When is Apple releasing a new MacBook Pro, and should you buy now or wait?
Chance Miller
- Jul. 28th 2021 11:54 am PT
@ChanceHMiller
0
Rumors have long suggested that Apple is working on a new MacBook Pro refresh with Apple Silicon on the inside, a new design, and much more. As rumors gain steam about a release later this year, many would-be MacBook Pro buyers are debating whether to buy now or wait. Here’s what we recommend.
What to expect from the 2021 MacBook Pro
The rumors have made it pretty clear that this will be a big year for the MacBook Pro. In terms of design, the new MacBook Pros are said to feature an all-new form factor and will reportedly be available in 14-inch and 16-inch screen sizes using the
new mini-LED screen technology
.
The new MacBook Pros will purportedly
feature a new flat-edged design
similar to what we’ve seen in the latest iMac, iPad Pro, and iPhone 12 designs. Another major design change will be the removal of the Touch Bar, with
Ming-Chi Kuo indicating
that Apple will return to a traditional function row of keys instead.
Bloomberg
also reported
that the new MacBook Pros will feature an HDMI port and an SD card slot, alongside the return of MagSafe technology for magnetic charging. Images and diagrams leaked as part of an
Apple ransomware attack seemingly
corroborated this, showing an HDMI port, USB-C port, and SD card slot on the right-hand side and a MagSafe connector, two USB-C ports, and a headphone jack on the left-hand side.
Perhaps even more notable than the design changes, however, is that these new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will use Apple Silicon processors on the inside. The new MacBook Pros will reportedly use something akin to the “M1X processor” and feature eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency cores. The machines will reportedly be configurable in either 16 or 32 graphics core variations and up to 64GB of RAM.
When will Apple release the new MacBook Pros?
While some rumors had suggested that the new MacBook Pros would be announced at WWDC in June, that obviously did not come to fruition, and we’re still waiting.
Bloomberg
reported that the new MacBook Pros could be announced as early
as sometime this summer
.
Digitimes
, meanwhile,
has reported
that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are set to launch late in the third quarter of this year, suggesting a launch in September.
Most recently, however, that timeline appears to have shifted.
Mark Gurman at
Bloomberg
reported that the new MacBook Pro with mini-LED display will be released sometime between September and November.
The important backdrop to these rumors, however, is that there is an
ongoing chip shortage affecting
the entire industry. While Apple may have
intended to release
the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros last month, it’s battling these shortages and struggling to keep up with demand as-is. This could also mean the new MacBook Pros are delayed further, but as of right now, all signs point to a late summer or early fall release.
Should you buy a MacBook Pro now or wait?
Currently, Apple sells MacBook Pros with both Apple Silicon and Intel processors. The “entry-level” 13-inch MacBook Pro features two Thunderbolt ports and an Apple M1 chip on the inside. You can also opt for an Intel-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports or for an Intel-powered 16-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports. Apple does not (yet) sell a MacBook Pro with a display larger than 13-inches powered by Apple Silicon.
Of the MacBook Pros being sold by Apple today, the M1-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro is the only one we can recommend buying — especially if
you can find it on sale
or take advantage of
Apple’s Back to School promotion
.
As
benchmarks and real-world tests have shown us
, the M1 MacBook Pro is an incredibly powerful machine and can out-perform most any Intel chip available in the higher-end 13-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros.
But with that being said, there are some people who are probably better off waiting for the 14-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by Apple Silicon:
If you need more than two Thunderbolt ports
If you need an HDMI port or an SD card slot (and don’t want to use a dongle)
If you want a display larger than 13-inches
If the M1 chip is not powerful enough
If you need to drive multiple external monitors
Furthermore, given that the Apple Silicon 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros are just months away, we can’t recommend buying any MacBook Pro with Intel inside. The upcoming Apple Silicon MacBook Pros will a monumental shift for Apple with more powerful chips, a new design, more ports, and new display technology. macOS Monterey also includes many features that are
only
supported on Apple Silicon Macs
.
Wrap up
To recap: Don’t buy an Intel MacBook Pro right now, but the M1 MacBook Pro is an excellent machine that is powerful enough for almost anything you could throw at it.
What do you think about the current state of Apple’s MacBook lineup and the Apple Silicon transition? Are you already using an Apple Silicon Mac, or are you waiting for a machine that is still to come? Let us know down in the comments!
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links.
More.
Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:
You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out
our homepage
for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on
,
, and
to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our
exclusive stories
,
reviews
,
how-tos
, and
subscribe to our YouTube channel
Guides
MacBook Pro
Apple's premium laptop comes in 13- and 16-inch screen sizes. Each model includes 2-4 USB-C ports for charging, accessories, and data transfer. Higher-end models also include the Touch Bar.
Apple Silicon
Apple Silicon is Apple's new lineup of processors for the Mac platform. It was announced in 2020 with the first Macs appearing at Apple's "One More Thing" event in November 2020. The first was the M1, and it first appeared in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini.
About the Author
Chance Miller
@ChanceHMiller
Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.
Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com
Chance Miller's favorite gear
Skillshare
Get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership
Logitech Powered
My go-to wireless charging stand.
