Alright, as I post this, it's less than 48 hours to go until the November Apple event for the debut of Apple silicon Macs. Woohoo! So what's rumored right now are...
While I'm excited for the switch I think Apple may include some other tweaks/creature comforts. Here's a list:
Did I mention I'm excited?
- Two 13-inch Apple silicon MacBook models — most likely MacBook Air & MacBook Pro
- 16-inch Apple silicon MacBook model — tentative "maybe" 🤷🏻♂️
While I'm excited for the switch I think Apple may include some other tweaks/creature comforts. Here's a list:
- Improved battery life — Seems like a given to supposed offset of the Intel processor's power consumption. How much of an improvement can only be guesstimated. I'd like to see it 2x compared to what we have now. I can't see Apple reducing battery size as a way of reducing overall weight of these devices — but who knows?
- 802.11ax (WiFi 6) — seems like a given since it's already on the newest iPhones & iPads.
- Thunderbolt 4/USB 4 ports — Seems likely, yes? Since Thunderbolt 4 is a royalty free. I mean how the hell else was Craig powering that Apple Pro Display XDR in the WWDC lab video?
- Brighter displays — Doesn't look like we'll get any real change in the display quality yet (i.e. higher resolution, ProMotion, or mini LED). So we'll get a screen that can go up to 600 to 700 nits? Might help with iPhone HDR video situation?
- Improved FaceTime HD camera — how about something in the 1080p range? I mean 720p is so 2010...
- Face ID — This sadly doesn't seem possible with this update, even though we got iSight cameras first in Apple laptops in the last processor transition with the MacBook Pro in 2006.
- Like, for example, will they keep the Touch Bar in the MacBook Pro? I'd just assume jettison it — but that's more of a personal thing than a likelihood at this point.
- 5G integration — I think this possibility as very remote.
- Elimination of 2 Thunderbolt port model on the 13" MBP, it's 4 ports.
- 16" MacBook Pro preview — coming in late December or January?
Did I mention I'm excited?