The next MacBook Pro redesign (merged)

[dusk007]

As Ovedius's comment lacks some tech knowledge.
Some Skylake addition.

Skylake quadcores will intengrate the pch (basically the southbridge) into the SoC. They also claim a big reduction in platform power (basically everything that is not the cpu/gpu or displays) Also the next Iris Pro should be fast enough to compete with a 750M easily.

What this means is that the logic board could be shrunk considerably.
Secondly the battery pack could be shrunk because battery while retaining the same battery life stats.
If they remove the dGPU as well because they think the new Iris Pro is good enough, the logic board would shrink considerably more.
Batteries also get a bit better every year. The battery pack is already quite old. If they did it again with the new packaging of the MacBook they can shrink it in volume even while keeping capacity the same, or they do both and get the least possible volume.

All this combined means if a redesign comes at all in next 2 years it is fairly likely with Skylake. And shrinking of the MBP is definitely possible especially if they remove the dGPU but even without doing so.
If it happens I suspect that they not make it much thinner but a little wedge shaped like MB and MBA.
I also think a redsign would likely make it loose the dGPU, ergo total performance would probably be the same.
I don't think they would change anything on the display resolution.

I also disagree with Samuelsan2001. There is absolutely nothing about Cannonlake that would change anything about the logicboard and probably not much about platform power. If they don't do anything (no redesign) but update to skylake chips, I think it is unlikely they would do anything with Cannonlake.
The next big change would be when they incorporate HBM to replace DDR4 (for the sake of powerful iGPU instead and shrinking the logicboard to almost half of what it is now) and that is much further in the future than Cannonlake.

 

[Andropov]

Skylake quadcores will intengrate the pch (basically the southbridge) into the SoC.

Most Haswell CPUs (including the ones used in the MacBook Pro/Air since 2013) already have an integrated PCH...

Cannonlake will include Thunderbolt 3, DDR4, a new 10nm process (meaning a shrink of the CPU/GPU die size, lower TDP...), and many other major features that Apple could use for a "all-new" redesigned MacBook Pro.

 

[darngooddesign]

So, I don't see why Apple would redesign what already seems like a design apex.

The Pismo Powerbook was the best design, until the next best design; the Titanium Powerbook was the best design, until the next best design; and the Retina Unibody is the best design, until the next best design.

 

[0000757]

A complete hardware redesign?

Maybe in a few more years.

Adding in USB-C and the new keyboard? Maybe this year, maybe next year.

 

[Ovedius]

The Pismo Powerbook was the best design, until the next best design; the Titanium Powerbook was the best design, until the next best design; and the Retina Unibody is the best design, until the next best design.

Hey, I really want Apple to blow us away with a radical new design.
Slim as a toothpick, unbelievable high resolution glassless 3D screen, Touch ID trackpad, a keyboard unlike any other, all day battery life...

But man, unless we see a breakthrough in flash architecture, battery design or CPU/GPU thermal output, I don't think it's very realistic to expect a redesign.

So, redesign? Awesome, cool, bring it on. I just don't find it remotely realistic or necesary
Diminishing returns.

EDIT: I sound like an ass with that "remotely" up there, sorry about that. It's all in good spirit, I assure you

.

 

[mjs402]

You guys are delusional if you don't think Apple will redesign the 15-incher soon. And for those arguing that they don't see them thinning out the machine or making it smaller.. I would like to trigger your memories you with the new "Mac Pro".

Let's take a desktop computer where we had ample space for expansion, neglected to give proper upgrades and make it.. smaller because, why not?

 

[Ovedius]

You guys are delusional ...

No need for that.


What dictates the size of the laptop?
First an foremost the screen.
Then the battery.
Then the cooling.

Realistically we could loose the bezel around the screen.
Then move the speakers around behind the keyboard like on the new Macbook.
That takes care of two dimensions; width and depth.
But that's it, thickness is right now at a realistic minimum.
The battery and the fans still need space in a high powered work station like the Pro.

These days major tech revolutions like battery design, flash architecture and thermal dissipation don't pop up out of the blue. We hear rumors and see prototypes way in advance before anything get's put in consumer products.
When there's a major redesign coming we'll know way in advance.

 

[yukari]

I don't know about others, but personally I am hoping for a redesign to 14 and 16 inch screens.

If that comes to fruition, I'll be all over that 14 inch screen MBP.

Redesign isn't necessarily the form factor but also the screen size.

 

[Ovedius]

At least I think we can all agree that we're very excited to see where the Macbook Pro is headed

In the meantime we can discuss when and how.

 

[dagamer34]

My reasoning for re-design in the next iteration here (early-mid 2016 is my best guess): http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/332ywy/what_predictions_do_you_have_about_the_2015_15/cqh6hi3

Mostly, current display is 4 years old and has been lapped efficiency-wise. Basically compare iPad 3 to iPad Air 2 in terms of thickness and a huge reason for the difference is the display and backlight efficiency (amorphous silicon vs IGZO as a transistor for the screen).

Other changes bringing power efficiency benefits:
CPU: 22nm -> 14nm
GPU: 28nm -> 14nm FinFET
RAM: DDR3 -> DDR4
VRAM: GDDR5 -> HBM
Battery: terrace design may maintain capacity while decreasing footprint.
Ports: thinner, thinner thinner!
Logic board: smaller, even more room for battery.

 

[Ovedius]

My reasoning for re-design in the next iteration here (early-mid 2016 is my best guess): http://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/332ywy/what_predictions_do_you_have_about_the_2015_15/cqh6hi3

Mostly, current display is 4 years old and has been lapped efficiency-wise. Basically compare iPad 3 to iPad Air 2 in terms of thickness and a huge reason for the difference is the display and backlight efficiency (amorphous silicon vs IGZO as a transistor for the screen).

Other changes bringing power efficiency benefits:
CPU: 22nm -> 14nm
GPU: 28nm -> 14nm FinFET
RAM: DDR3 -> DDR4
VRAM: GDDR5 -> HBM
Battery: terrace design may maintain capacity while decreasing footprint.
Ports: thinner, thinner thinner!
Logic board: smaller, even more room for battery.

Now this is the sort of well grounded reasoning I can't possibly challenge with my current lack of insight in actual tech development.

+1

 

[spaceballl]

Just be conservative and set your expectations for 2016. Apple is likely going to have a pretty busy fall lineup - new iPhones, iPad Pro, etc, etc, etc...

 

[dusk007]

Skylake quadcores will intengrate the pch (basically the southbridge) into the SoC.

Most Haswell CPUs (including the ones used in the MacBook Pro/Air since 2013) already have an integrated PCH...

Cannonlake will include Thunderbolt 3, DDR4, a new 10nm process (meaning a shrink of the CPU/GPU die size, lower TDP...), and many other major features that Apple could use for a "all-new" redesigned MacBook Pro.

The Quad Cores don't and that is what I wrote.
DDR4 already comes with Skylake not Cannonlake. Even Skylake will support both Apple will surely use DDR4. Thunderbolt 3 won't change anything anywhere other than the spec sheet.
I am not aware of any TDP changes planned with Cannonlake. Die size changes don't translate to anything if the Package with all the IO routing stays the same size which it did Haswell 22nm to Broadwell 14nm. Only the Core-M got a special package.

 

[bcaslis]

Thunderbolt 3 is supposed to be a smaller connector. That along with USB-C will allow them to make the Pro body thinner.

There is no way Apple is not going to use the design language they developed for the rMB in the next revision of the Pro. I would strongly bet this is going to be on the Skylake models sometime in the first half of 2016.

 

[dusk007]

A 3 mm shorter connector but the same plug. Plug decides how big the whole in the body has to be. How long the connector is, is irrelevant.
Besides there is plenty of space in the rounded part of the body which they can shave of without touching the horizontal band with the connectors. But I think they would make it more wedge shaped but not change much about the max thickness in the back because of the cooling system.

 

[johannnn]

I'm buying a rMBP 15" today. Considering a possible thinner redesign next year I'm actually happy I'm not waiting, their 1st gen products usually are much less future-proof so I'll probably keep this until 2017.

 

[colonel179]

their 1st gen products usually are much less future-proof so I'll probably keep this until 2017.

That was my reasoning too. Their first gen products impress, but they always lack something. You can see it with iPhone, Macbook, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

I will probably feel a little bit of regret and jealousy when the new Macbook Pros are announced (specially because I did really like the new keyboard from rMB), but ultimately, we all know the following year there will be a much improved one.

 

[Ovedius]

That was my reasoning too. Their first gen products impress, but they always lack something. You can see it with iPhone, Macbook, iPad, Apple Watch, etc.

I will probably feel a little bit of regret and jealousy when the new Macbook Pros are announced (specially because I did really like the new keyboard from rMB), but ultimately, we all know the following year there will be a much improved one.

I toyed with this reasoning for my purchase as well.
Early adopters tend to struggle with some newborn-diseases (we call it that in Norway when describing reasonable faults or kinks in new concepts, and for the life of me I could not think of an english phrase at the momen of writing).
So it usually pays to wait for New Product 1.1 instead of splurging on 1.0.

...

This is what I will repeat to myself through gritted teeth every night before I go to sleep after The Redesign

 

[Ghost31]

seems like if you look at the cycles in which they design products, that the MacBook Pro is due for a big redesign in the next year. And the 12 inch MacBook seems to lend credence to that. Butterfly switch keyboard, better screen that is also thinner and without the glowing lid, force touch trackpad, space grey, usb c ports, an overall thinner profile.

And It'll be time for me to get a new one first half of next year. Anybody smell a big redesign coming? Are there any rumors or leaks suggesting it?

 

[EvilEvil]

Nope. This year is nothing but slight speedbumps and tweaks at Apple. Don't expect any real innovations this year.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

seems like if you look at the cycles in which they design products, that the MacBook Pro is due for a big redesign in the next year. And the 12 inch MacBook seems to lend credence to that. Butterfly switch keyboard, better screen that is also thinner and without the glowing lid, force touch trackpad, space grey, usb c ports, an overall thinner profile.

And It'll be time for me to get a new one first half of next year. Anybody smell a big redesign coming? Are there any rumors or leaks suggesting it?

No rumours, no leaks, just the usual baseless speculation...

 

[dusk007]

Check the waiting for Skylake thread. The topic has been discussed at length.
To sum it up. There is a good chance Skylake will be accompanied by a redesign. At least for 15" it makes sense (fewer chips, major logic board redesign is necessary anyway) but they might do something to the 13" too while they are at it. Battery packs and stuff could see an update to MacBook state of technology. They haven't been touch since the inital retina mbp release.

 

[wheelhot]

Most likely the release of Skylake will call for a redesign due to the age of current unibody MBP and that the change of ports design that comes with Skylake

 

[Fishrrman]

Except for changing the ports, and perhaps making slight changes to the shape of the case, how much is there, really, that they can "re-design" ?

 

[T5BRICK]

Except for changing the ports, and perhaps making slight changes to the shape of the case, how much is there, really, that they can "re-design" ?

This is Apple we're talking about...."Hey guys, lets make it THINNER!"

To be honest, I'm perfectly happy with the current lineup. I don't see a reason to make it thinner/reduce battery life/remove useful ports, or whatever.