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Kuo: New MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Models With Scissor Keyboards to Launch in Second Quarter

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Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with scissor keyboards in the second quarter of 2020, according to a new research note today from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.

Kuo did not comment on the size of the new MacBook Pro, but he is possibly referring to the 14-inch model that he has previously mentioned given that the 16-inch MacBook Pro was only released four months ago. The new 14-inch model would likely replace the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which would be discontinued.

macbook-pro-13-inch.jpg

Kuo expects the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models to have various cost optimizations, but he said users will not notice any difference.

The current 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are still equipped with butterfly keyboards that can suffer from issues such as sticky or unresponsive keys after prolonged use, which prompted Apple to initiate a free repair program worldwide in 2018. Apple finally solved this problem by reverting back to a scissor mechanism with the new Magic Keyboard on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has proven far more reliable.

Kuo himself offered praise for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, noting that customer response to the notebook has been better than expected.

As for the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, Kuo believes that operations at MacBook-related suppliers will improve significantly starting in late March, paving the way for mass production of the new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models.

If this information proves to be accurate, then Apple's entire notebook lineup should feature scissor keyboards by the end of 2020.

Article Link: Kuo: New MacBook Pro and MacBook Air Models With Scissor Keyboards to Launch in Second Quarter
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/03/12/kuo-macbook-pro-air-scissor-keyboard/
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The “Back to uni” programme ends 16.03 so I assume new models will be released after then.

I hope Apple replaces butterfly models with a scissor model after so many repairs.
 
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Wonder if this means that the MacBook Airs as well will switch from 13" to 14" displays, thinning out the bezels?
 
jchap said:
Wonder if this means that the MacBook Airs as well will switch from 13" to 14" displays, thinning out the bezels?
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Might as well they do it, it would save them the cost of having to produce two specific screens that are an inch apart. Both can be easily differentiated based on capabilities.

Air - Portability, affordability, everyday computing needs
Pro - more performance, faster storage, RAM,
 
jchap said:
Wonder if this means that the MacBook Airs as well will switch from 13" to 14" displays, thinning out the bezels?
Click to expand...
There have been no rumors of a 14” Air. It may or may not have a re-designed bezel, but as the lowest cost laptop, it would make more sense to keep the smaller 13” size.

From a product differentiation standpoint as well, I think a 13” Air and 14/16” MBP is where Apple is heading. But who knows? We’ll find out soon though, according to Kuo.
 
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Never mind, Tim. Take your time.
It took only 3 years to oust Joni who spoilt the design with flaky keyboards that fff..f...failed and sss.scratcc..ched the screen. People are accustomed to insane price levels. So why not keep shipping that flawed butterfly crap for another year or so to empty the warehouses.
They must be typing wrong anyway (...) but their arrogance is stunning
Oh and why not get rid of the ports altogether. It’s only a nuisance.

Better for the environment, and equal opportunities for the disabled !
Count the number of magnets saved by ditching MagSafe.
Ohh, we’re so green - ehhh, like 100% (but we can do more...)
 
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Great, but surely it’s only businesses, freelancers / self employed people & those that don’t know that huge changes are coming to the Mac, who are going to buy these.

It’s great that the MBP line is finally going to be what should’ve shipped in 2016, I guess...
 
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jseq said:
What about iMac? Kuo doesn’t say nothing about new model or refresh! 😕
My 2012 27’ needs a replacement!
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Those bezels remind me to TV of the 60’s
But the Design Department (ooooaahhh “Where is Joniiee ??”) has been sooo busy with all those new iPhone designs since the 6, and with iPhone SE2 9 being such a dramatic departure from blahbediblah....
(please don’t disturb their 3 yr coffee break)
By the time Tim comes out with something new, any 10x smaller carmaker has launched 35+ new designs
(but wait and hold your breath, Tim is gonna disrupt the car industry....)
 
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So many contradictory rumors about MacBook Pros, from "there ready" to middle of this year too late this year (or even later - mini LED). I got my base 13" 6 days ago and am loving it so looks like this will be my longe term notebook unless there's a refresh in the next 8 days!
 
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At least we're getting a number of rumours now about the updates which we all knew were coming. But they're also still vague enough to keep us guessing.

2020 - Updated everything with scissor switch keyboards, presumably spec bump for 16". Does 13" become a 14"?

2021 - MacBook replacement or MacBook Air moves to Apple CPUs/something-non-intel.
Screens go to mini-LED
New design for MBP?
Does it then go to non-intel later in 2021?
 
Mr. Dee said:
Might as well they do it, it would save them the cost of having to produce two specific screens that are an inch apart. Both can be easily differentiated based on capabilities.

Air - Portability, affordability, everyday computing needs
Pro - more performance, faster storage, RAM,
Click to expand...
Not the same screens—the Air doesn’t have wide color gamut and is 100 nite less bright. Not sure if that makes a difference in production costs....
 
The people are not satisfied if Apple can't make the new 14/16” MBP with a symmetrical bezel. FIX IT!!
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UnalignedByte said:
I hope they finally offer a non-touchbar version of a MacBook Pro. I got a 16-ich one (after switching from from a 2014 13" model). Overall it's great, but I keep 'pressing' the touch bar buttons by mistake all the time. It's driving me nuts.
Click to expand...

I can recall enormous people demand to add haptic feedback to the MacBook touch bar. It's absolutely ridiculous if it does not correct the mistake.
 
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MacMediaNet said:
Please bring back the MagSafe connector.
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Agreed. The new MagSafe will work with USB-C Charger.
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Revive the Apple logo to ILLUMINATE AGAIN, you are able to aware if the MacBook is accidentally turned on with the Glowing Apple logo.
 
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jseq said:
What about iMac? Kuo doesn’t say nothing about new model or refresh! 😕
My 2012 27’ needs a replacement!
Click to expand...

I hear you man. Got my 21.5” iMac in the summer of 2010. I couldn’t wait any longer and bought a 27” 2019 iMac in November.

I REALLY would love to see a redesign ASAP so I can sell this for a high value, but also kinda hope it comes out next year so I have adequate time with this Lol.
 
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