Are we expecting a whole new 13 in MBP in this year?

[high heaven]

It's been 4~5 years since the current MBP announced and they usually update for a whole new MBP evert 4 or 5 years.

It's kinda odd since 16 inches released a few months earlier than its release cycle but 13 inches didn't get any major updates so far. It seems Apple added 10nm CPU but they aren't that better than 14nm which is quite disappointing. Why not AMD APU tho?

But anyway, I'm expecting a whole new MBP in this year as they updated 16 inches MBP.

 

[cmaier]

It's been 4~5 years since the current MBP announced and they usually update for a whole new MBP evert 4 or 5 years.

It's kinda odd since 16 inches released a few months earlier than its release cycle but 13 inches didn't get any major updates so far. It seems Apple added 10nm CPU but they aren't that better than 14nm which is quite disappointing. Why not AMD APU tho?

But anyway, I'm expecting a whole new MBP in this year as they updated 16 inches MBP.

Yes there should be an announcement in March. Not clear whether it will be 13” Or 14” (rumors suggest 13”), but it should have 10th gen intel and the scissors keyboard.

The reason no AMD apu is it’s a dead end. AMD has no history of being able to remain competitive for more than a couple years at a time.

 

[ascender]

When you say "whole new", I don't think we'll see an entirely new design, more of a revision in line with the 16".

 

[Fishrrman]

See the "rumors front page" this morning.
It may even arrive a little earlier than expected -- perhaps April or even March...?

 

[jerryk]

My guess why Apple is not going to AMD for CPU/APU is because they want to use their own ARM CPUs in the not too distance future. This would leverage their capabilites in this area (iPhone and iPad as examples) and let them control the major component of the computer. It would also let them consider different graphics strategies not tied to the constraints of Intel's design limitations.

And it would increase their profits, which I appreciate as a long time shareholder.

 

[high heaven]

My guess why Apple is not going to AMD for CPU/APU is because they want to use their own ARM CPUs in the not too distance future. This would leverage their capabilites in this area (iPhone and iPad as examples) and let them control the major component of the computer. It would also let them consider different graphics strategies not tied to the constraints of Intel's design limitations.

And it would increase their profits, which I appreciate as a long time shareholder.

That's not a possible solution especially since ARM isn't that powerful enough to replace MBP. Since AMD makes custom APU like Xbox and Playstation, it is more possible to use Mac APU.

 

[azentropy]

Here is my prediction: They will release a spec bumped 13" in March/April. It will have newer processors, the new "old" keyboard, and will finally have a 32gb RAM option. I'll buy one. So then in October/November they will release a new 14" MBP which will have the 16" MBP treatment of better Touch Bar, smaller bezels in about the same form factor as the 13" MBP was.

 

[new16helppls]

Here is my prediction: They will release a spec bumped 13" in March/April. It will have newer processors, the new "old" keyboard, and will finally have a 32gb RAM option. I'll buy one. So then in October/November they will release a new 14" MBP which will have the 16" MBP treatment of better Touch Bar, smaller bezels in about the same form factor as the 13" MBP was.

If you have confidence in your prediction why buy the 13"? An extra inch in the same form factor is a significant upgrade.

Or are you being sarcastic and making light of how we always get excited and purchase right before they announce something we would've happily waited for 😅

 

[azentropy]

If you have confidence in your prediction why buy the 13"? An extra inch in the same form factor is a significant upgrade.

Or are you being sarcastic and making light of how we always get excited and purchase right before they announce something we would've happily waited for 😅

Correct, they will only release the 14" if I buy the 13" right before it! So I'll expect everyone to thank me after it happens. 😀

 

[macnmac]

just gonna have to wait and see!

 

[SvenLorenz1975]

Here is my prediction: They will release a spec bumped 13" in March/April. It will have newer processors, the new "old" keyboard, and will finally have a 32gb RAM option. I'll buy one. So then in October/November they will release a new 14" MBP which will have the 16" MBP treatment of better Touch Bar, smaller bezels in about the same form factor as the 13" MBP was.

Yes, if they want people with torches and pitchforks at their door, they'll do exactly that.

 

[azentropy]

Yes, if they want people with torches and pitchforks at their door, they'll do exactly that.

They have done it a couple of times before, including with the 13 MBP (a mid 2012 update followed later in the year with the first retina models).

 

[Moonjumper]

That's not a possible solution especially since ARM isn't that powerful enough to replace MBP. Since AMD makes custom APU like Xbox and Playstation, it is more possible to use Mac APU.

That is an unknown as we have not seen an ARM chip built for the MBP class of machine. ARM chips are almost all built for the thermal and power limits of mobile fanless devices. Performance will be very different without those limits. There is nothing within ARM stopping it being used for computer chips, especially as that is where they originally started.

I don't expect to see an ARM MBP soon, but I think there is a good chance of an ARM Apple laptop by the end of 2021, perhaps along the lines of the now discontinued MacBook. Performance isn't likely to be the main limiting factor, it will be compatibility. A lot will be easily ported, but there will be laggards, especially those who don't follow Apple guidelines.

And on to the original topic, I think there will be a new 13" with the 16" style update, but as the 16" was only a 0.4" increase, the 13" may be bigger, but still not 14". Possibly 13.6" or 13.7". But I hope Apple do push it to 14".

 

[AKS3003]

Okay. So I posted the following on the article stating the use of 10th gen intel chips in 13" MBP. I'll post it again here

I expect apple to change the design of the 13" pro. Right now the 16" and 13" do not have a consistent design, which is very unlike apple. Apple will definitely release a smaller MacBook pro that has the same design as the 16". Same narrower bezels, scissor keyboard, separate escape key, seperate power key.

The only thing to be seen is how they achieve the consistency. Whether by retaining the same 13.3" display size and reducing the overall footprint, or by retaining the footprint and increasing the screen size to ~14".

I believe it is going to be the latter, as reducing the footprint would be hard. A smaller footprint would mean a smaller battery, worse thermal performance, less room for the new keyboard and less room for the speakers. Internally the components might have to be repositioned. From an industrial point of view, this would require an entirely new mould (rather than just increasing the thickness of the existing mould, if they retain the footprint) which would cost more. It simply doesn't make sense

As for the leaks, the leaks for the 16" increased only a few weeks before the launch. It wasn't until the 16" icon was found in MacOS. Most leaks are based on supply chain, that is, China. Right now, due to corona virus, the supply chain is barely functioning. Right now no analyst would risk their life just to get info on a laptop from someone working in one of the affected factories. This is a major reason why I believe that new laptops will be release during WWDC, in June.

So yes, a new, redesigned small MBP is coming.

 

[cmaier]

That's not a possible solution especially since ARM isn't that powerful enough to replace MBP. Since AMD makes custom APU like Xbox and Playstation, it is more possible to use Mac APU.

ARM is an architecture. It is exactly as powerful as X86-64, used in Intel and AMD chips.

Apple may or may not have an ARM design that can compete already in the labs, but it’s a non sequitor to say that “ARM isn’t that powerful enough.”

 

[DHagan4755]

A smaller footprint would mean a smaller battery, worse thermal performance, less room for the new keyboard and less room for the speakers. Internally the components might have to be repositioned. From an industrial point of view, this would require an entirely new mould (rather than just increasing the thickness of the existing mould, if they retain the footprint) which would cost more. It simply doesn't make sense

As for the leaks, the leaks for the 16" increased only a few weeks before the launch. It wasn't until the 16" icon was found in MacOS. Most leaks are based on supply chain, that is, China. Right now, due to corona virus, the supply chain is barely functioning. Right now no analyst would risk their life just to get info on a laptop from someone working in one of the affected factories. This is a major reason why I believe that new laptops will be release during WWDC, in June.

A new mould didn't stop Apple from making the 16". Besides the 10th gen Intel chips are supposed to reduce power/heat so the offsets there could contribute to them reducing the overall footprint of the MacBook Pro, which would include keyboard and battery. Phil Schiller said to Jonathan Morrison in an interview posted on YouTube that a bunch of technologies came together at the same time. I don't think he necessarily was referring specifically to the 16" in that line of thought.

ARM is an architecture. It is exactly as powerful as X86-64, used in Intel and AMD chips.

Apple may or may not have an ARM design that can compete already in the labs, but it’s a non sequitor to say that “ARM isn’t that powerful enough.”

Right. As was also posted the thermal constraints of an iPhone or iPad are lessened when dealing with notebooks and desktops. Active cooling of an ARM processor changes the performance equation especially when you're dealing with a MacBook Air or Pro. I don't expect Apple to use an iPhone or iPad ARM processor but create a new line of ARM processors specifically built for the Mac. Call it the X-series processor or whatever.

 

[high heaven]

ARM is an architecture. It is exactly as powerful as X86-64, used in Intel and AMD chips.

Apple may or may not have an ARM design that can compete already in the labs, but it’s a non sequitor to say that “ARM isn’t that powerful enough.”

That;s not even proven. You have no clues.

 

[cmaier]

That;s not even proven. You have no clues.

Seriously? I’ve designed both RISC and CISC CPUs. Have you?

 

[CE3]

My guess is Apple will only go 14” if it’s the same footprint or smaller. 13” owners are generally more conscious of size and weight, and portability is a high priority. A 14” can’t get bigger and heavier like the 16” models.

 

[high heaven]

Seriously? I’ve designed both RISC and CISC CPUs. Have you?

What? Do you even work in Apple?

Also, are there any pro software that Apple can use right away with ARM based Mac?

 

[cmaier]

What? Do you even work in Apple?

Also, are there any pro software that Apple can use right away with ARM based Mac?

What does working at apple have to do with it?

And what does pro software have to do with it?

I said there is no difference in architectural performance between ARM and x86-64. You said I ”have no clues.” I explained I was a CPU designer (in fact, I helped create the first x86-64 chips at AMD).

So I called you on your statement, and now you are changing the subject.

 

[high heaven]

What does working at apple have to do with it?

And what does pro software have to do with it?

I said there is no difference in architectural performance between ARM and x86-64. You said I ”have no clues.” I explained I was a CPU designer (in fact, I helped create the first x86-64 chips at AMD).

So I called you on your statement, and now you are changing the subject.

I did not and you still didn't prove anything.

 

[cmaier]

I did not and you still didn't prove anything.

Are you being serious right now?

 

[sublunar]

I first suggested Apple switch to 14" and 16" to give them more room to fix the keyboard issue a couple of years ago.

This was from a marketing standpoint but with an eye on the engineering challenge required to reverse the decisions made with the butterfly keyboard. Giving people a bigger, higher resolution, screen along with a longer battery life (thanks in part to Intel) serves to help Apple 'fix' the butterfly generation laptops while making it impossible to compare sizes because they are no longer the same product.

The fact that the 16" is a 'new' design but Apple haven't gone to town with a full event in which they'd have to mention the keyboard just follows on with Apple's quiet refresh press releases with the MacBooks since the butterfly keyboard issues became pronounced.

If the iMac/iMac Pro gets a full announcement in due course at WWDC because of a new form factor it might even make the lack of attention on the MacBook Pro 16" even more of a quiet embarrassment.

Back to a 14" MacBook Pro, then, and assuming that a suitable 28w CPU SKU with Iris Graphics can be found it's easy to assume that the scissor keyboard and a larger battery comes in. Double the storage like they did with the 16" and there's a very nice product for people to buy.

I bet it'll be a press release refresh though.

There are 15w Ice Lake 10th generation CPUs already listed on Intel's ARK site (eg i5-1035G7) come with Iris Graphics too so they could use the same screen but lose the Touch Bar to be a MacBook Air using a retina screen.

Would Apple want to continue with a 13" Macbook form factor when there's a keyboard to fix?

Why would they when a later iteration of iPad/iPad Pro could fit into the space where the 12" Macbook would have gone?

As for AMD there's just not enough of a track record in the mobile sector for Apple to convert their 13-14" laptops over to the new APUs, and I'm sure that Intel would put a financially impressive deal in for Apple to stay with them for the new form factor with potential for 3-4 annual updates down the line.

 

[high heaven]

Seriously? I’ve designed both RISC and CISC CPUs. Have you?

Does it prove that ARM is powerful enough to replace Threadripper, Xeon, Ryzen, or etc?

Are you being serious right now?

Seriously, you are the one who does not prove anything with proper information or links.

And what does pro software have to do with it?

What about Final Cut Pro X? Adobe? Nuke? Logic Pro? Blender? Etc? Do they even work in ARM-based computer?

What does working at apple have to do with it?

We are talking about their A-series chip which only Apple design and manufacture. That's why I asked that question.

I said there is no difference in architectural performance between ARM and x86-64. You said I ”have no clues.” I explained I was a CPU designer (in fact, I helped create the first x86-64 chips at AMD).

Still, being a CPU designer does NOT prove anything at all. Do you have a real-life benchmark test between ARM and x86 computers with specific software like I mentioned above?