The new and updated MacBook Pro 2016 is about to arrive, as it looks as though your eyes will benefit from it the most. After all, word has it that the new MacBook Pro 2016 will arrive in 13” and 15” form factors complete with Retina Displays. To sweeten the deal further, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have reported that there will be a slew of new features thrown into the mix, among them include a Touch ID sensor and an OLED mini screen that will be strategically placed right above the keyboard.
Of course, all of these rumors are not groundbreaking or new, as they have been around for some time already, but with Gurman stepping forward to confirm what other sources such as analyst Ming-Chi Kuo from KGI Securities and 9to5mac have been touting, then it does look as though the upcoming new MacBook Pro will be a massive release, causing more than just ripples in the notebook world.
In terms of its form factor, the new MacBook Pro is said to be thinner -- and naturally, lighter, although it will not follow in the footsteps of the wedge-shaped MacBook Air or the 12” MacBook with Retina Display. Do expect to see smaller bezels around the display, while the entire device’s frame ought to be smaller as well.
Now that it has been more or less established that the new MacBook Pro will not resemble the MacBook Air, those who tend to fall back on the many ports that the current generation MacBook Pro who are looking for an upgrade will heave a sigh of relief. Perhaps Apple might ditch the USB ports to throw in the new and futuristic USB Type-C, while retaining the MagSafe port and Thunderbolt ports. As for the future of the HDMI port and SD memory card slot, that remains to be seen, but we will not rule out the possibility of Apple dropping either one -- or both, entirely.
Intel’s Skylake processors will most probably see action underneath the hood of the new MacBook Pros, which will definitely deliver a performance boost while maximizing battery life. Improved innards can also be expected from the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth department, while the narrow OLED display that is located above the keyboard would undoubtedly be the star attraction here. It does bring one back to the days of the Optimus keyboard which cost a bomb, and thankfully OLED technology has evolved and become a whole lot more affordable now.
This narrow OLED display ought to be the natural successor to physical function keys by offering touchscreen capability, and Apple still has some surprises up its sleeve because there has been no word as to how Apple will fully utilize this OLED display. Perhaps it is just a souped up version of function keys, as though on steroids, that look good, but Apple might also make use of it to show off shortcuts and information in a dynamic manner based on the current app that runs.
An integrated Touch ID sensor in the new MacBook Pro will also do wonders for security, as you can then unlock the new MacBook Pro without having to go through the tedium of entering a password. This is a feature that app developers might want to take advantage of in the future. With the last major update for the MacBook Pro arriving in the year where the previous edition of the Summer Olympics was held, it is about time for a revamp. Are you looking forward to the new MacBook Pro?
