True, Kuo at least hasn't gotten any more specific than 'H2 2021'... if not WWDC when would the next good opportunity to launch be though? They will certainly want an event for a big redesign and unveiling a completely new chip SKU, and while a special MacBook Pro event in late June, July or August is certainly possible, for June it seems odd not to just roll it into WWDC, and in August you risk overshadowing the iPhones at the start of September. That leaves a July event, which fits with the traditional summer MBP releases, the rumours of H2 2021, but if the launch is to be early July then a MBP announcement at WWDC 1 month prior also fits. An announcement early July with a launch at the end of July also potentially eats into iPhone buildup coverage throughout August, so maybe also not desirable.
Possibly the strongest reason to expect some hardware announcement is the age of the 16" Pro. Given it's probably realistically their flagship Mac (80% of Mac sales are notebook form factor, and the Mac Pro is niche expensive) it's already gone a surprisingly long time between updates, the longest ever as far as I can see for the 15/16". As the next opportunity to launch may well be October, do they really want to let this important model sit untouched for 23 months? They've of course gone that long and longer for other Mac models, but those were comparatively niche models, and/or limited by chip availability, or had their whole future in doubt...
You bring up a very good point I had not considered.
It’s a good point. Hope you’re wrong 😊
If that‘s true above, I‘lol sit back and laugh my darn full head off at all these Youtubers and analyst saying that it will release hardware, not to mention all of those Macrumor no it all‘s. 🤪 if they do release hardware, then good. 👍
A few things to consider:
They released a 13-inch two-port MBP seven months ago. The new 14-inch MBP will replace the high-end four-port 13-inch Intel MBPs that are still sold today.
I suppose with Kuo it technically isn't incompatible with what he said, as he hasn't been any more specific than 'H2 2021' - I've found while he is usually right on the nose with the what, he can be a little off (or in this case vague) with the when sometimes. At least it's now less than 24h until we find out, so not too much prolonged wondering!
This makes perfect sense-- they'll sell the Intel MBPs alongside the M1s for a time, just as they've done with the Air and 13" MBP. That's why the MBP times aren't slipping.
Yeah I found it strange that the iPad Pro (2020) didn’t slip either this year before the announcement and there were no reports of the 21.5 iMac slipping prior to the spring event either (I didn’t personally check on that though).
He has also been completely silent about miniLED, it’s going to be very interesting tomorrow to see what hardware Apple finally has up their sleeve (if anything).
He didn’t know about the iMac, either!
He didn’t know about the iMac, either!
Do you see a possibility of them opening the preorders of the MBP’s right after the event?He didn’t know about the iMac, either!
Absolutely not, tbh. This Friday at the earliest but I think 6/18 is a more likely date. The availability is going to be too limited to not give people at least a few days to get ready.