49aeed28-large.jpg

That should allow for full size HDMI (maybe HDMI 2.1?) and an SD card slot? I don't see them going back to USB-A sized ports.

Either way a right angle design on the display lid would at least hopefully mean that we'd have a better quality web cam, assuming that it's not only for the space of Mini LEDs, but could also accommodate FaceID too? One can only hope!
 

sw1tcher

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Jan 6, 2004
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Apple: We care about the environment so we're not going to provide power adapters with future iPhones.

Apple: We're going to remove still widely used ports like USB-A and HDMI and give you not enough USB C ports and then force users to purchase dongles and docks because... it'll be good for the environment? 🤔
 

AngerDanger

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Dec 9, 2008
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Well if we look at Kuo's note:


You can imagine an iPad Pro sitting on a surface will be how the base of the new MacBook Pro will be. I don't know if it will have rubber feet? I'm thinking it will sit on a table much like Gooogle's Pixelbook from a couple of years ago.


That should allow for full size HDMI (maybe HDMI 2.1?) and an SD card slot? I don't see them going back to USB-A sized ports.

Either way a right angle design on the display lid would at least hopefully mean that we'd have a better quality web cam, assuming that it's not only for the space of Mini LEDs, but could also accommodate FaceID too? One can only hope!

Probably not going back to OG Thunderbolt-style ports, but here's a mockup of what the flat edges could look like.

flat mbp.jpg
 
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ruka.snow

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6 full speed TB3/USB-C ports would be spot on and maybe a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. Making the audio out optical again would be a happy bonus.
 
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tharitm

macrumors 6502a
Nov 9, 2009
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Whatever ports the new MBP might have, I don't think they are going to make the laptops thicker again, which might limit the options.
TBH, this whole statement by Kuo just sounds like BS to me. This is a major "undo" and it's not like Apple. They did the butterfly keyboard, but that's after years of backslash.
 

gustaw94

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Jun 24, 2019
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I'm still using to this day 13inch MBP late 2013. It is great to this day and one of the reason I didn't change it because it has a lot of ports (HDMI port for projector or normal USB-A for quick pendrive files sharing). Magsafe save my laptop hundred of times because not falling down :D WiFi 5 and FaceTime HD camera is also the same as 2020 models :) Only disadvantage is short battery live which I cannot change by myself (very "eco friendly" as my dead first gen AirPods - battery dead as well) but it survived my university experience and working to this days. Would love to see them back on new MBP.
 

Hattig

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Jan 3, 2003
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I wonder what the most useful ports would be... USB Type-A could return, they are useful, even for keyboard and mouse.

I doubt 6 TB3 ports, 4 is enough, and we don't know what Apple is incorporating into the M1X/M2 chip.

Magsafe seems confirmed, although I'm not sure of how useful it is compared to the TB3/USB-C, unless Apple has 'gone back to the drawing board' and redesigned a lot about it.

HDMI? It's quite large, but if it's going to be a straight edge then it's got a chance. Micro-HDMI isn't robust enough IMO, Mini-HDMI perhaps. But it would save on buying an adaptor.

Memory card slots? No, easily achieved by adaptors for those that need them, and those adaptors are cheap.

The return of Ethernet, at a faster, enterprise-happy, speed? 2.5 or 5 Gbps that is. It would be good, it would free up a TB3 port. But it is bulky, and for some reason nobody designed a slimmer standardised port for laptops...

However, think about why they might bring back some ports that previously you would have used a TB3 adaptor for - perhaps there are fewer TB3 (or USB 4) ports on the MBP, so they had to add these in. So you'd have two USB 4 (TB3) ports, two USB 3 type-C ports, and maybe USB Type-A ports, and HDMI and Ethernet.
 
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