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Apple usually reserves the Worldwide Developers Conference for the announcement of software updates. However, the tech giant is expected to have a “few surprises” next week, including refreshed models of MacBook Pro.
Wedbush analyst Daniel Ives said in an investor note obtained by MacRumors that Apple is gearing up to launch an all-new 14-inch MacBook Pro along with an updated version of the existing 16-inch laptop. But Ives reportedly said the incoming laptops will be powered by the M1 silicon chip, and it does not seem to correspond with an earlier report that Apple is already working on the M1 successor.
Bloomberg reported that last month that redesigned MacBook Pro laptops with 14-inch (J314) and 16-inch (J316) screens are underway and could be launch as early as summer. Unlike Ives’ prediction, though, the report mentioned that Apple has been working on two new chips, internally called Jade C-Chop and Jade C-Die, that would power the upcoming laptops.
The next Apple Silicon, rumored to be named either M1X or M2, will reportedly feature 8 performance cores and 2 efficiency cores. One of the upcoming SoCs is expected with 16 GPU cores and the other with 32 cores. Apple is expected to update its Neural Engine, but it would remain at 16 cores. With these upgrades, the next Apple chip is also expected to offer up to 64GB RAM.
A 14-inch MacBook Pro has been in the rumor mill for a while now, so it should no longer be a surprise once Apple officially unveils the device. Meanwhile, it is also only a matter of time before Apple announces a new version of the 16-inch MacBook Pro since it is the only model that is only available with an Intel processing chip.
The rumored MacBook Pro laptops that could be announced next week are also expected to have design changes, including the return of a MagSafe charging port. There are reports that the upcoming laptops will have a flat chassis, while Apple is also speculated to ditch the Touch Bar. The tech giant might also reverse one of its previous decisions by bringing back an HDMI port and SD card slot to the new laptops. WWDC 2021 will kick off on Monday, June 7.
Photo by Sanni Sahil on Unsplash
