MacBook Pro in 2021: 8 expectations
The MacBook Pro has been updated time and again in recent years, although the changes since the major redesign of 2016 have been relatively small. It often involved improved chip specs, with the Apple Silicon chip in the 2020 model being the most recent improvement. Apple has only added its own M1 chip to the entry-level model, so there are other models to clamor for the faster Apple chip. But according to rumors, that is by no means the only thing Apple will be renewing the MacBook Pro in 2021. We walk you through the key expectations for the new MacBook Pro.
- Apple Silicon
- Redesigned Design
- Improved Displays
- Return of MagSafe
- More Ports
- No Touch Bar
- Other
- Price and release
#1 Apple Silicon to more models
The most logical improvement in the new MacBook Pro is in performance. Apple's M1 chip in the entry-level MacBook Pro from late 2020 already made a big impression, but the current high-end MacBook Pro models have yet to make do with the chips from Intel. That will change at the end of 2021. That means that most likely both the more expensive smallest MacBook Pro and the high-end 16-inch version will receive a chip developed by Apple itself. This not only provides better performance, but also significantly longer battery life. It is not known which name Apple will choose, but it is most likely an M1X chip.
Sources at Bloomberg speak of a 10-core chip, with a 16- or 32-core graphics chip. In terms of RAM, you could choose up to 64GB. Currently, there is a maximum of 16GB with the M1 models. Another source says that there will be a maximum of 32GB RAM in the MacBook Pro 2021.
However, there has also been a rumor that Apple is also coming with a new MacBook Pro with Intel chip. It is still unclear what model this is, but it is possible that Apple will keep a specific high-end model with Intel chip in its range for those who depend on it.
#2 Renewed design
Apple will change the design for the first time in five years in 2021, sources say. The design won't get a huge makeover, but according to the well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple has opted for a design with flat sides, “similar to the iPhone 12”. The current models already have flat sides, but there are even more roundings at the bottom and near the screen. That is no longer the case with this 2021 model, according to sources. We don't have any other details about the design. There is, however, a patent for a matte black MacBook made of aluminum, but with patents you always have to wait and see what will be released. Apple has released a black MacBook before, so bringing this color back wouldn't be very surprising.
#3 Improved screens
In 2019, Apple released the 16-inch MacBook Pro, as a successor to the 15-inch version. Will the 13-inch get a similar upgrade this year? It seems that way, because reliable sources claim that Apple will come with the 14-inch MacBook Pro this year. That means you have just a little more screen space to work on. We think that Apple makes the screen edges a bit thinner, while the size of the laptop itself remains virtually unchanged.
In addition, Apple has been working for years on a new screen technology for the MacBook Pro, called mini-LED. Apple introduced this last spring with the iPad Pro 2021 and it could just be that the new high-end MacBook Pro will also get this screen. Sources say the first MacBook Pros with mini-LED will ship in the third quarter. mini-LED has a number of advantages, such as higher brightness and better contrast. With this technique, the screen can also get thinner screen edges. In addition, mini-LED is less prone to burn-in than OLED. This is especially useful on a MacBook, where you often have the same icons in the picture for a longer period of time.
#4 MagSafe returns
With the iPhone 12 series, Apple already introduced the return of MagSafe new style. This year, Apple would also bring MagSafe back to the MacBook. We don't know the exact details yet, but if we look at the previous generation MagSafe on the MacBooks, we can already make a reasonable estimate of what the connection will offer. With MagSafe, the cable snaps magnetically into the charging port, so you don't have to fiddle with a plug. The cable also simply pops out of the MacBook if someone gets stuck behind it, for example. The advantage of the charging ports of the current MacBook Pro with USB-C is that you can plug the charger into any port. Whether that will also be the case with the new MagSafe remains to be seen. Also read our expectations for MagSafe 3.
#5 More ports, fewer adapters
And speaking of connections: Apple partially returns to the pre-2016 era, when Apple opted exclusively for USB-C. Apple is considering bringing back the SD card slot in the MacBook Pro, as well as an HDMI connection. This means that you need fewer adapters for, for example, an external display or for reading data from an SD card of your camera.
We don't know yet which ports the new 2021 MacBook Pro will get. In any case, USB-c seems a certainty and we do not expect Apple to return to a USB-a connection. It is unknown whether, for example, the Ethernet port will return.
#6 No more Touch Bar
But Apple isn't just adding stuff. Reliable sources claim that Apple is seriously considering removing the Touch Bar from the MacBook Pro again. When the Touch Bar was introduced in 2016, Apple still had a 13-inch model with physical function keys, but in 2019 every model got a Touch Bar as standard. But in all those years Apple has done little to the Touch Bar: no new functions were added and nothing has been improved in terms of hardware. There are a number of useful apps for the Touch Bar, but we cannot call the screen strip indispensable.
We suspect that the Touch Bar will then make way for the special keys that the MacBook Air also received last fall, for Do Not Disturb and Spotlight, among others. These can be found on the F6 and F4 keys respectively. In between, there is also a button on the F5 key to activate the dictation function. The Touch ID sensor remains where it is: at the top right, where the power button is located. The Touch ID button would illuminate.
#7 Other improvements and specs
In addition to the aforementioned expectations for the MacBook Pro in 2021, we also expect these improvements and specifications:
- Colors: Apple will release several colors, at least silver. Whether space gray will be exchanged for a darker black as mentioned before is not yet certain. But don't expect splashing cheerful colors for these high-end models as with the iMac 2021.
- Camera: There may be a 1080p webcam in the MacBook Pro 2021. Video calling is still very important in 2021, as many people still work (partly) remotely. The Apple Silicon chip already provides better image processing, but a higher resolution camera would also come in handy. The iMac 2021 already has a 1080p camera.
- Powerful speakers: Apple's high-end MacBooks are always equipped with extra powerful speakers. Presumably, support for spatial audio will also be added this year. Dolby Atmos support is certainly included.
- Keyboard: Apple probably uses the same built-in Magic Keyboard as current generations. These have an improved scissor mechanism, which has put an end to the complaints about the butterfly mechanism.
- Extra long battery life: Compared to the current Intel versions that replace these two MacBook Pro models, we expect a significantly longer battery life. Apple Silicon is many times more efficient than Intel. With the current entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, this resulted in a battery life that is about seven hours longer.
#8 Price and Release
We think Apple will announce the new MacBook Pro by the end of the year. According to sources, the release of the MacBook Pro 2021 is in the fall. An announcement at an event in October or November seems like the most likely choice, with availability soon after. We don't think Apple will announce the MacBooks in September.
The price is not expected to differ much from the current models. Apple is now selling the high-end 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro for a suggested retail price of $2,129 and $2,699, respectively. Apple may increase the price slightly in connection with the major innovations, but we don't think you should take many hundreds of euros into account. The new MacBook Air with M1 chip was even slightly cheaper compared to its predecessor, but there the innovations were limited to only the own Apple Silicon chip.
Looking for another Mac? In separate articles, we compared the desktop Macs. We also compare current MacBooks, where we have listed the specifications.
Revision history:
- 2021 – August 23, 12:13 PM: Article updated with latest expectations for Fall 2021.
- 2021 – June 01, 3:45 PM: Article updated due to new rumors and possible announcement during WWDC.