WWDC MBP Predictions

[theluggage]

Objectively, the chances of a MacBook announcement today was basically zero if you looked at credible sources.

Of course, now that we know the answer, it is so much easier to declare which were the “credible sources” (and would they include the credible source who came up with their prediction right around the time that the Apple Store would normally have gone down...?)

Pro tip: if there are any *really* credible sources, they’ll be charging for the service...

Anyhow, all the speculation about what the new machines will actually *be* still stands... we know they are coming Real Soon Now because we’re half way though the two year Apple Silicon transition and, so far, we have only got low-end machines.

 

[PeterJP]

So does this all but guarantee mini LED when they are finally released?

You believe in guarantees after this?

 

[JPack]

Of course, now that we know the answer, it is so much easier to declare which were the “credible sources” (and would they include the credible source who came up with their prediction right around the time that the Apple Store would normally have gone down...?)

Pro tip: if there are any *really* credible sources, they’ll be charging for the service...

Anyhow, all the speculation about what the new machines will actually *be* still stands... we know they are coming Real Soon Now because we’re half way though the two year Apple Silicon transition and, so far, we have only got low-end machines.

Huh? Credible sources were always Kuo, Gurman, Nikkei, Kang, L0vetodream.

Only Prosser and Wedbush said there would be hardware at WWDC. It feels dirty even having to type their names in the same post.

 

[erich.j.k]

It's possible that they do an announcement in September/shipping September thing to get right in on the tails of the back to school/work movement, but still think they would be coming late to and missing out on a heavy sales period.

I believe not.
September is iPhone.

 

[pshufd]

My original thought was a year after M1 but hoping summer. My existing equipment will get me through the end of the year when we should have some hardware out there.

 

[bsamcash]

Call it a hunch, but I’m voting no hardware announcements.

 

[transpo1]

I believe not.
September is iPhone.

I agree with you it's not ideal, but they used to launch multiple products at iPhone events and have also had consecutive events throughout Sept/Oct, so it can be done. Could also be Oct/Nov but they'll miss out on so many sales by then...

 

[Biritto]

If no redesigned mbp with whatever chip shows up until this fall, apple will lose a customer in the notebook segment. Wish I knew a decent windows counterpart. Most come with some crappy parts in the form of keyboard, touchpad, or screen or something else and I can’t stand that in an expensive product. And that’s without counting “intel inside”

 

[pshufd]

If no redesigned mbp with whatever chip shows up until this fall, apple will lose a customer in the notebook segment. Wish I knew a decent windows counterpart. Most come with some crappy parts in the form of keyboard, touchpad, or screen or something else and I can’t stand that in an expensive product. And that’s without counting “intel inside”

I hope that I don't have to use my 2015 MacBook Pro into 2022. I am prepared to do that though.

 

[Fomalhaut]

If there isn't a MBP announcement at WWDC, I could view it as "glass half full" because it makes it more likely that the release will have a second generation "M2" this year with core microarchitecture improvements (maybe 15-20% increase in core performance). If there is a release that is just a scaled-up M1, then it might mean a wait of 9-12 months until the next generation of Apple Silicon. Hopefully we can have both in July/August, but this is just my wishful thinking!

It looks like the glass is indeed half-full…

I’m happy enough with my MBP16 (apart from heat, mediocre battery life and weight - ), and it does mean that it hasn’t been completely outclassed by a new MBP, giving me a longer period between upgrades, which saves some expenditur.

 

[theluggage]

I agree with you it's not ideal, but they used to launch multiple products at iPhone events and have also had consecutive events throughout Sept/Oct

Between the Apple Silicon transition, international chip shortages and you-know-what-19 I think this year is going to be hard to call.

Unlike WWDC which does sometimes launches Mac hardware (e.g. Mac Pro in 2019) - the September event has been pretty consistently an iPhone and entertainment media-only event for ages now, though.

These days, though - with memoji-only virtual audiences probably still being de rigeur for a few more months - Apple can have an event whenever they feel like it at relatively short notice. My guess would be that they'll announce a Mac-specific event, at short-ish notice, as and when they're ready.

 

[transpo1]

Between the Apple Silicon transition, international chip shortages and you-know-what-19 I think this year is going to be hard to call.

Unlike WWDC which does sometimes launches Mac hardware (e.g. Mac Pro in 2019) - the September event has been pretty consistently an iPhone and entertainment media-only event for ages now, though.

These days, though - with memoji-only virtual audiences probably still being de rigeur for a few more months - Apple can have an event whenever they feel like it at relatively short notice. My guess would be that they'll announce a Mac-specific event, at short-ish notice, as and when they're ready.

Good point, actually— they figure they have a still relatively captive audience. With that in mind, an August event could actually happen.

 

[pshufd]

Good point, actually— they figure they have a still relatively captive audience. With that in mind, an August event could actually happen.

I suspect that the leakers will be far more circumspect about their calls going forward.

 

[applesed]

Good point, actually— they figure they have a still relatively captive audience. With that in mind, an August event could actually happen.

I'm sure there will be rumors about an August event for the next few weeks, lol.

 

[transpo1]

I'm sure there will be rumors about an August event for the next few weeks, lol.

I’m sure but I’m very skeptical about that. I think they should announce them as soon as they have mini-LED/supply constraints figured out to get in on the fall season but now, even though it pains me to say it, I think they might just do an Oct event for end of year shipment.

I was actually struck by how Tim Cook didn’t tease anything about more stuff coming, etc. as he did last year.

Here’s hoping a Ming-Chi Kuo report comes out soon with solid info on MacBook Pros.