Redesigned Macbook release timeline 2021

[sotov]

What is the latest theory / speculation / news on when we can best expect the redesigned laptops in 2021?

I'm in the market for one and the timeline will affect whether it makes sense to purchase an M1 laptop now or wait. Thanks for any info.

 

[pldelisle]

I think last rumours go along with a MBP 14 and 16 inch 2H2021. Between 6 and 12 high performance core, up to 64 GB unified memory.

It would have the same chip as the iMac 24 inch. iMac 27/30 inch will have 16 high performance cores.

GPU for these chips is unknown to me. I think it will be on-die, but some suggest a dedicated GPU (which contradict the principle of a SoC, but would still be something possible at Apple).

If you need it, buy it. If you don't need it, wait. It's always the same rule of thumb since the inception of home computing.

 

[andrewstirling]

Think he’s talking about a redesign rather than different chipsets

 

[sotov]

I think last rumours go along with a MBP 14 and 16 inch 2H2021. Between 6 and 12 high performance core, up to 64 GB unified memory.

It would have the same chip as the iMac 24 inch. iMac 27/30 inch will have 16 high performance cores.

GPU for these chips is unknown to me. I think it will be on-die, but some suggest a dedicated GPU (which contradict the principle of a SoC, but would still be something possible at Apple).

If you need it, buy it. If you don't need it, wait. It's always the same rule of thumb since the inception of home computing.

Thanks for the info. The 2H2021 makes a good deal of sense timeline wise.

I hadn't even considered the impact of a dedicated GPU as the new M1 machines are performing so well - but this may be quite nice to have for dedicated 3D applications. I agree with your theory that it will be on-die to maximize integration and watt / computing performance.

I wonder to what extent Apple will collaborate with Nvidia / AMD for their GPUs, if at all.

 

[JohnnyGo]

Timeline is unknown for the redesigned MBP

Guesstimate with probabilities:
Q1 0%
Q2 60% (WWDC)
Q3 40%
Q4 0%

 

[Bending Pixels]

What is wrong with the current design?

 

[Apple_Robert]

What is wrong with the current design?

Nothing, in my opinion. The problem is many tech nerds want change for the sake of change, as hardware does more than any really need.

 

[pldelisle]

Nothing, in my opinion. The problem is many tech nerds want change for the sake of change, as hardware does more than any really need.

True. But change in MacBooks is rarely a good thing. *cough Butterfly keyboard cough *.

I prefer stability over change when talking about Apple laptops. The design has converged to something really perfect. No need to change except the slimmer bezel on the 13/14 inch MBP. The rest is internal improvement and display technology (mini-Led)

 

[jdb8167]

What is wrong with the current design?

Smaller bezels would allow for a larger display in the same size case. I don't find the bezels objectionable but more screen real estate without losing any portability would be nice.

 

[Earl Urley]

Somehow I doubt any of the newer Macs except the Mac Pro will have anything other than an Apple GPU.

The 8-core GPU in the M1 is already performing at the level of an AMD RX 560 and the Bloomberg article says they are gunning for more in the next revision.. a 16-core Apple GPU may easily surpass even the vaunted 5600M with 16 GB of HBM memory..

 

[Apple_Robert]

True. But change in MacBooks is rarely a good thing. *cough Butterfly keyboard cough *.

I prefer stability over change when talking about Apple laptops. The design has converged to something really perfect. No need to change except the slimmer bezel on the 13/14 inch MBP. The rest is internal improvement and display technology (mini-Led)

Very good point about the keyboard. While the design may be dated for many people, it works for me. I held off on getting a new MacBook because of the keyboard problems. The new M1 design is just icing on the cake. I am back to looking forward to using my MacBook again, instead of just my iPad Pro.

I think the M1 a powerhouse and a great bang for the laptop buck.

 

[Argon_]

What is wrong with the current design?

Well, the prospect of MLED displays, which could fit into the current form factor. More brightness, better batt life when viewing darker content. A bezel trim would be nice.

 

[sotov]

Nothing, in my opinion. The problem is many tech nerds want change for the sake of change, as hardware does more than any really need.

"Tech Nerds" like myself (apparently...), don't all want to elicit change for fashionista points, looking cool at the coffee shop, soaking in the occasional nod over a matcha latte.

The redesign, or rather *design tweaks* I personally am looking for are functional:

1. smaller form factor by reducing the bezels. 12" notebook is a sweetspot - as I enjoy taking my ipad pro around - and once did the air 11."
2. mini LED display with potential further battery savings.
3. updated webcam. The current one's optics are just flat out of date.
3. rumored darker chassis - less of an announcement in public space.

It's also worth noting not to put the cart before the horse. Apple doesn't tend to change hardware to placate vanity. The imac line hasn't changed largely in outward appearance in over a decade. It works and works well. So when Apple does decide to make a physical change to it's hardware, there tend to be functional reasons guiding the aesthetic change, that I choose to pay attention to.

 

[Argon_]

"Tech Nerds" like myself (apparently...), don't all want to elicit change for fashionista points, looking cool at the coffee shop, soaking in the occasional nod over a matcha latte.

The redesign, or rather *design tweaks* I personally am looking for are functional:

1. smaller form factor by reducing the bezels. 12" notebook is a sweetspot - as I enjoy taking my ipad pro around - and once did the air 11."
2. mini LED display with potential further battery savings.
3. updated webcam. The current one's optics are just flat out of date.
3. rumored darker chassis - less of an announcement in public space.

It's also worth noting not to put the cart before the horse. Apple doesn't tend to change hardware to placate vanity. The imac line hasn't changed largely in outward appearance in over a decade. It works and works well. So when Apple does decide to make a physical change to it's hardware, there tend to be functional reasons guiding the aesthetic change, that I choose to pay attention to.

Some think the next iMac will look like "an iPad on a stick."

They could even make a $1100 base model with the M1 to capture more of the market.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Somehow I doubt any of the newer Macs except the Mac Pro will have anything other than an Apple GPU.

I agree with you completely.

 

[Yebubbleman]

What is the latest theory / speculation / news on when we can best expect the redesigned laptops in 2021?

I'm in the market for one and the timeline will affect whether it makes sense to purchase an M1 laptop now or wait. Thanks for any info.

Current speculation seems to suggest that the next 16" MacBook Pro, the first with Apple Silicon instead of Intel, alongside the 14" MacBook Pro, rumored to replace the current 4-port Ice Lake 13" MacBook Pro, will be when we'll see a redesign.

That being said, redesigns usually entail reliability issues and every single first rev of a MacBook Pro design since the early days of the Intel transition has had issues of some sort. It's usually much safer to either wait until a subsequent release with that body style or to get one of the soon-to-be-outgoing body style designs. All that to say that the current M1 2-port 13" MacBook Pro is probably a pretty safe bet, since all other hardware components are the same as the 2020 Intel 8th Gen based 2-port 13" MacBook Pro that got replaced. Like, you know the keyboard, trackpad, display, and all sorts of other components aren't going to have issues, because they're unchanged.

 

[Earl Urley]

All that to say that the current M1 2-port 13" MacBook Pro is probably a pretty safe bet, since all other hardware components are the same as the 2020 Intel 8th Gen based 2-port 13" MacBook Pro that got replaced.

Minor point: not all the hardware.. the WiFi chipset on the 2020 Intel rMBP is still only 802.11ac whereas the WiFi chipset on the M1 rMBP is the new 802.11ax.

Connected to a proper WiFi 6 router, an M1 rMBP with its two MIMO antennas can achieve greater speeds than the Intel rMBP connected to a regular 802.11ac WiFi router..