Apple Announces New MacBook Pro With M2 Pro And M2 Max

Apple has announced the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro featuring M2 Pro and M2 Max processors.

With M2 Pro and M2 Max theMacBook Pro tackles demanding tasks, like effects rendering, which is up to 6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro, and color grading, which is up to 2x faster, according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Building on the power efficiency of Apple silicon, battery life on MacBook Pro is now up to 22 hours — the longest battery life ever in a Mac. 

For enhanced connectivity, the new MacBook Pro supports Wi-Fi 6E, which is purportedly up to twice as fast as the previous generation, as well as advanced HDMI, which supports 8K displays for the first time. With up to 96GB of unified memory in the M2 Max model, creators can work on scenes so large that PC laptops can’t even run them, accordion to Joswiak.

Rounding out the features of MacBook Pro are its renowned Liquid Retina XDR display, extensive array of connectivity, 1080p FaceTime HD camera, six-speaker sound system, and studio-quality mics. Customers can order the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro today, with availability beginning Tuesday, January 24.

MACBOOK PRO WITH M2 PRO

The MacBook Pro with M2 Pro features a 10- or 12-core CPU with up to eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores for up to 20% greater performance over M1 Pro. It boasts 200GB/s of unified memory bandwidth — double the amount in the M2 — and up to 32GB of unified memory.

 A next-generation GPU with up to 19 cores purportedly delivers up to 30% more graphics performance, and the Neural Engine is 40% faster, speeding up machine learning tasks like video analysis and image processing. The media engine in M2 Pro also tears through the most popular video codecs, dramatically accelerating video playback and encoding while using very little power, Joswiak says. According to Apple, with M2 Pro on the MacBook Pro:

• Rendering titles and animations in Motion is up to 80% faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 20% faster than the previous generation.
• Compiling in Xcode is up to 2.5x faster1 than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and nearly 25 percent faster5 than the previous generation.
• Image processing in Adobe Photoshop is up to 80% faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 40% faster than the previous generation.

MACBOOK PRO WITH M2 MAX

• The MacBook Pro with M2 Max has a larger GPU featuring up to 38 cores and delivering up to 30% greater graphics performance over the M1 Max. It also includes 400GB/s of unified memory bandwidth — twice that of M2 Pro. 
• The MacBook Pro with M2 Max provides up to 96GB of unified memory. The M2 Max has a next-gen 12-core CPU with up to eight high-performance and four high-efficiency cores that delivers up to 20% greater performance over M1 Max, and a more powerful media engine than M2 Pro, with twice the ProRes acceleration to dramatically speed up media playback and transcoding. According to Apple, with M2 Max on MacBook Pro:
• Effects rendering in Cinema 4D is up to 6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 30% faster than the previous generation.
• Color grading in DaVinci Resolve is up to 2x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Pro and up to 30% faster than the previous generation.
  

CONNECTIVITY

• The MacBook Pro now features Wi-Fi 6E for faster wireless connectivity, as well as more advanced HDMI, to support 8K displays up to 60Hz and 4K displays up to 240Hz. These new capabilities build on the connectivity options already in the laptop, including three Thunderbolt 4 ports for high-speed connection to peripherals, an SDXC card slot, and MagSafe 3 charging.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

• The new MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max are available to order today, January 17, on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app in 27 countries and regions, including the US. They will begin arriving to customers and will be in Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting Tuesday, January 24.
• MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and M2 Max will be available in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and Singapore beginning Friday, February 3.
• The new 14-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at US$1,999, and $1,849for education; and the 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro starts at $2,499, and $2,299 (US) for education. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options, and accessories are available at apple.com/mac.

Apple Intends To Show Off Macbook Pros With M2 Pro And M2 Max Processors This Fall

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman writes in his current Power On newsletter that Apple plans to release new MacBook Pros with M2 Pro and M2 Max CPUs this autumn, assuming no significant supply chain concerns.

He claims that 14-inch and 16-inch professional computers are already under development. There will be no design changes. According to Gurman, the enhanced MacBook Pros would prioritize graphics, "just like the standard M2."

Apple Reveals New MacBook Air And Updated 13-Inch MacBook Pro With M2 Chips

Apple has introduced a completely redesigned MacBook Air and an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro, both powered by the new M2 chip.

The MacBook Air also features a larger 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, four-speaker sound system, up to 18 hours of battery life,1 and MagSafe charging. It is now available in four finishes — silver, space gray, midnight, and starlight. 

The M2 processor also comes to the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the world’s second best-selling laptop and delivering up to 24GB of unified memory, ProRes acceleration, and up to 20 hours of battery life.

NEW MACBOOK AIR

Built from the ground up around the M2, MacBook Air has an entirely new design that is remarkably thin from every angle, according to Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. It measures just 11.3 mm thin and is only 2.7 pounds, and features an all-aluminum unibody enclosure.

The design integrates its components so efficiently that Apple says it results in 20% reduction in volume. With the power efficiency of M2, all of the capabilities of MacBook Air are built into a silent, fanless design. In addition to silver and space gray, MacBook Air is now available in two new finishes — midnight and starlight.

MagSafe returns to the MacBook Air, giving users a dedicated charging port that is easy to connect, while protecting the laptop when it is plugged in by quickly releasing if the charging cable is accidentally pulled. 

MacBook Air also features two Thunderbolt ports for connecting a variety of accessories, and a 3.5 mm audio jack with support for high-impedance headphones. Additionally, the Magic Keyboard features a full-height function row with Touch ID, and a Force Touch trackpad.

The new MacBook Air features a 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display, which has been expanded closer to the sides and up around the camera to make room for the menu bar. The result is a larger display with much thinner borders, giving users more screen real estate to view their content in brilliant detail. 

At 500 nits of brightness, it is also 25% brighter than before. In addition, the new display now supports 1 billion colors.

The MacBook Air includes a new 1080p FaceTime HD camera with a larger image sensor and more efficient pixels that purportedly deliver twice the resolution and low-light performance of the previous generation. The new laptop also sports a four-speaker sound system. To fit inside such a thin design, the speakers and mics are completely integrated between the keyboard and display.

A three-mic array captures audio using advanced beamforming algorithms, while the speakers produce improved stereo separation and vocal clarity. The MacBook Air also supports immersive Spatial Audio for music and movies with Dolby Atmos. According to Apple, the M2 takes the performance of MacBook Air even further. 

• For intensive workloads like editing complex timelines in Final Cut Pro, performance is nearly 40% faster than the previous generation, and up to 15x faster for customers who haven’t upgraded to Apple silicon.
• Applying filters and effects in apps like Adobe Photoshop is up to 20% faster than before, and up to 5x faster for customers that haven’t yet upgraded to Apple silicon.
• And even with a larger display and increased performance, MacBook Air delivers all-day battery life as before, with up to 18 hours of video playback.

The MacBook Air offers a number of charging options, including an all-new 35W compact power adapter with two USB-C ports, so users can charge two devices at once. And for the first time, MacBook Air supports fast charge for charging up to 50% in just 30 minutes with an optional 67W USB-C power adapter.

13-INCH MACBOOK PRO WITH M2

Apple has also updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the M2 chip. The company says:

• With a faster 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, working with RAW images in apps like Affinity Photo is nearly 40% faster than the previous generation, and up to 3.4x faster for users who are upgrading from a model without Apple silicon.
• Playing graphics-intensive games like Baldur’s Gate 3 is also nearly 40% faster than the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro, and up to 3.3x faster for customers upgrading from a model without Apple silicon.11
• With an active cooling system, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is designed to sustain its pro performance.
• Thanks to M2, the 13-inch MacBook Pro also supports up to 24GB of unified memory — along with 50 percent more memory bandwidth — making multitasking and working with large assets super fluid.
• With support for ProRes encode and decode in the media engine of M2, users can play back up to 11 streams of 4K and up to two streams of 8K ProRes video. And they can convert their video projects to ProRes nearly 3x faster than before.
• The 13-inch MacBook Pro delivers phenomenal battery life with up to 20 hours of video playback.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

• The all-new MacBook Air and updated 13-inch MacBook Pro will be available on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app. They will begin arriving to customers, and will be in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers, next month.
• MacBook Air with M2 starts at $1,199 (US) and $1,099 (US) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/macbook-air-m2.
• The 13-inch MacBook Pro with M2 starts at $1,299 (US) and $1,199 (US) for education. Additional technical specifications are available at apple.com/macbook-pro-13.
• Additional technical specifications and details on Apple accessories — including the 30W USB-C Power Adapter for $39 (US), 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter for $59 (US), 35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter for $59 (US) compatible with the World Travel Adapter Kit for $29 (US), and the 67W USB-C Power Adapter for $59 (US) — are available at apple.com/mac. The 35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter is available to customers in Canada, China, Japan, Mexico, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, and the US.

New M2 MacBook Pro Rumored To Launch Next Month

According to a report by DigiTimes (a membership is necessary to read the whole story), laptop manufacturers kept their production lines working throughout the Lunar New Year break, apparently for the new MacBook Pro, which is expected to be released in early March.

According to the publication, Apple will introduce a slew of new products in early March, including a new MacBook Pro with the newest M2 chip, a budget-friendly 5G iPhone SE, and an iPad. Except for the processor, most other components in the new MacBook Pro are expected to be nearly identical to those in existing models with M1 chips, prompting MacBook Pro supply chain partners to maintain production during the week-long Lunar New Year holiday to meet increased demand for the Mac series, according to the sources.

14-Inch Macbook Pro And Macbook Air Rumored To Be Coming In Second Half Of 2022

According to Apple leaker Dylan, a 14-inch M2-equipped MacBook Pro will be released in the second half of the year. He also mentions that a redesigned MacBook Air would be revealed around the same time.

According to him, in the second half of 2022, the existing M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch will be replaced by a MacBook Pro 14-inch with an M2 processor. It will be somewhat more expensive than the previous generation. We'll get the revamped M2 MacBook Air around the same time as this.

Apple Unveils New MacBook Pros

Apple has unveiled the completely reimagined MacBook Pro powered by the all-new M1 Pro and M1 Max. 

Available in 14 and 16 inch models, Apple says the MacBook Pro “delivers groundbreaking processing, graphics, and machine learning performance whether running on battery or plugged in, as well as amazing battery life — enabling workflows previously unimaginable on a notebook.”

The new MacBook Pro also features a Liquid Retina XDR display, a wide range of ports for advanced connectivity, a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, and an enhanced audio system. The new MacBook Pro joins the 13 inch MacBook Pro with M1. Customers can order the new 14 and 16 inch MacBook Pro models now, and they will be available beginning Tuesday, October 26.

“We set out to create the world’s best pro notebook, and today we’re excited to introduce the all-new MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max — a game-changing combination of phenomenal performance, unrivaled battery life, and groundbreaking features,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, in a press release. “The all-new MacBook Pro adds a breathtaking XDR display, more ports like MagSafe 3, an advanced 1080p camera, and a sensational six-speaker sound system, all in a stunning new design. The new MacBook Pro simply has no equal and is by far the best pro notebook we’ve ever built.”

Apple says, with the 10-core CPU in M1 Pro and M1 Max, the 14-inch MacBook Pro enables:

• Up to 3.7x faster project builds using Xcode.
• Up to 3x more Amp Designer plug-ins in Logic Pro.
• Up to 2.8x faster computational fluid dynamics performance in NASA TetrUSS.

Featuring the 16-core GPU in M1 Pro and the 32-core GPU in M1 Max, the 14-inch MacBook Pro transforms graphics-intensive workflows with:

• Up to 9.2x faster 4K render in Final Cut Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 13.4x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 5.6x faster combined vector and raster GPU performance in Affinity Photo with M1 Pro, and up to 8.5x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 3.6x faster effect render in Blackmagic Design DaVinci Resolve Studio with M1 Pro, and up to 5x faster with M1 Max.

Both M1 Pro and M1 Max are supercharged with a 16-core Neural Engine, allowing users to enjoy faster ML tasks, including:

• Up to 8.7x faster object tracking performance in Final Cut Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 11.5x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 7.2x faster scene edit detection in 1080p ProRes 422 video in Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Up to 2.6x faster performance when selecting subjects in images in Adobe Photoshop.

Apple says when compared to the previous generation, the new 16-inch MacBook Pro delivers massive gains in performance for the most complex workflows in areas that matter most for pros.4

Featuring the same powerful 10-core CPU in M1 Pro and M1 Max, the 16-inch MacBook Pro delivers:

• Up to 3x faster computational fluid dynamics performance in NASA TetrUSS.
• Up to 2.1x faster project builds in Xcode.
• Up to 2.1x faster publish performance in Vectorworks.

With the 16-core GPU in M1 Pro and 32-core GPU in M1 Max, the 16-inch MacBook Pro offers faster graphics performance with:

• Up to 2.9x faster combined vector and raster GPU performance in Affinity Photo with M1 Pro, and up to 4.5x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 2.5x faster render in Maxon Cinema 4D with Redshift with M1 Pro, and up to 4x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 1.7x faster 8K render in Final Cut Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 2.9x faster with M1 Max.

With the 16-core Neural Engine on both M1 Pro and M1 Max, ML tasks are faster than ever on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, including:

• Up to 4.4x faster scene edit detection in 1080p ProRes 422 video in Adobe Premiere Pro.
• Up to 3.6x faster object tracking performance in Final Cut Pro with M1 Pro, and up to 4.9x faster with M1 Max.
• Up to 1.5x faster performance with M1 Pro and up to 2x faster with M1 Max when selecting subjects in images in Adobe Photoshop.

Apple says that, when compared to the previous-generation MacBook Pro on a single charge:

• The 14-inch model delivers up to 17 hours of video playback, which is seven additional hours, while the 16-inch model gets up to a remarkable 21 hours of video playback, which is 10 additional hours — the longest battery life ever on a Mac notebook.
• Developers working in Xcode will be able to compile up to 4x as much code.
• Photographers on the go will get up to 2x longer battery life in Adobe Lightroom Classic when editing images.

Other points of interest, according to Apple:

° The enclosure is precisely machined around an advanced thermal system that can move 50% more air than the previous generation, even at lower fan speeds. 

° The new MacBook Pro also comes with a Magic Keyboard that is set in a double-anodized black well, which elegantly highlights the backlit glyphs on the keys, and features a full-height function row. Physical function keys — including a wider escape key — replace the Touch Bar.

° For the first time, MacBook Pro offers a stunning Liquid Retina XDR display. Featuring the mini-LED technology used in iPad Pro, the Liquid Retina XDR display delivers up to 1,000 nits of sustained, full-screen brightness, an incredible 1,600 nits of peak brightness, and a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio.

° ProMotion technology also comes to the Mac on this new display, featuring an adaptive refresh rate up to 120Hz.

° Both models come with a larger display than the previous generation — the 16-inch model offers an expansive 16.2-inch display6 with 7.7 million pixels, the most ever on a Mac notebook. And the 14-inch model gives users more screen real estate than before, with a 14.2-inch active area7 and a total of 5.9 million pixels — more pixels than the prior 16-inch MacBook Pro.

° Both models feature three Thunderbolt 4 ports to connect high-speed peripherals, an SDXC card slot for fast access to media, an HDMI port for conveniently connecting to displays and TVs, and an improved headphone jack that supports high-impedance headphones.

° MagSafe returns to MacBook Pro with MagSafe 3, featuring an updated design and supporting more power into the system than ever before.

° The new MacBook Pro comes with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera — the best ever in a Mac notebook.

° A high-fidelity six-speaker sound system features two tweeters for a clearer soundstage and four force-cancelling woofers, resulting in 80 percent more bass. The sound system also supports spatial audio, which creates a sophisticated, three-dimensional listening experience. 

The new MacBook Pro models with M1 Pro and M1 Max are available to order today on apple.com/store and in the Apple Store app. They will begin arriving to customers and will be in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting Tuesday, October 26. The new 14-inch MacBook Pro model starts at US$1,999, and $1,849 for education; the 16-inch MacBook Pro model starts at $2,499 (US), and $2,299 (US) for education. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options, and accessories are available at apple.com/mac.

Apple “Unleashed” Event Happening On October 18

Apple will hold its next special event, dubbed “Unleashed” on Monday, October 18, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET. You can view the event online at apple.com or via the Apple TV app.

The event will be held at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. However, as with all recent special events, this will be virtual only. Almost certain to be announced are new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros. We’ll see what else is announced. 

Some SSDs In M1 Macs Are Having Alarming Health Readings

Some M1 Mac users are reporting “extremely troublesome” health readings from their SSDs, reports iMore. The Total Bytes Written figures show the life spans of these hard drives could be up in the air.

SSDs can continue to operate once the TBW limit is reached, though there’s no guarantee as to how long it can last. “As such, Apple will no doubt be working on a fix for this in macOS, either to fix faulty readings or to rectify the behavior behind them,” says iMore.

The M1 Mac line-up includes the new Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 13-inch MacBook Air released in 2020.

Apple Extends 13-Inch MacBook Pro Display Program

Apple has extended its 13-inch MacBook Pro Display Backlight Service Program, authorizing coverage for eligible laptops for up to 5 years after the original purchase date or up to 3 years after the start date of the program. 

The previous cutoff was 4 years after the original purchase date. The Backlight Service Program launched on May 21, 2019, when Apple said it had determined that a small percentage of the keyboards in certain MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models may exhibit one or more of the following behaviors:

• Display backlight continuously or intermittently shows vertical bright areas along the entire bottom of the screen
• Display backlight stops working completely

Affected devices were sold between October 2016 and February 2018. Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider will service affected MacBook Pro units, free of charge.

To identify your computer’s model and to see if it is eligible for this program, choose Apple () menu —> About This Mac. 

Apple Has Big Plans For M1 Chips, New iMac And Mac Pro In 2021 And 2022

 Apple has big plans for a series of new M1 Mac processors for introduction as early as 2021. They’re aimed to outperform Intel’s fastest, reports Bloomberg. They’ll be used in updated MacBook Pros, iMacs, and a new Mac Pro.

If they live up to expectations, they’ll “significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips,” according to “people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans aren’t yet public.”

Bloomberg says that, for higher-end desktop computers, planned for later in 2021 and a new half-sized Mac Pro planned to launch by 2022, Apple is testing a chip design with as many as 32 high-performance cores. Also according to Bloomberg, Apple engineers are also developing more ambitious graphics processors. Today’s M1 processors are offered with a custom Apple graphics engine that comes in either 7- or 8-core variations. For its future high-end laptops and mid-range desktops, Apple is testing 16-core and 32-core graphics parts. For later in 2021 or 2022, Apple is purportedly working on pricier graphics upgrades with 64 and 128 dedicated cores aimed at its highest-end machines. Bloomberg says “those graphics chips would be several times faster than the current graphics modules Apple uses from Nvidia and AMD in its Intel-powered hardware.”

Apple Announces Its Annual Four-Day Holiday Shopping Event

Apple has announced its annual four-day shopping event, which starts Friday and offers up to a US$150 Apple Store gift card with the purchase of select products between Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the U.S.

The Apple products that will include a $25 gift card are the Apple Watch Series 3, AirPods, and AirPods Pro. The iPhone SE, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, 13-inch MacBook Pro (non-M1), MacBook Air (non-M1), Apple TV (the set-top box) and five models of Beats headphones get a $50 card.

You can a $100 gift card for buying a 12-inch iPad Pro Or (non mini) HomePod. Fork out the moolah for a 16-inch MacBook Pro and 21.5-inch iMac, and you get a $150 gift card.

First Apple Silicon (M1) Macs Are MacBook Air, MacBook Pro And Mac Mini

During Apple’s “One More Thing” event, Apple revealed a 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini all powered by the M1, the most powerful chip Apple’s ever developed.

“The introduction of three new Macs featuring Apple’s breakthrough M1 chip represents a bold change that was years in the making, and marks a truly historic day for the Mac and for Apple,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said at today’s virtual event. “M1 is by far the most powerful chip we’ve ever created, and combined with macOS Big Sur, delivers mind-blowing performance, extraordinary battery life, and access to more software and apps than ever before. We can’t wait for our customers to experience this new generation of Mac, and we have no doubt it will help them continue to change the world.”

Apple says the new MacBook Air’s 8-core CPU performs up to 3.5x faster than the previous generation. With up to an 8-core GPU, graphics are up to 5x faster, the biggest leap ever for MacBook Air, so immersive, graphics-intensive games run at significantly higher frame rates. 

ML workloads are purportedly up to 9x faster, so apps that use ML-based features like face recognition or object detection can do so quicker. The M1 chip’s storage controller and latest flash technology deliver up to 2x faster SSD performance. Apple claims that the new MacBook Air is faster than the chips in 985of PC laptops sold in the past year — all in a fanless design. The company says the new laptop also  features up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 18 hours of video playback — the longest battery life ever on MacBook Air. Pricing starts at US$999 ($899 for education).

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is Apple’s most popular pro notebook. With the M1 chip and Big Sur, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with its 8-core CPU is up to 2.8x faster than the previous generation. The 8-core GPU is up to 5x faster. Apple says that, with the M1, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is up to 3x faster than the best-selling Windows laptop in its class. Machine learning (ML) is up to 11x faster, and for on-device ML tasks that use the Neural Engine, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is now the world’s fastest compact pro notebook, Apple says.

It offers up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 20 hours of video playback. According to Apple, the new MacBook Pro delivers up to twice the battery life of the previous generation and the longest battery life ever on a Mac.

Other new features in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro include studio-quality mics, and Apple’s latest camera ISP. The new MacBook Pro also delivers best-in-class security with the Secure Enclave in M1 and Touch ID. And it features two Thunderbolt ports with USB 4 support. It’s available for the same starting price of $1,299, and $1,199 for education.

The new Mac mini with the M1 brings an 8-core CPU with up to 3x faster performance than the previous generation. An 8-core GPU delivers up to a 6x increase in graphics performance. Apple says that when compared to the best-selling Windows desktop in its price range, the Mac mini is just one-tenth the size, yet delivers up to 5x faster performance. Pricing starts at $699, $100 less than before.

The new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with M1 are available to order today on apple.com and in the Apple Store app. They will begin arriving to customers and will be in select Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Resellers starting next week.

13.3-Inch MacBook Pro Believed To Get Apple Silicon First

Apple has said that its entire Mac line-up will transfer from Intel processors to Apple Silicon over the next few years. In a note to clients, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says a 13.3-inch MacBook Pro is likely to be the first product to benefit from the transition. He expects it to launch later this year or perhaps in early 2021. Kuo also expects a 13-inch MacBook Air around the same time. 

He also still predicts that Apple intends to launch a mini-LED 16-inch ‌‌MacBook Pro‌‌ and a 14.1-inch ‌MacBook Pro in the second or third quarter of 2021. He says that both will have an "all-new form factor design.” Kuo’s latest note doesn’t mention a 24-inch iMac with Apple Silicon that he had previously predicted. 

Apple Plans Mac Trade-In Program At US And Canada Retail Stores

Apple plans to launch a trade-in program for Macs next week at its retail stores in the U.S and Canada, according to Bloomberg. Quoting unnamed “people familiar with the matter,” the article adds that the tech giant informed retail employees that the new program will begin on June 15.

Previously, you could trade in a Mac via Apple’s website. And the company already offers trade-in programs at its stores for products such as the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.

The new plan could help boost sales of Macs by giving customers a way to get credit toward a new model at the point of purchase. 

Apple Releases macOS Catalina 10.15.5 With Battery Health Management Feature

Apple has released macOS Catalina 10.15.5 which sports a Battery Health Management feature. Here’s what the tech giant’s release notes say:

The battery health management feature in macOS 10.15.5 is designed to improve your battery’s lifespan by reducing the rate at which it chemically ages. The feature does this by monitoring your battery’s temperature history and its charging patterns.

Based on the measurements that it collects, battery health management may reduce your battery’s maximum charge when in this mode. This happens as needed to ensure that your battery charges to a level that’s optimized for your usage — reducing wear on the battery, and slowing its chemical aging.

The new version also fixes an issue where large data transfers to RAID volumes could cause Finder to become unresponsive. To download macOS Catalina 10.15.5, go to System Preferences and click Software Updates.

Apple Announces New 13-Inch MacBook Pro

Apple has announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with a more reliable Magic Keyboard, faster 10th-generation Intel processor options, up to 80 percent faster graphics performance, up to 32GB of RAM, up to 4TB of SSD storage, and more.

The Magic Keyboard features a redesigned scissor mechanism with 1mm of key travel, an inverted-"T" arrangement for the arrow keys, and a physical Escape key. After five years, Apple has finally transitioned its entire notebook lineup away from its issue-prone butterfly keyboard.

The 10th-generation Intel Core processor options are now available, but only on higher-end configurations starting at $1,799. Lower-end configurations still use Intel's older 8th-generation processors like the previous 13-inch MacBook Pro. The high-end configuration can be customized with a 2.3GHz quad-core 10th-generation Core i7 chip with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is available with up to 32GB of RAM, compared to a max of 16GB previously, while 16GB of RAM is now offered standard on select configurations. For the 16GB and 32GB RAM options, Apple is using faster 3733MHz LPDDR4X memory, but the base model continues to have 8GB of 2133MHz LPDDR3 memory.

Apple has doubled the storage across all standard configurations, with the base model now coming with a 256GB SSD, up from 128GB. At the high end, users can upgrade to a new 4TB SSD option for an extra $1,000.

The latest Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics offer up to 80 percent faster graphics performance than the previous generation.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro models are available to order on Apple.com starting today, with pricing starting at $1,299 in the United States. 

Apple Discontinues 15-Inch MacBook Pro

Now that the 16-inch MacBook Pro is here,  the 15-inch model is no more. Your choice of pro models now includes the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the new 16-inch. However, the 15-inch MacBook Pro is still available as certified refurbished from Apple, as well as from several retailers.

Apple Releases The 16-Inch MacBook Pro With Redesigned Keyboard

Apple has unveiled an all-new 16-inch MacBook Pro designed for developers, photographers, filmmakers, scientists, music producers, and, well,  anyone who wants what’s probably the world’s most powerful laptop.

It features a16-inch Retina Display, the latest 8-core processors, up to 64GB of memory, next-generation graphics with up to 8GB of VRAM and a new advanced thermal design. The 16-inch MacBook Pro also includes a six-speaker sound system, longer battery life, Touch Bar, Touch ID, the Force Touch trackpad and the Apple T2 Security Chip.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro features a new Magic Keyboard with a refined scissor mechanism that delivers 1mm of key travel and a stable key feel, as well as an Apple-designed rubber dome that stores more potential energy for a responsive key press. Tom Boger, Apple’s senior director of Mac and iPad Product Marketing, says that by incorporating extensive research and user studies focused on human factors and key design, the 16-inch MacBook Pro delivers a keyboard with a comfortable, satisfying and quiet typing experience. The new Magic Keyboard also features a physical Escape key and an inverted-“T” arrangement for the arrow keys, along with Touch Bar and Touch ID.

Apple says the 16-inch MacBook Pro uses the most advanced thermal architecture ever in a Mac notebook to enable the system to run at higher power for sustained periods of time. The fan design features a larger impeller with extended blades along with bigger vents, purportedly resulting in a 28% increase in airflow, while the heat sink is 35% larger, enabling significantly more heat dissipation than before. Together, these advancements in cooling capacity allow the 16-inch MacBook Pro to sustain up to 12 more watts during intensive workloads than the previous design.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro features the latest 6- and 8-core 9th-generation processors with Turbo Boost speeds up to 5.0 GHz, which deliver up to 2.1 times faster performance than the quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro. Its CPUs, combined with faster memory up to 64GB for the first time, and its more advanced thermal design, will enable pro workflows never before possible on a MacBook Pro, according to Boger. Apple says that, when compared to the fastest quad-core 15-inch MacBook Pro:

• Music producers can play back massive multi-track projects with up to 2.1 times more Amp Designer plug-ins in Logic Pro X.
  
• Scientists and researchers will benefit from 2.1 times faster simulation of dynamical systems in MATLAB.
  
• Developers using Xcode can compile code up to 1.8 times faster.
  
• Photographers can apply complex edits to photographs 1.7 times faster in Photoshop.
  

The 16-inch MacBook Pro features new AMD Radeon Pro 5000M series graphics — the first 7nm mobile discrete GPUs for pro users. Paired with GDDR6 video memory and with an 8GB VRAM option for the first time, pro users will be able to tackle GPU-intensive tasks faster than ever, says Boger. Customers who choose the standard configuration will see 2.1 times faster graphics performance than the previous standard configuration. 

Those who opt for the highest-end graphics options will see up to 80%faster performance than the previous high-end configuration, according to Apple. The company says that when compared to the previous-generation 8-core 15-inch MacBook Pro with the highest graphics options:

• Video editors using DaVinci Resolve will see up to 1.8 times faster effects rendering when color grading.
  
• Gamers will enjoy smoother gameplay with up to 1.6 times faster performance in games like Fortnite.
  
• In Unity, developers will experience 1.4 times faster fly-through performance during game development.
  
• To power all this performance, MacBook Pro features a 100Wh battery — the largest ever in a Mac notebook — for an additional hour of battery life of up to 11 hours of wireless web browsing or Apple TV app video playback.
  The new MacBook Pro doubles the SSD storage to 512GB and 1TB on standard configurations. And for the first time, MacBook Pro can be configured with 8TB of storage. Apple says that’s the largest SSD ever in a notebook.
  

The 16-inch MacBook Pro introduces a redesigned six-speaker, high-fidelity sound system. New Apple-patented force-canceling woofers use dual opposed speaker drivers to reduce unwanted vibrations that distort sound. 

Boger says that, as a result, music sounds more clear and natural than ever before, and the bass can go half an octave deeper, according to Apple. An upgraded high-performance mic array delivers a 40% reduction in hiss and an improved signal-to-noise ratio that rivals that of popular professional-grade digital microphones, delivering super-clean recordings that capture even the quietest details, he adds.

Starting at $2,399, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is available now through apple.com and the Apple Store app. It will be in Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Resellers in the US later this week and coming soon to stores around the world. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at apple.com/mac.