Apple Receives FCC Approval for Unreleased MacBook Pro [Updated]

[MacRumors]

Apple this week received FCC approval for an unreleased MacBook Pro with a model number of A2159, which is one of the model numbers that was recently registered with the Eurasian Economic Commission.

In the FCC documentation, Apple specifies that the unreleased A2159 machine is a MacBook Pro, which is curious as the MacBook Pro already received a 2019 refresh in May.

A2159 is a model that was not included in the May update, and it's not entirely clear what it is. As a Reddit user points out, the back of the machine says that it's rated at 20.3V - 3A Max, which is equivalent to 61W, perhaps suggesting a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro.

From the FCC filing​

There's a possibility that Apple is planning to launch an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar, which is one of the machines that did not receive a May update. The non-Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pro has not seen a refresh since 2017.

Apple is also said to be developing a 16-inch MacBook Pro that features a new design and larger display perhaps enabled through slimmer bezels, though it's not clear if that is the machine outlined in the FCC document given the power information specified.

A mockup of what a 16-inch MacBook Pro might look like​

FCC approvals tend to be published right when a new machine launches, so we could see the A2159 MacBook Pro model quite soon.

Update: The FCC has pulled all of the documentation on the new A2159 machine.

Article Link: Apple Receives FCC Approval for Unreleased MacBook Pro [Updated]

 

[BWhaler]

Please, please, please, No butterfly keyboard. We don’t care what promises you make this time around that now you’ve fixed that junker. You’ve said that too many years in a row.

I’d like an updated no-touchbar MBP 13. Touchbar is a terrible addition to an even worse keyboard.

 

[Suttree]

iPad Pro-like 16-inch display, new butterfly keyboard, Force Touch multitouch trackpad, Touch Bar, FaceID. Yes, please.

 

[JetTester]

Touchbar no, butterfly keyboard no, I’m a buyer.

 

[tongxinshe]

Touchbar is purely a gimmick, no benefit whatsoever, with a large hike in cost/price, should have never been introduced.

 

[walkley]

Does smaller bezels mean a Mac update is due too? The iMac has the insides updated but need to get rid of the bezels now!! I am on 2008/9 24" Mac - super, and still looks good, but won't upgrade any further.

 

[hooper2]

Says this:


Does short-term confidentiality apply to this application?: Yes
If so, specify the short-term confidentiality release date (MM/DD/YYYY format): 12/27/2019
Note: If no date is supplied, the release date will be set to 45 calendar days past the date of grant.


Release in December??

 

[alexandr]

Touchbar is purely a gimmick, no benefit whatsoever, with a large hike in cost/price, should have never been introduced.

the touchbar is a great thing, that they completely half assed and stopped improving.

 

[chewbaka]

Does smaller bezels mean a Mac update is due too? The iMac has the insides updated but need to get rid of the bezels now!! I am on 2008/9 24" Mac - super, and still looks good, but won't upgrade any further.

Why do you care about bezels on a non-portable machine?

 

[BigJohno]

Would they just use the same processors as current MBP? What improvements could be made with performance? How can they separate this machine from the current line?

 

[twocents]

Why do you care about bezels on a non-portable machine?

I care if they could minimize the bezels on the iMac to either make the display bigger and show more content, or maintain current display size and reduce the overall footprint. This matters on a non-portable machine when organizing your desk is like real estate

 

[nouveau_redneck]

Two models of the 16 please. One without touch bar, one with.

 

[lukelol]

It was odd this approval didn't include any authorization for 2.4GHz Wifi or Bluetooth. Likely the other parts of the application weren't mistakenly published.

 

[MobiusStrip]

The emoji bar is an embarrassing gimmick that's worse than useless; it deletes a dozen USEFUL keys and replaces them with a featureless strip that goes to sleep. So even if you set it to show function keys all the time, you have to wake it up if you want to press one. Craven stupidity, and insulting on a "pro" computer.

And to add further insult: There's still no real Delete key on Apple's laptops, and you can't even add one to the emoji bar. WTF?

What is wrong at Apple to result in this perpetual state of incompetence in regard to HIDs? Hideously defective keyboards, laughably incompetent mice, and even the trackpads are now way too big... constantly in contact with the heels of your hands and working overtime (and not always successfully) to filter out spurious touches.

Oh... and again, we pay a penalty for the incompetently giant trackpad while Apple fails to provide what would be an obvious benefit: making the Pencil work on it!

 

[coolfactor]

Touchbar is purely a gimmick, no benefit whatsoever, with a large hike in cost/price, should have never been introduced.

But the Touch Bar does not remove any functionality that didn't exist before with the physical keys. It only adds functionality. While physical keys are great for blind access to the key you want, I can't think of a reason (other than cost) to dislike the Touch Bar. It definitely adds benefits for some people.

I do agree that taking your eyes off the screen can be adjustment, and maybe that's where the disconnect is for people? You need to "look at the keyboard" when touch-typing is meant to avoid that?

 

[lambertjohn]

Please, please, please, No butterfly keyboard. We don’t care what promises you make this time around that now you’ve fixed that junker. You’ve said that too many years in a row.

I’d like an updated no-touchbar MBP 13. Touchbar is a terrible addition to an even worse keyboard.

I love the gen 3 keyboard. I definitely hope they update the no-touchbar MBP with the gen 4 keyboard. It's crisp and precise and fast fast fast. The gen 4 keyboard is what it should have been back in 2015 with the 12" Macbook.

 

[sblemmy]

Refreshing the non-TB 13” MBP seems like an odd choice, since the machine serves no legitimate purpose in the MB lineup now that the MBA has been updated with a Retina screen.

Sure, you get a higher clock speed in the nTB MBP, but I doubt pros or even prosumers would opt for a dual core machine. So, you’re really just splitting the entry-level 13” market across two lines.

Then again, Mr. Cook has been more than willing to sacrifice simplicity/parsimony for Apple’s bottom line, so the machine must sell well enough for a refresh.

 

[RumorConsumer]

Or... ARM macs don’t need as much power and it’s the 16

 

[MobiusStrip]

But the Touch Bar does not remove any functionality that didn't exist before with the physical keys.
I do agree that taking your eyes off the screen can be adjustment, and maybe that's where the disconnect is for people? You need to "look at the keyboard" when touch-typing is meant to avoid that?

You act as though having to look down at your keyboard to use it merely "an adjustment." It's a major regression, not to mention what I already pointed out: the touchbar goes to sleep, so you have to tap it gingerly somewhere to wake it up, THEN peer at it to poke at it... to step over a line of code.

So yes, it DOES take away function. Not to mention the fact that it should be an OPTION. Why is Apple forcing an emoji bar on so-called "pro" users?

 

[nvmls]

But the Touch Bar does not remove any functionality that didn't exist before with the physical keys. It only adds functionality. While physical keys are great for blind access to the key you want, I can't think of a reason (other than cost) to dislike the Touch Bar. It definitely adds benefits for some people.

I do agree that taking your eyes off the screen can be adjustment, and maybe that's where the disconnect is for people? You need to "look at the keyboard" when touch-typing is meant to avoid that?

• It's another screen to look at with constant changes when switching throughout apps
• It lacks ergonomics
• Some tasks even take much longer than shortcuts/physical keys
• It's an obvious cash grab

These only will shadow any specific use cases it may enhance, which clearly at this point, are not many.

 

[MobiusStrip]

• It's another screen to look at with constant changes when switching throughout apps

Another important point, and another area of peculiar ignorance at Apple.

 

[Ener Ji]

Says this:


Does short-term confidentiality apply to this application?: Yes
If so, specify the short-term confidentiality release date (MM/DD/YYYY format): 12/27/2019
Note: If no date is supplied, the release date will be set to 45 calendar days past the date of grant.


Release in December??

Looks like someone at the FCC screwed up what should have been a private registration. I bet the December 27th date is the absolute last possible date that Apple could conceive of launching the machine, even though most likely it's intended to launch several months earlier.

 

[darngooddesign]

• It's another screen to look at with constant changes when switching throughout apps

If you use the apps then you know what the TB does for those apps; it’s not like the TB does random things each time you switch to Mail, for example. You might as well complain about how different apps have different keyboard shortcuts.

 

[Falhófnir]

Well, generally a simple chip bump doesn't change the A number - as the current nTB is 'A1708' it is either redesigned in some way (could be similar to the change between the 2017 and 2018 touchbar pros?) or this isn't it...

 

[ksec]

Again, basically the Non-Touch Bar MBP 13" getting Dual Core IceLake update. along with new keyboard design and max 32GB Memory.

I think the MacBook Air Retina 's thermal design is aimed for something less work intensive.