MacBook Pro Models Said to Start at 16GB RAM and 512GB Storage, Feature Upgraded 1080p Webcams and New Charging Brick

[cult hero]

Man, still "dongle" comments. I don't get it never and I have never gotten it.

"Please Apple, get rid of these ridiculous god ports that can do anything and make the machine configurable for tons of tasks for tons of different users and, instead, roll back the clock 10-15 years and give me HDMI, SD, and USB-A." It's no less absurd than someone crying for 10G Ethernet or, at this point, Ethernet at all! If you need it, get an adapter. The cool thing is, 10G Ethernet is actually available over Thunderbolt... just like everything from FireWire to DisplayPort.

I'd like 1 USB-A if it does not come at the cost of a Thunderbolt port. That's the adapter I use the most, by far when I am on the road and even then... I have a 3-port adapter I carry with me. It's not like it weighs down my bag.

 

[BornAgainMac]

Since when is a 1080p webcam news. My god, what is in my current mbp?

Also, it was nice using a standardized USB-C charger while it lasted. Back to proprietary garbage.

Every MBP ever made so far is still 720p in the year 2021 mid-October.

 

[fel10]

OMG! This is crazy. Apple is about to introduce some true innovation. Apple is ready to unleash the beast. The best of it all!

Is this sarcasm?

 

[citysnaps]

That's a silly way of describing a really slick and fast piece of silicon that barely puts out any heat compared to the competition.

It's the new normal; adding "anemic" to "garbage" and "trash."

The race to the bottom is ongoing.

 

[jz0309]

No, CFExpress is replacing XQD, which has an identical form factor. SD is absolutely still the standard for more consumer/prosumer applications, and many digital cameras only have SD to this day.

Nobody's going to put a CFExpress port on a laptop I don't think, unless maybe for some industrial application. Have you seen such a thing? I sure don't remember too many laptops with XQD slots.

I'm not suggesting to put a CFExpress port into a laptop, I prefer USB-C only ... and XQD never took off.

My DSLR has a SD card only, I even bought a stand with a SD card slot for my iMac cause the slot in the back is totally user-unfriendly, but there is no need to bring SD slots back into a 2021 laptop, those who care have long used dongles, esp Mac users ...

 

[zorinlynx]

I just wish Apple would release a worthy external display. I could easily see myself moving from using an iMac at home to a Macbook with an external display if I could only find one that matches the quality of the one in a 27" iMac.

I just need a real desktop experience at home. Getting it with a laptop is no problem, and heck it'd be nice to have the laptop to travel with. But someone needs to solve the monitor problem. Nothing I find is as good as the iMacs.

 

[Falhófnir]

I expect we will lose one USB-C port for MagSafe (so 3 ports, total, instead of the current 4).



With more USB4/TB3 controllers, I expect we will be able to support at least 2-3 4K directly via USB4/TB3 and then one more via HDMI or 2 6K directly via USB4/TB3.



I expect it will be the same:
$400 to go from 16GB to 32GB of RAM
$200 to $2400 to go from 512GB to 1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB

Wasn't this already leaked? There's one less USB C, though it's making way for HDMI (and SD?) not so much MagSafe which is just power throughput. The benefit of MagSafe is it frees up one of the USBs from charging duty.

 

[Nicky G]

I'm not suggesting to put a CFExpress port into a laptop, I prefer USB-C only ... and XQD never took off.

My DSLR has a SD card only, I even bought a stand with a SD card slot for my iMac cause the slot in the back is totally user-unfriendly, but there is no need to bring SD slots back into a 2021 laptop, those who care have long used dongles, esp Mac users ...

If these new MBPs have an SD slot, I'm going to say that Apple's marketing thought differently than you based on their own research, and Apple's marketing is, frankly, more credible than a rando on the interwebs.

 

[R3k]

Are there any rumors regarding colors aka iMac?

 

[Tagbert]

Waiting with horror to see how much it will cost to upgrade to 32gb and 1TB/2TB SSD!

It's currently $400 to upgrade from 16GB to 32, and $800 to upgrade to 64GB.
Likewise, the 1TB upgrade is $200 and the 2TB is $600.

That would be a pretty good place to start for estimating how much to spend.

 

[Tagbert]

I just got cables - usb to usba and usb to HDMI, no dongles required

So you have a really long dongle? No need to brag about it.

 

[jz0309]

If these new MBPs have an SD slot, I'm going to say that Apple's marketing thought differently than you based on their own research, and Apple's marketing is, frankly, more credible than a rando on the interwebs.

so back in 2016 they were right to just go USB-C? back then I probably would have liked a SD slot, just sayin ...

 

[Tagbert]

No thank you ... keep those in the museum

versatility is a pro feature. That is why people like the idea of the HDMI, Ethernet, and SD ports coming back.

 

[Sukach]

Right now, the 13" MBP w/ 16GB RAM & 512GB SSD is $1699. I really hope the new 14" with 16/512 is no more than $1899.

 

[Mactagonist]

Wasn't this already leaked? There's one less USB C, though it's making way for HDMI (and SD?) not so much MagSafe which is just power throughput. The benefit of MagSafe is it frees up one of the USBs from charging duty.

I assume the idea is that the MagSafe may contain Ethernet connectivity in addition to power, as in the iMac power adapter. That would require them to dedicate lanes would otherwise support an additional Thunderbolt port.

 

[Nicky G]

so back in 2016 they were right to just go USB-C? back then I probably would have liked a SD slot, just sayin ...

I think it was a mistake to drop SD and HDMI, not to mention Magsafe, and if the new machines bring back all of this, I think Apple will be recognizing that it was a mistake as well. I can't stand having to bust out my XQD/SD reader every time I need to load content off an SD card. Many laptops on the market have HDMI and SD built in.

Tbh I think it was likely Jony Ive who pushed for the removal of this stuff, the crappy keyboard that never worked right, all of that, just to make the thinnest flimsiest possible machine. Jony is gone, and now Apple is bringing some sensibility to the table, along with beautiful design. I'm all for it.

 

[jz0309]

versatility is a pro feature

in which case there should be USB-A ports, right?

 

[Count Blah]

My guess on the new lineup is:

1. 13 inch M1 MBA with 8/256 at $999
2. 13 inch M1 MBA with 8/512 at $1299
3. 14 inch M1X MBP with 8/256 at $1499
4. 14 inch M1X MBP with 16/512 at $1799
5. 16 inch M1X MBP with 16/512 at $2399
6. 16 inch M1X MPB with 32/1TB at $3499

Notice what's missing? The 13 inch M1 Pro! It will be discontinued. The low end will be the iPad Pro/MBA with M1 and the Pro models will have M1X only. This allows the line to expand year after year with M2/M2X, M3/M3X, etc.

Nah, Tim will keep the 13", if only to bump the the prices of #3-6 at least $2-300 each.

 

[1BadManVan]

K, bye 👋🏼

Aww don’t be rude, I feel for the price they’ll charge, they should make them a bit more gaming friendly lol. Love my iPad Pro though. Got my Xbox for gaming, iPad Pro as my main computer and my iPhone.

So as much as it would be cool to see some more gaming potential from these to make them more of an all rounder, I’m aware it’s not the main point of them

 

[Falhófnir]

I assume the idea is that the MagSafe may contain Ethernet connectivity in addition to power, as in the iMac power adapter. That would require them to dedicate lanes would otherwise support an additional Thunderbolt port.

Maybe, though unlike the iMac connector which is very powerful/ secure, MagSafe is designed to breakaway so you might not want your connection interrupted an an inopportune moment? I guess it's a little better than having a thunderbolt based ethernet cable tripped over and pulling your laptop off the desk though!

As we're losing one USB/ Thunderbolt port I guess the idea is you can get the equivalent of plugging in a monitor which supplies power, just using the separate HDMI and MagSafe ports.

 

[SicTransitGloriaMundi]

they will both come with 16GB standard? I will believe it when I see it.

the 4 thunderbolt 13" and 16" mbp (both intel) already start at 16/512. what's the big surprise?

 

[Tagbert]

Better have 16gb...why label it "pro" otherwise

The Intel models that these are replacing already start at 16GB RAM and 512GB SSD. These are not going to start with less.

 

[acgmph]

My (company's) wallet is ready! Let's go!

 

[OriginalBaki]

Happy to hear that difference between 14" and 16" will be narrowed. Hopefully that means they're bringing the 16" price down and not pulling up the 14" price LOL!

Now the dilemma I have, do I get a RAM upgrade or go for 16". In terms of resale value, in a few years time, do we think buyers will appreciate the extra ram?

 

[TechRemarker]

Why 16 GB RAM? Macrumors says 8GB of RAM is all you need.

8gb is all you need for what? For consumers browsing the web? Sure. For editing 8k while rendering another probably not. The current mbp offers up to 64gb. The news might only go up to 32gb since they are more efficient but more ram will only help.