The 2016 Apple MacBook Pro has long been reported to come out this year. First was in March during the “Let Us Loop You In” event of the American tech giant. Then last month, during the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2016 held in San Francisco, California. In both Apple events, the laptop line was a no-show.
Thus, the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro was left with only one Apple event to launch and that would be in September during the annual iPhone launching.
However, more than its release date, what is exciting users about the upcoming Apple laptop is its reported new features including a fingerprint scanner, a near-field communication (NFC) chip, and a wireless charging capability, reports BGR.
These key features are already common in some of Apple’s devices including iPhones and iPads, but they have yet to touch base on its laptop lines.
In fact, because of these reported features of the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro when it officially comes out in the next few months that it is projected by analysts that laptop and notebook shipments are set to rebound beginning in the third quarter of this year.
Of the three rumored features of the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro, the wireless charging capability seems to be the one that shall be a bit of a challenge because Apple has yet to launch an iPhone that has a wireless charging IC.
Doing away with the headphone jack
One other rumor that has been making the rounds regarding the feature of the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro is that it shall come out without the 3.5-mm headphone jack that the American tech giant’s laptop and notebook lines have traditionally come with.
In fact, some are saying that it is because of the removal of the 3.5-mm headphone jack in Apple’s latest laptop line that caused the delay in the release of the 2016 MacBook Pro, reports Game & Guide.
It is also rumored that the new iPhones – the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus – shall also do away with the 3.5-mm headphone jack which means that it will accompany the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro with the new non-feature when both devices come out in September.
Instead of the headphone jack, the reports are saying that the devices should be getting Lightning ports instead and possibly a new set of EarPods that go with it.
Other possible features of the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro include a lighter body, a new video graphics card, possible 4G cellular internet connectivity, and a keyboard with no physical keys or touchscreen for short.
Apple’s latest laptop line shall reportedly come out with a price point beginning at $1,399 and can go as high as $2,699 for its high-end variant. Reports have it that the high-end variant may likely feature a 15-inch model and shall be really loaded with capabilities.
A touch bar in place of function keys
Based on the spy shots of the rumored 2016 Apple MacBook Pro, the latest laptop from the Cupertino-based tech company would feature an OLED touch bar in place of the function keys in its previous lineup.
The leaks paved the way for rumors that the next MacBook Pro device could possibly make use of touch-based function keys to give its users more workspace.
The image also showed new hinges on the device that reportedly came from Ampenol, the same company that supplies the same part to Microsoft’s Surface Pro tablets.
According to critics, assuming that leaks are on target, it is possible that Apple may be adopting the same hinges in order to have better flexibility and have an even thinner 2016 Apple MacBook Pro.
While the no-show of the 2016 Apple MacBook Pro at the WWDC 2016 disappointed many expecting consumers, there is still a good number who believe that the company decided to push back the launching of its latest laptop line to make sure that it comes out really great.