Leaked Photos May Show Upcoming MacBook Pro's Top Case With Space for OLED Touch Panel, Four USB-C Ports

[zhenya]

I don't know if I have to be excited yet or not... Essentially it will have 3 USB-C ports, since 1 of them will be used for charging. Then no TB (mini-DP) ports anymore and the HDMI has disappeared as well... GREAT!

So let me check in my current setup how this will work out:
- Magsafe replaced by 1 USB-C port
- TB (mini-DP) to external monitor replaced by 1 USB-C port (and new adapter required)
- TB to Ethernet replaced by 1 USB-C port (and new adapter required)

That leaves me 1 USB-C port left over to plug any devices, thumb drives etc, for which I need to get an adapter because all my stuff is USB-A compatible.

On top of that I need a USB-C to HDMI adapter since I often use my MBP on the road for presentations to connect it to projectors or TVs.

So I need to buy atleast 4 new adapters and all my "older" magsafe power bricks that I use (1 at home, 1 in the office and 1 for travel) have to be replaced as well or need magsafe to USB-C adapters.

I really don't know what to think of this move yet, its not like me and others are wishing for thinner MBP anyway. More powerful machines at similar or higher battery life, thinner display bezels is what most people are looking for and a more frequent update cycle would also be nice! The OLED touch display bar is a nice to have feature, but definitely not a must-have feature or a deal breaker for me!

I will see what they will present at the next keynote, but I will atleast wait one generation before making a decision on how to upgrade (buy the new MBP or go to back to Windows) since my machine is just half a year old.

That's not how it will work, unless you make the silly decision of setting it up that way. All 4 of these ports will be Thunderbolt which means they can perform all sorts of functions. Most likely you will have a single small hub, something similar to the current usb-c digital av adapter Apple sells for the rMB. That will give you charging, your display, and a pass-through usb-a port all from a single connection. Maybe you'll need another port for Ethernet unless you choose to buy a slightly larger adapter that includes it. That means you'll be using just one, maybe two of those available ports - and the one attaching to the adapter will still leave the usb port free for you to use. You'll actually end up with more free ports than you have now.

You'll also have the option of buying a more complete docking station if you have one primary spot where you use the laptop. It could be stand alone, or it could be a new Apple Display that connects via a single cable and has power/usb/firewire/Ethernet/displayport chaining/audio/etc. all from a single port. And you keep the simpler adapter in your travel bag for when you are out and about.

 

[Havok83]

so no more HDMI?

 

[Kusakun]

How reliable are these leaks in reality? Macbook's hardly ever leak. The last one to do so was the 12" Macbook that was announced a month later (at the March event last year) I'm hoping these are shown off at WWDC tho.
The OLED touch panel sounds very interesting, I'm sure if Apple are putting it on the Macbook Pro's that it will serve a purpose, it could be very useful for things like Final Cut, Photoshop, the dock at the bottom of the screen. Shortcuts in general and so on. I also think that Apple may want to announce at WWDC IF they are planning on opening up the OLED touch panel for developers to update their apps.

We can bet that the new Macbook Pro's will be thinner, lighter and so on. It will be very interesting to see what Apple announce.

Seem legit to me. Its what rumors said to expect 10 days ago.

 

[zhenya]

so no more HDMI?

HDMI will be done through an adapter just like every other legacy port. Most monitors going forward will be usb-c because they can carry power, display, and data over a single connection.

 

[Havok83]

I thought USB-C was backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and just found out it isnt. I really hope this leak isnt real. 4 C and no 3.0? WTH would they do that? It should have been half and half

 

[Dave245]

Seem legit to me. Its what rumors said to expect 10 days ago.

True, a WWDC reveal looks more likely, so i wonder if the reliable ming-Chi was wrong with the Q4 information. Cant wait to see what the OLED touch panel will be for, if Apple are including it then they obviously have plans for it.

 

[zhenya]

I thought USB-C was backwards compatible with USB 3.0 and just found out it isnt. I really hope this leak isnt real. 4 C and no 3.0? WTH would they do that? It should have been half and half

USB-C is the connector type and usb 3.0 is the protocol. They are different things. Just like you could have a micro-usb port that is either usb 2.0 or usb 3.0.

And yes, these ports are fully backwards compatible, but they will require an adapter to change the connection type.

 

[rols]

I would have expected it to have 2 USB-A + 2 USB-C, which definitely would have been more convenient in the short term.

It'll definitely be weird for early adopter though. Having to buy a bunch of USB-C to USB-A adapters for their existing devices, while owning almost no actual USB-C devices despite having enough ports to plug 4 of them.

I was not looking forward to USB-C to USB-A adaptors in quantity until I realized most of my use for USB is to connect to microcontroller development boards and they almost all have a micro-USB connector on them anyway, so I can just get a load of USB-C <--> micro-USB cables and be done with it. Will probably need one USB-C <--> A for odd other uses but it won't be that bad after all.

Good thing because the trackpad on my current Macbook Pro is so balky now it's just not going to last a lot longer, either it will break totally, or I'll finally lose my temper with it and toss the whole machine across the room.

Bring it on.

 

[Tech198]

4 USB-C is overkil i think... u already have the adapters .... with the 2 would be ok,

If your gonna use that ports hardware wise u don't *need* the adapters. And Apple would basically be loosing money, since i thought the whole point of adapters would be for Apple to get yo in the store.

also, how many devices are u gonna hook at to your Mac all at the same time anyway? Ecen on my Retina i only hook up at least 2.... in that itself

 

[Four by Six]

Another advantage to usb-c charging that those of us with the rMB have long ago realized is that you now have ONE charger to charge all your devices. I can travel with a single compact charger to cover my laptop, my phone and my iPad. Compared to carrying another Magsafe charger, that's an additional quarter pound or so of weight savings.

OK, I guess I am slow... How do I do this? My rMB charger has USB-C on it, my iPhone charger USB-A. My rMB has USB-C, iPhone and iPad are lightning. I was told the rMB USB is a higher voltage than iPhone USB power. My iPhone charger will not charge my rMB. So exactly how do I carry a single charger for all of these devices? Will the rMB charger charge my iPhone and iPad through a USB-C to lightning cable? And plugging my rMB into the now common USB charging ports in cars and airplanes does not seem to charge my rMB, though it does charge my iPhone and iPad.

 

[Steve121178]

A whole lot of assumptions being made in here... starting with the fact that this may not be a final shipping mold.

Well we are discussing a rumour on a rumours forum, so it's all good.

 

[tampageek]

Consumers will talk with their wallets. If this turns out to be another bad decision from Tim & Co, sales will get a slight bump when new product is released, then fall off sharply when ppl get tired of the inconveniences. It's nice to think of the future but we live in today.

I would love to see the sales breakdowns for the rMB. I don't see many in the wild, so I have to wonder if they are so impressive that  decided to just make different versions of the same product - something that's become a habit lately.

My only hope at this point is that they keep a real rMBP in the line up for customers that are not dongle fans. This of course will only substantiate claims that  is confused about whether to lead or push customers, and that they have lost their way in the post-Jobs era.

 

[Mac 128]

OK, I guess I am slow... How do I do this? My rMB charger has USB-C on it, my iPhone charger USB-A. My rMB has USB-C, iPhone and iPad are lightning. I was told the rMB USB is a higher voltage than iPhone USB power. So exactly how do I carry a single charger for all of these devices? USB-C to lightning cables?

If Apple removes the 3.5mm Jack from the iPhone as rumored, then they will add a Lightning port to all of their MacBooks. Lightning is the defacto charging port on many Apple devices now, including Mac peripherals. So eventually I expect to see one charger and one cable for all Apple products.

The rMB 29W USB-C charger is fully compatible with all iOS products.

 

[chad.petree]

If Apple removes the 3.5mm Jack from the iPhone as rumored, then they will add a Lightning port to all of their MacBooks. Lightning is the defacto charging port on many Apple devices now, including Mac peripherals. So eventually I expect to see one charger and one cable for all Apple products.

The rMB 29W USB-C charger is fully compatible with all iOS products.

Will we live to see a day when apple decides to cooperate and stop being different just for the sake of being different? Like for example droping the lightning port an adapting usb c on the iphone? ... sigh...

 

[Four by Six]

The rMB 29W USB-C charger is fully compatible with all iOS products.

Thank you. I did not realize this.

 

[ShadovvMoon]

I might have made it a little dark on the edges

 

[lowkey]

Consumers will talk with their wallets. If this turns out to be another bad decision from Tim & Co, sales will get a slight bump when new product is released, then fall off sharply when ppl get tired of the inconveniences. It's nice to think of the future but we live in today.

I would love to see the sales breakdowns for the rMB. I don't see many in the wild, so I have to wonder if they are so impressive that  decided to just make different versions of the same product - something that's become a habit lately.

My only hope at this point is that they keep a real rMBP in the line up for customers that are not dongle fans. This of course will only substantiate claims that  is confused about whether to lead or push customers, and that they have lost their way in the post-Jobs era.

What's a real rMBP then?

 

[tampageek]

A whole lot of assumptions being made in here... starting with the fact that this may not be a final shipping mold.

Maybe they leaked on purpose to get the kind of feedback they're getting on threads like this - and while there may still be time to make changes. Apple can't afford another watch release, because let's face it, if sales were so great they'd be bragging about them instead of hiding them.

Similar leaks on keeping/removing the headphone jack on the iphone have made the rounds. First there were rumors the jack was going to go. Forums filled with complaints. Then there were rumors that it was going to stay, bla bla bla.

Apple has been misreading their customers of late, which is why sales have been down in all product categories. The update cycle is too slow, and when they do update, products are disappointing.

I've seen a lot of complaints about the rMB being over-priced and under-powered. The single port also forces dongle sales. That is the perfect combination for obscene profit margins. Repeating that business model might indicate that  doesn't care how many new MBP's they sell, as long as the profits are higher.

If the goal is only to boost profits (the exact opposite of the Jobs model) then don't expect much in the way of top-notch 'pro' machines anymore. Tim has a different vision for Apple. Customers can follow or take their money elsewhere.

IMHO it's sad to see this once cutting edge company degraded into little more than just another greedy corporation out to screw their customers for money.

 

[lowkey]

I might have made it a little dark on the edges

Nice. But I hope they don't put labels next to the especially since they are likely all the same thing...
Oh and no glowing Apple. Why waste the power in a laptop and make a thicker lid aswell?

 

[Mac 128]

Thank you. I did not realize this.

Yes, it's actually recommended for the iPad Pro over the 12W charger they include with it, as it will charge the iPad much faster.

 

[tampageek]

What's a real rMBP then?

That's a good question. If all we see are rMB's with varying numbers of a single type of port, which is what this rumor suggests, then there is no more 'pro' version in reality.

 

[chad.petree]

A single 3-in-1 adapter. USB-C to USB-A, DisplayPort and HDMI.
[doublepost=1464780868][/doublepost]

What about sd cards? I study design and I use my macbook's slot all the time ... :/

Nice. But I hope they don't put labels next to the especially since they are likely all the same thing...
Oh and no glowing Apple. Why waste the power in a laptop and make a thicker lid aswell?

I'm pretty sure , that the glowing logo is going to go, I'm happy with that, I hate overbranding ...

 

[davemchine]

It's amazing how many had this "Steve would never have allowed this" mantra, that was/is often censored but... It's like it just keeps coming true.

No money for you, this year, Apple.

Older fans should be hanging their heads

I've owned Apple computers since the Mac512 and this year I've started looking for alternatives. Apple keeps shedding good software and destroying their quality hardware. I don't think there will be much left of Apple "Computer" in the next few years.

 

[ShadovvMoon]

Nice. But I hope they don't put labels next to the especially since they are likely all the same thing...
Oh and no glowing Apple. Why waste the power in a laptop and make a thicker lid aswell?

The glowing Apple is like a little window to the screen backlight. It's free

 

[StarlightSun]

If it's a legitimate part, and the MBPs aren't coming out until Q4 of this year, it could be a test run for the body. The final version may still have an SD reader. Early days...