Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a had a very good track record over the years has set out for what he expects Apple to change with the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which are reported to launch later this year. Apple recently updated the base 13-inch MacBook Pro late last year, with no visual changes and the introduction of the M1 chip, Apple’s first custom silicon for the Mac. The M1 was also added to the MacBook Air and Mac mini.
Kuo is expecting the 13-inch MacBook Pro to get the same treatment the 15-inch model got back in 2019, with smaller bezels and therefore a larger screen, bumping it up to 14-inches. Other changes expected are the return of the MagSafe connector for charging, the Touch Bar being removed as well as some much loved ports making a comeback. Kuo has not commented on what ports might come back, such as the USB-A, HDMI or the SD card slot.
However Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said in a recent report that the next MacBook Pro models will see the return of the SD card slot, a useful addition for videographers and photographers alike.
“The upcoming MacBook Pro is an example of Apple’s renewed focus on Mac loyalists. The company is planning to bring back an SD card slot for the next MacBook Pros so users can insert memory cards from digital cameras. That feature was removed in 2016, to the consternation of professional photographers and video creators, key segments of the MacBook Pro user base.”
Mark Gurman
The latest MacBook Pro models are essentially the same as they were in 2016, when they were redesigned. With only Thunderbolt ports. The most major change since has been the back-stepping of the keyboard, moving from the butterfly design to the Magic Keyboard.
