DigiTimes: Apple to Announce Redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro in September

[Duane Martin]

I can’t believe that adding back standard features and removing gimmicks like the Touch Bar is seen as radical.

While I can‘t believe that returning to single-purpose connectors and removing the usefulness of the Touch bar is seen as a positive and forward-thinking, especially resulting in the removal of a thunderbolt port. Limiting the MacBook Pro to only 3 thunderbolt ports has left a lot of use trying to figure out how we are going to make that work given our current configuration.

Just goes to show there are all kinds of use-cases and inevitably Apple is going to disappoint one of us.

 

[transpo1]

I'm not sure your logic makes any sense. Why would Apple pre-announce a product that isn't available until several months later? Have you heard of the Osborne effect? Why would Apple encourage consumers to stop buying today? Is Apple allergic to revenue? The MacBook Air and the entry-level MacBook Pro already satisfy most of the student population.

The whole WWDC theory made zero sense for this reason. Not to mention the entire supply chain including TSMC had already said 2H'21.

The WWDC theory made sense if mini-LED and other supply were available. Since there were reports that Apple changed their order to 3Q we can assume they did originally plan to launch earlier. So the WWDC theory made sense but plans changed.

 

[transpo1]

While I can‘t believe that returning to single-purpose connectors and removing the usefulness of the Touch bar is seen as a positive and forward-thinking, especially resulting in the removal of a thunderbolt port. Limiting the MacBook Pro to only 3 thunderbolt ports has left a lot of use trying to figure out how we are going to make that work given our current configuration.

Just goes to show there are all kinds of use-cases and inevitably Apple is going to disappoint one of us.

Someone's always going to be disappointed. But you can always get a USB-C hub that replaces the need for one more USB-C port quite easily. And for most people, having one of the other slots (HDMI or SD card slot) replaces the need for the 4th port anyway.

 

[Zdigital2015]

But when will the 27” iMac with Apple silicone come?? 😩

Hopefully, it will arrive in October as well, but if supplies of SoC are too constrained, Apple may be forced to postpone until Q1/22.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

In Year 14, the iPhone still needs an entire month?

I don't think it needs an entire month (or an entire show, for that matter), but Apple seems to disagree.

I don't think they've ever introduced a phone and Mac simultaneously

 

[transpo1]

I don't think it needs an entire month (or an entire show, for that matter), but Apple seems to disagree.

I don't think they've ever introduced a phone and Mac simultaneously

It's still their premiere product, so they want it to have people's undivided attention- plus, the resources of the company will be devoted to it for that month as well.

This is an interesting page- graphs of historical release patterns. My prediction is an Oct. 14 or 19th announcement.

 

[jk73]

I don't think it needs an entire month (or an entire show, for that matter), but Apple seems to disagree.

I don't think they've ever introduced a phone and Mac simultaneously

First week of Sept. for iPhone and then third week of Sept. for MBPs seems like plenty of separation.

 

[RumorConsumer]

They'll do back to school, clear out a ton of inventory and then launch pretty much right after the promotion is over. As they pretty much always do.

 

[Lemon Olive]

Depends on timing and supply chain forecasting, if apple knew they would have supply constraints then they may have held off on production of the M1X, I find the idea of releasing an M2 and then and M1X for pros on last years technology more laughable.

The thing you find laughable is something they do all the time. They release new products with "older" AS chips all the time. Plus, releasing the M1X MacBook Pro in September and then an M2 MacBook Air 2 months later doesn't fit your description either.

 

[Lemon Olive]

I have this feeling that TSMC did not make that many M1X SoC's until (likely) Apple ordered a stop to production due to lack of other chips needed to build the 14" and 16" MacBook Pros that was supposed to be announced recently. The priority for TSMC now is building the A15 SoC for the iPhone models coming this fall.

TSMC began production of the M1X for the MBP in April. The hold up now is Mini-LED. M1X is probably stock piled until production can be completed. Unrelated to A15 production which starts now-ish.

 

[Lemon Olive]

But by the same logic, it doesn’t make sense for Apple’s most expensive MBPs to be behind the MBA when it comes to silicon. The “X” versions will barely be out the door when the next-gen silicon will be showing up in the MBA, etc. That seems less than optimal from a marketing standpoint and confusing for the average consumer.

It isn't "behind" at all. The M1X will exceed the M2 in performance. It is a completely different package. The M2 will be a low end chip, and we don't even know when it will see its first product. Late this year at earliest.

It makes complete sense, and is the same thing done many times before with iPhone/iPad. iPhone launches with base chip, iPad launches sometime later with a high performance variant based on that chip. Meanwhile Apple is readying as next generation base chip. Things are always in motion.

 

[transpo1]

First week of Sept. for iPhone and then third week of Sept. for MBPs seems like plenty of separation.

That’s also possible

 

[Duane Martin]

Someone's always going to be disappointed. But you can always get a USB-C hub that replaces the need for one more USB-C port quite easily. And for most people, having one of the other slots (HDMI or SD card slot) replaces the need for the 4th port anyway.

No, a USB Type C Hub does not replace a Thunderbolt port. I really love it when people who have no clue what my industry does try to explain to me technology they clearly do not understand themselves.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

No, a USB Type C Hub does not replace a Thunderbolt port. I really love it when people who have no clue what my industry does try to explain to me technology they clearly do not understand themselves.

Maxtech had a review of a hub that gave an extra TB 3 slot. Can’t remember the name of it. He was using it with an M1 Mini.

 

[IllinoisCorn]

No, a USB Type C Hub does not replace a Thunderbolt port. I really love it when people who have no clue what my industry does try to explain to me technology they clearly do not understand themselves.

Also—gatekeeping is unbecoming.

If people don’t know, why not use your knowledge to teach something instead of demeaning them?

 

[transpo1]

No, a USB Type C Hub does not replace a Thunderbolt port. I really love it when people who have no clue what my industry does try to explain to me technology they clearly do not understand themselves.

I’m in the film industry so I understand exactly what needs Thunderbolt and what doesn’t.

Please explain to us your use case instead of whining and maybe the good folks on here can provide you some solutions. Some have responded already.

 

[smoking monkey]

Too many devices for that...and two, its September that means these mbp will come with Big Sur and not Monterey
Since there are digital events...for Apple its even easier to make 2 events for 2 different months
So low expectation for the same event...like low trust ratio from Digitimes...when they guess (and not copy paste others) they are wrong almost all the time

It's only a September announcement, not a release.
In saying that, Digitimes are often wrong as you point out.

IF the iPhone event is early September then an early to mid Oct announcement and late Oct/early Nov release seems like the most plausible scenario. But who knows with chip shortages and screen yields.

It will be interesting to see how they sell no touchbar and the addition of older ports to an all new design. Past meets the future.

The longer I go, the more I want those older ports kicked to the curb.

So what is this new computer actually bringing to the table?
New design... whatever. After the new car smell wears off it's inconsequential to the use of the machine.
M1x/M2 - stonking! Massive upgrade.
No Touchbar - That's fine. Many didn't like it. but it's not really a new feature.
New screen - Seems like this will be pretty good. But blooming issues on the IPP are a little concerning.
And??? That's our lot? After waiting one year from the M1? They could have chucked an M1 in an old 16 chassis and many would have jumped at it last November and so many would have been more than happy. The longer this goes on, the less enthusiastic I become. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'll be great pieces of kit.

 

[buckwheet]

This would be a bit of a bummer as I'm really anxious to pick up a new MBP 16". I have to admit, it does seem likely though...
Mind you, I still have some hope that we'll see a summer announcement of these, with shipping in time for Back to School. Apple has often missed the fall semester with new laptops, which always seemed bizarre to me. I could imagine a scenario where they use the summer to announce new laptops so they're shipping in time for fall purchases—i.e., new laptops in time for school, new phones in time for the holidays; I think that makes consumer sense, no? The historic trends don't necessarily have to apply, since they've been held to Intel's schedule for a long, long time.

 

[jk73]

It isn't "behind" at all. The M1X will exceed the M2 in performance. It is a completely different package. The M2 will be a low end chip, and we don't even know when it will see its first product. Late this year at earliest.

Understood, and discussed in other threads.

It makes complete sense, and is the same thing done many times before with iPhone/iPad. iPhone launches with base chip, iPad launches sometime later with a high performance variant based on that chip. Meanwhile Apple is readying as next generation base chip. Things are always in motion.

It might make “complete sense” to people who hang out here, but it won’t make much sense at all to the average consumer comparing various laptops at Apple.com and seeing the most expensive models using an older generation of silicon, which Apple lists on the second line of its product pages.

”The M2 is this year’s; the M1X is last year’s, improved” is not the best marketing pitch.

 

[transpo1]

It's only a September announcement, not a release.
In saying that, Digitimes are often wrong as you point out.

IF the iPhone event is early September then an early to mid Oct announcement and late Oct/early Nov release seems like the most plausible scenario. But who knows with chip shortages and screen yields.

It will be interesting to see how they sell no touchbar and the addition of older ports to an all new design. Past meets the future.

The longer I go, the more I want those older ports kicked to the curb.

So what is this new computer actually bringing to the table?
New design... whatever. After the new car smell wears off it's inconsequential to the use of the machine.
M1x/M2 - stonking! Massive upgrade.
No Touchbar - That's fine. Many didn't like it. but it's not really a new feature.
New screen - Seems like this will be pretty good. But blooming issues on the IPP are a little concerning.
And??? That's our lot? After waiting one year from the M1? They could have chucked an M1 in an old 16 chassis and many would have jumped at it last November and so many would have been more than happy. The longer this goes on, the less enthusiastic I become. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they'll be great pieces of kit.

I’m hoping there’s still a huge battery life upgrade, even with the higher performance of the pro chips. It will probably be less impressive than the M1 13” but that would be one of the biggest upgrades for me.

 

[Ahboyd]

Unlikely. More like October.

Likely. Announce in Sept. available in Oct.

 

[cr2]

Everyone is so anxious to see new Macs and M2/M1X we (including me) click ever rumor in in every publication Unfortunately  is not going to change their plan even if they understand our wait.

 

[buckwheet]

Understood, and discussed in other threads.



It might make “complete sense” to people who hang out here, but it won’t make much sense at all to the average consumer comparing various laptops at Apple.com and seeing the most expensive models using an older generation of silicon, which Apple lists on the second line of its product pages.

”The M2 is this year’s; the M1X is last year’s, improved” is not the best marketing pitch.

Interesting point, yeah. It works fine for iPhone to iPad because they're different products. Maybe they'll use a different naming approach for M-series than A-series for this reason?

 

[Fomalhaut]

Apple usually cleans up inventory until December to launch new Mac Books in January.

Apple hasn't released a MacBook in January since 2009:
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Apple_Inc._products)

So I don't know what your definition of "usually" is....

 

[Fomalhaut]

I don’t want to be a jerk because we all know what’s you mean, but FYI MAC is Machine Access Control (like MAC address) and Mac is the computer.

I'm glad you were the one to take the heat for this....because it's exactly what I was thinking and tempted to to post

FYI, "Mac" is short for "Macintosh", which I understand is named after an apple cultivar - originally named McIntosh after its creator (hence the link to Apple Computer Inc.). I previously thought it was a nod to the Scottish architect & designer Charles ****** Mackintosh...but I appear to be mistaken.