Almost pulled the trigger on a MBA M1 but I think I'm going to wait for the mLED and a potential redesign. Leaning 16" over the 14".
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Kuo: Two Redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021 and New MacBook Air in 2022, All With Apple Silicon and Mini-LED Displays
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I hope lower costs leads to lower prices for us buyers. It sounds like Apple Silicon is significantly less expensive for Apple to produce, so I am hoping that those savings are passed onto us, and they offer generous trade-ins for older devices
Apple plans to release two redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021 and a new MacBook Air in 2022, all with mini-LED displays and Apple Silicon chips, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a research note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo explained that two new MacBook Pro models equipped with an all-new form factor design are expected to launch in 2021, and a new "affordable" MacBook Air is expected in 2022, all with Apple Silicon chips and mini-LED displays. This appears to be a clarification of a previous report that simply said redesigned MacBooks would launch in late 2021.
Kuo also believes that Apple will be able to offset the increased cost of using mini-LED panels in Mac devices because the cost of Apple Silicon chips is significantly lower than that of Intel processors.
Upcoming Apple devices with mini-LED displays are also projected to see much higher than expected shipments. TFI Securities has revised its shipment forecasts by 350 percent for 2021 and 450 percent in 2022. Apple is presumed to ship 10 to 12 million mini-LED devices in 2021 and 25 to 28 million mini-LED devices in 2022. Epistar is anticipated to make major gains as a result, with the company now expected to serve as Apple's sole mini-LED supplier.
The reason behind the revised estimates are lower than expected costs for mini-LED components over the next few years and faster adoption of mini-LED panels in MacBook devices.
MacBooks are projected to be the main driver of mini-LED panel shipments since they will purportedly gain mini-LED before the iPad and see faster shipment growth. Kuo has previously said that at least one new iPad model will be released with a mini-LED display in the first half of 2021.
Within the next three years, Kuo's optimistic scenario sees MacBook shipments grow significantly by 100 percent with up to 35 million units per year, thanks to the adoption of Apple Silicon and refreshed designs.
Article Link: Kuo: Two Redesigned MacBook Pros in 2021 and New MacBook Air in 2022, All With Apple Silicon and Mini-LED Displays
It is time that Apple makes moves to increase their market share by making their products more affordable. They don't have to sacrifice quality or technology, they can reduce prices and sell more products. They will not lose anything by doing this, and it will attract more developers to write software for the various platforms
Eh. I don't disagree w/ your hope, but also don't see why Apple should move to follow the market when market appears to follow Apple as it already stands.
I'm not an Econ guy but Apple seems to be in a cushy spot w/ apparent advantage (idk by how much really) over other competitors relying on Intel, that they don't have to lower price but instead could take profits for more tech for a sustainable lead. That said, neither of us should get a say, unless you happen to be a large shareholder lol
But I don't think they do it. What's the cost of an iPad Pro then? It should be cheaper than a whole MacBook Air. However... it is almost the same price. What about an iPhone? Those devices carry Ax chips which are cheap, the devices should be cheaper, but they cost thousands of dollars/euros.
The new Macs will be as expensive as they are currently, especially if they keep selling like hot cakes. The cost decrease will just increase their profits, and maybe improve some parts like the mini-led screens or or better cameras (with hopefully Face ID). But no, prices will remain the same.
Ming Chi Quo in one of his notes, spoke about the cost savings that Apple would incur by switching to its own silicon, and mentioned that they could increase their market share by lowering prices. I am sure that this is a consideration, and it may even factor into the prediction that there will be sharp sales increases over the next three years. Who would not want to buy great Apple products and save some money at the same time? It would be good for us and good for Apple, we would save money and Apple would increase their market share and sales
Ming Chi Quo is a very reliable source whose notes I too have been reading, but he's also pointed out some time ago where he says that Apple's trying to cut more costs on iPhone12. I don't think it went our (consumer)'s way.
Granted, that's the phone market that Apple has a big presence of, but if that's Apple's eventual goal in laptop market as well if they gain market share, I'm not particularly waiting for this hope.
Sorry I keep replying w/ negativity, but I'm just tired of waiting for a refreshed MBP16 . I'm not even waiting for a price drop (i.e. they've always had premiums, I might as well get new components in 2021, not 2019's); with that mindset, couldn't help but ask "y tho?"
What you say also was valid in the whole historic Apple lineup (laptops, desktops, tablets, accessories, phones...) and Apple never reduced the prices of their products because of market positioning so, I wish you will be right in what you say but I'm pretty sceptical
Hello, desertscouser! Thank you for your reply
. The iPhone 12 pricing did go our way, Apple kept the prices stable without increasing them, they could have gone out on a limb and made the phones ridiculously expensive because they are the first to feature 5G technology, but they knew that sales would tumble, so they kept the prices the same. Yes, they took the charger out of the box, but the decided to not raise the prices anyThe 16-inch MBP will likely see a big update when it is moved to Apple Silicon, Ming Chi-Kuo noted that there will be a change in form factor next year, so I am looking forward to that with anticipation. I am writing this comment on a 2012 15" MBP with Retina Display, so it is about time for me to splurge on a new 'puter too!
It's funny how I'm quoting myself but considering the new rumours of Apple considering scrapping the TouchBar on the next Macbook Pros, it makes sense.
Looks like Apple got the message. Fingers crossed they go through with it.
The reason people dislike the TouchBar is because a lot of developers have tried to do too much with it.
Many applications uses the function keys for all sorts of application-specific tasks. Remember the paper cutout overlays for the Function keys that used to come in the boxes for software? The TouchBar allows developers to make keys for application-specific functions look like what they do without needing overlays or forcing users to just memorize them for every application. The TouchBar was designed mostly for that purpose, and it works well. It's a great idea that they should keep. If a developer is trying to do too much with the TouchBar and/or in a poorly-implemented way, blame the developers, not Apple.
Developers can only use what they’ve been given by Apple.
To me at least, the bigger mistake was Apple’s axing discrete function keys, especially the esc key, in favor of the Touch Bar. The Touch Bar can be a fantastic tool, especially logic pro for me. But there’s something about discrete function keys whose assigned system functions are at the ready instantly and allow for tactile feel/reach that they should not have been removed. Plus, the Touch Bar’s proximity to often-used number keys makes for too many accidental taps. There’s a similar proximity issue with the smart keyboard with an iPad, too easy to unintentionally tap the screen.
In a larger sense, this is another example of Apple too often trying to present something new to the customer by taking something away that should not have been removed. Sometimes that works after a small speed bump that is accepted quickly because the replacement is rather acceptable either due to implementation or a change in infrastructure (removal of cd rom drive, removal of hard disk drive since downloadable music & apps became the norm;removal of a hinged/movable MacBook trackpad or iPad/iphone home button because the Taptic feedback worked rather well), and sometimes the speed bump and unhappiness doesn’t go away very quickly at all (removal of ports/jacks, removal of t-shaped arrow keys, replacement of function keys with touchbar, removal of keyboard travel/height, etc.).
Last edited:
I for one, think they should get RID of it. But for people like you, they could offer it as an add-on for additional charge, so only those that want it can pay for it separately, and not have the extra cost added to everyones purchase.
There use to be a time where Apple would make a change and the rest of the industry would follow. Those days are long gone. I suspect that this Touch Bar(as their replacement for touch screen) and removal of stardard ports to just USB-C ports, were their hoping the industry would follow. It did NOT work. Back when they removed the DVD disk, I believe, was when Apple started losing that ability to control where the rest of the industry was going.
How many notebooks have DVD drives? And Microsoft just released a line of new Surface PCs last week with 2 Thunderbolt ports and no legacy port.
Apple never got the industry to adopt FireWire, or before that SCSI ports. Sure, everyone copied the industrial design of the early 2010s MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, but that’s about the only time.
True…but the Surface also has a touch screen which is what everyone really wanted…NOT a Touch Bar! And if Microsoft is now going to Thunderbolt ports only, why is Apple going back to adding more traditional ports which is supposedly coming in their next MacBook pros. Because most of the rest of the industry and in particular the industries peripherals did NOT go with Thunderbolt connectivity or even many which still only offering USB-A connectivity or in the case of cameras….micro cards. Apple is going back to be adding these connecting ports into their next MBP as they had before. Just a guess on my part but I suspect there were too many people complaining about having to carry around a bag of dongles to work with usb-c/thunderbolt only connections.
Last edited:
Well, I were suggesting to join forces and make it optional, so everyone can choose for themselves. But this is the path you chose:
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.