7 expectations for the biggest upgrade in years

2021 will be an important year for the MacBook. So it is high time to see what exactly is going to change. We have listed our expectations for the Apple laptop.

MacBook Pro 2021 expectations

After years of minor upgrades and a mountain of invisible improvements last year, it will be time for a big leap forward in 2021. In this article, we list all MacBook Pro 2021 expectations. We base these on rumors and can therefore still change.

1. A new design

Since 2016, the MacBook Pro has looked pretty much the same, but that would change in 2021. With the MacBook Pro 2021, Apple would introduce a modified design, with harder edges. Thus, the MacBook follows the design trend that the iPad Pro and iPhone 12 have already started.

In addition, there are probably several colors to choose from. And there are rumors that Apple also wants to return the luminous Apple logo. If you open the MacBook, you will also see some changes. For example, the screen edges are narrower and the Touch Bar has disappeared.

2. Bigger and better screen

While the 16-inch MacBook Pro retains the same screen and narrow bezels, the smaller model does change more. Apple would increase the screen size from 13 to 14 inches, without growing the size of the laptop itself. That has everything to do with the narrower screen edges.

In addition, the quality of the display would also improve. According to a rumor, the maximum brightness is increased and a higher contrast is also possible. For a moment it seemed that the MacBook would also switch to a mini LED display, but that does not seem to be the case now.

3. MagSafe

With the iPhone 12, MagSafe is back with a vengeance, but originally this connection appeared on the Mac. The magnetic connection would return this year, so that you can more easily connect the charging cable to your MacBook and it also disconnects when there is too much pressure. MagSafe prevents your entire MacBook from flying off the table if someone trips over the cable.

In addition, Apple would have further improved this new version of MagSafe, so that the charging speed would also increase. Good news, because now it takes quite a long time to refill the battery of your MacBook.

4. Connections

Reliable Apple source Ming-Chi Kuo says that Apple will add ‘more ports’ to this new MacBook Pro 2021. It is not yet clear which connections these are exactly, but it seems that Apple is moving away from pure and only USB-C- connections.

Think of the return of a slot for an SD card, something that many photographers still use a lot. Kuo states that the new Mac “has sufficient connections, so that a user no longer has to purchase additional dongles”. That sounds promising.

5. No Touch Bar

One of the most controversial innovations that Apple has introduced in recent years is the Touch Bar. So controversial, in fact, that Apple would like to reverse the decision entirely this year.

That would mean that the MacBook Pro 2021 just has physical function keys again, instead of the small OLED touchscreen strip that we have known for years. The advantage of the Touch Bar was the context-sensitive buttons that could adapt to the app you were using, but the downside was that the Touch Bar does not provide feedback when you press a button.

6. Only runs on Apple Silicon

Last year, Apple took an important step by offering MacBooks that run on Apple Silicon in addition to chips from Intel. These self-designed chips are completely made by Apple itself, so that the company gets even more grip on the coordination between software and hardware. This year, Apple is continuing this line by switching to this completely. The end of the MacBook Pro with an Intel chip is therefore closer than ever.

7. Release date

When we can expect the MacBook Pro 2021 is still difficult to estimate. For now, Apple appears to be releasing the major upgrade in the third quarter of 2021, around the end of summer, between July and September. This means Apple is well in time for the start of the new academic year, the moment when many people buy a new Mac.

Do you want to know more about the MacBook Pro 2021? Keep an eye on iPhoned for the next few months. As soon as there is news, you can read it with us. This can be done via the website, via our iPhone app or by subscribing to our newsletter.