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So is a 16" coming out next month?
- Thread starter bdog1234
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Nobody knows for sure besides Apple.
Here is what could happened:
1. New MacBook Pro 16" announced not shipping until end of year
2. New MacBook Pro 16" announced and shipping within a week or two
I believe if you can wait - I would wait it out - If you need a machine right now go get one some great discounts to be had right now...
Only rumors at this point.
If there is going to be an early September event the official notices will go to the media in another week or two. It's highly likely there will be such an event, as it's effectively an annual ritual. However, the September event is traditionally iPhone-focused. Mac announcements (if any) have generally been made in October.
There were no Macs announced at the September 2018 event; a separate event was held in October that included the rollout of the Retina MacBook Air. The last MacBook Pro announced in the fall was announced in October 2016 (2016 iPhones were announced in September). The last September Mac announcement I can find was for the Late 2013 iMacs.
Apple's September Event has been an iPhone (or, back in the day, iPod) & Music show since forever (not that has ever stopped people on MR getting all disappointed when they don't announce any Macs). Mac releases have generally happened in late October.
If they did announce a Mac at the September event then that break from tradition would probably be more interesting than the Mac itself (Yay! an end to the "who needs a proper computer when you have a phone?" madness!).
That said, this year has seen several Mac releases done 'quietly' via press release just before iPad/service-related events so who knows? If the main purpose of the new 16" Mac is (as speculated) replacing the keyboard, they might take that route rather than stand up on stage and say "Here's the new MacBook Pro - with a keyboard that doesn't suck!".
So its probably worth waiting until after the September event before making a major purpose - but with low expectations.
This I can say with certainty: Maybe.
Historically Apple has favored October for new Mac releases. If you're worried about a 16" being released as rumors indicate, then wait until the start of November.
So with current component knowledge and some assumptions, I guess they can't be absolutely leaps in front of the current top end? In terms of performance? Especially since they were only updated 2/3 months ago
Well, the rumours say that they're using the same processors as the current 15" machines, so unless they've dramatically improved the cooling it seems unlikely that they're going to have significantly better performance.
A 16" display isn't night-and-day bigger than the 15" (which is actually 15.4" to start with) and the fabled return of USB-A ports/user-upgradeable RAM and storage/magsafe etc. seems highly unlikely - so its hard to see how this can be anything other than a drop-in replacement for the current 15".
I'd speculate that this is the 2020 case design being pushed forward with 2019 innards in response to the keyboard debacle (even if the butterfly problems are overblown, the design has lost consumer confidence)... but who knows?
Or, of course, the rumours could just be flat-out wrong.
That is my concern. If Apple makes many more changes than the screen, like a new scissors style keyboard and more, I would wait 6 months or so. Apple's track record with the 1st year of redesigned MBPs is not that great (2011 rmbp 15, 2016 MBPs). Sometimes it is better to get the last year of the old design.
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I think it would be very difficult for them to do this in September with iOS, MacOS, iPhone, and AppleWatch all being refreshed. I would think they would want a dedicated keynote to bring about a brand new MacBook Pro. IF it is supposedly all redesigned I would think Apple would want to make a big deal about that.
And last October for the Vega update.
Apple never launch macs with September iOS devices. I am expecting October if it is released this year.
I wish it was mid-September because of the Back to School deal. However, because of the Back To School deal and past history, it seems like October would be more likely. I'm pretty sure Apple doesn't want to sell a new model during a discount period like that.
By me on the West Coast, kids went back to school Aug 8. Local colleges started last week.
I bought a 2019 base model 15" MacBook Pro within days of it coming out and am very happy with it.
If I was in the market for a new computer now I would wait to see what the new 16" was all about but if it has a starting price of $2,999 or above I would buy what I have now.
If it is bigger and thicker and heavier than I would not be interested either as my 15" is already bulky enough.
I believe I would only have regrets if the 16" starts at the same price as the 15" and is in the same form factor. That would me unfortunate for me lol.
If I was in the market for a new computer now I would wait to see what the new 16" was all about but if it has a starting price of $2,999 or above I would buy what I have now.
If it is bigger and thicker and heavier than I would not be interested either as my 15" is already bulky enough.
I believe I would only have regrets if the 16" starts at the same price as the 15" and is in the same form factor. That would me unfortunate for me lol.
There is rumors it will use the same exact processors.
OP:
I just bit on a brand new 2018 for $700 off. As others have said deep discounts on 2018/2019 models at this time.
It is logical to assume that the 16" will add something extra special. It's certainly not about the the larger screen at all, it's whatever they're adding in that requires more room under the hood...