What ports should make a return to the 2021 Macbook Pro?

[tevion5]

I really don't see Apple returning to USB-A after 6 years of USB-C. It would be a really, really, weird move. What's next? BluRay in 2022 and Firewire in 2023? Followed by VGA in 2024 and LPT in 2025.

Yeah I like ethernet on my desktops but there's no way that's making a return on modern MacBooks.

HDMI would be a sensible addition imo, it's on almost every display device today and it's a pretty slim port.

USB-A and Ethernet would just be silly. Griping about this feels like complaining about the lack of a floppy drive in 2001.

 

[The Canadian CameraGuy]

I want all the connections returned.

First, we all know the, 4 Thunderbolt ports don’t all delver what Apple promises. its one of those great lies along with the cheque is in the mail, I’ll still respect you in the morning and no, I won’t @@@ in your mouth. Apple lies all the time. So the start of things should be delivering the 4 Thunderbolt ports with true features.

My desk has an iMac on it and I have a MacBook, and the last of 2020 MBP. It also has several Thunderbolt and other breakout boxes. If you have to go out of your office, you need the computer, at least one breakout boxes and a mess of cables.

First, no one said the MBP needed to be thin as hell. No one asked for no ports or dismantled Thunder bolt ports.

make a computer that I can use, with ports that work. Make it affordable. I already know my next machine is a loaded Hackintosh. Less money, more power, more features.

Apple is a phone manufacturer. Nothing else. OK, add watch to that description.

sorry for the rant.

 

[panzer06]

I like the concept of returning to the MagSafe but I also really enjoy having so many peripherals supporting 96W charging over USB C. I can take my laptop to many places and just plug in for charging. As long as the MagSafe was in addition to charging on one of the available USB C ports I'm good

 

[Stephen.R]

First, we all know the, 4 Thunderbolt ports don’t all delver what Apple promises.

What are you talking about?

 

[icanhazmac]

Want something MagSafe-ish, if Apple were to make their current charging cable both USBC and MagSafe at the connector I would be happy. Anything that helps keeps people from tripping and my laptop off the floor is a good thing.

As for adding back anything else, I already own the dongles so thats not a hill I would die on.

 

[ascender]

Now we're 4/5 years down the line of usb-c, the only one I'd kind of like to see making a comeback would be MagSafe tbh. Even then, that's only going to be on one side of the laptops and its really good to be able to charger on either.

I also like having ports which can all function for power, data & video. If I'm traveling, I can just take my laptop, its charger and usb-c charging leads for everything else.

A few years ago I'd have said HDMI, but with so many casting/Airplay options, I'm personally not too bothered about using a usb-c dongle occasionally if I have to.

I'm genuinely surprised by the amount of votes for usb-a though.

 

[elmateo487]

Can somebody explain to me what is the point of MagSafe on a laptop? Besides clumsy people, house pets and children tripping over cables...


Another proprietary cable and adapter that you need to carry around with you and will most probably cost €100+. With USB-C you can use your iPad charger, get a cheap Anker/Aukey charger, use the same charger for iPhone / iPad...

Maybe if Apple makes a USB-C to MagSafe cable for laptops, but still... it seems like a waste of space. Nobody will ever buy a spare MagSafe cable, if they can get a USB-C cable for 5x less.
ith
Not to mention that with USB-C you can have one cable going into external monitor (power + data). With MagSafe you will need two.

I picture being able to charge via USBC or magsafe if they added magsafe.

 

[jeyf]

you see discussion of 10Gb, even 1Gb residential internet. the new wifi6 speeds are not all that faboulus.
so
an ethernet port would be good
otherwise upper end MBP is kinda an island

 

[ZenC]

• USB-A​

  No need for this with USB-C adapters already common and many new devices moving to USB-C natively, keyboard, mice, webcams.

• HDMI​

  HDMI 2.1 is the correct answer here. Next gen monitors and TVs will need to support this.

• SD Slot​

  This is a nice to have but not necessary. Very niche, most pro cameras can sync wirelessly.

• Magsafe​

  Waste of time. USB-C charging is easy, ubiquitous. No more proprietary Apple connectors please.

• Ethernet​

  Makes no sense on a portable device. Fine for USB-C hub.

Agree with all, except for the Ethernet port - it would be very helpful to have an integrated 10G Ethernet port!!

 

[Tozovac]

Apple should have a single usb-c port, and that’s it. Nice and simple/universal. USB-A is so 2017.

The benefits and ease of implementation of a forced-universal rule like this is best exemplified by how users in the United States jumped 100% overnight to the metric system once it gained steam in the mid-70’s here, since obviously the metric system is simpler and cleaner than SI units. And so minimalistic/tidy, since units are in factors of 10’s from each other. The benefits are obvious, why would anyone even consider staying with non-SI units?

 

[svanstrom]

you see discussion of 10Gb, even 1Gb residential internet.

"see discussion"… aaaaw, that's cute. ?

???

Thing is, having real fast internet is not bad; but you really need to use that bandwidth for it to be something good for you. Even with just 250/250 Mbit/s you'll often find that what people are willing to feed you (talking torrenting) is less than what maxes out what you could receive; and that you will get the whole movie/series before you connect to a fast enough uploader.

 

[deeddawg]

Apple should have a single usb-c port, and that’s it. Nice and simple/universal. USB-A is so 2017.

The benefits and ease of implementation of a forced-universal rule like this is best exemplified by how users in the United States jumped 100% overnight to the metric system once it gained steam in the mid-70’s here, since obviously the metric system is simpler and cleaner than SI units. And so minimalistic/tidy, since units are in factors of 10’s from each other. The benefits are obvious, why would anyone even consider staying with non-SI units?

LOL. You act like it's easier to work with 1000mm to a meter and 1000m to a kilometer than it is dealing with 1/32th of inches and 12 inches to a foot, three feet to a yard, and 1760 yards to a mile. Shoulda stuck with furlongs per fortnight.

You make a good point - so much inertia out there. I can't think of a data device I own that isn't USBC at this point.

For stuff that wasn't already USBC such as a couple external drives, I swapped them to USBC cables. My SD card reader is USBC. Okay, I have a couple old USBA flash drives, but also have a couple USBA-F to USBC-M adapters sitting around for the once or twice a year I might use them. Haven't had any need for hardwired ethernet to my MBP; I so rarely do anything of sufficient volume that it'd make a difference that I've not bothered dropping a cat6 cable into the wall behind my desk. Also worth noting though that current Lenovo X1 Carbons ship with a dongle for ethernet. Case is too thin.

 

[lederermc]

for my work . hdmi is a must and i hate dongle life.

Then buy a cable that has HDMI on one end and a USB-C on the other for $12 on amazon.

 

[lederermc]

MagSafe but only if charging (at a decently high speed) remains available via USB-C. The convenience of having a single power brick charge almost any gadget (without having to swap cables) is to good to pass up and I prefer it over the benefits of MagSafe. MagSafe should be a secondary way of charging rather than the only way.

My favorite feature of USB-C is the ability to plug the power cord into the right side at home and the left side at work.

 

[Bustermd]

If the reports are true, and the "average user won't need a dongle anymore" or whatever the specific line was from Kuo then that implies at least one USB A port and one HDMI port. HDMI is thin, and other companies have found clever ways to include USB A in thin and light laptops without it adding much bulk.

I don't know why people are personally offended by the inclusion of a USB A port, or by any port for that matter. USB A is by far the most common USB plug type and it will be years, if ever, before it goes away.

 

[yurc]

I hate to say, but after live with Type-C peripherals for last 4 years I start to comfortable with Type-C only ports especially for thin laptop.

MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, 2019 Mac Pro...
My Wacom Mobile Studio pro has three USB-C, two of them are TB3 ports, still had built-in SD card slot.
My Cintiq Pro and Intuos Pro using Type-C as primary connection.
My audio interface, Apollo Twin X now is TB3, and my new Focusrite Scarlet is also using Type-C.
My Xperia and Pixel both are Type-C, including their stock charger with Type-C port instead of Type-A.
My Anne Pro mechanical keyboard and Logicool craft keyboard is also Type-C.
My monitor is also have them, even able to charging MacBook Pro.
Even on my bike light...now have Type-C connection with fast charging...lol

I even type-c'ing everything, from my pc case (adding more PCIe USB-C cards, equipping my old Mac Pro 5,1 with TB3 add-in card.

The only exception just my printers and several old FireWire audio interface, the rest I can embrace to life into future with Type-C device.

 

[macsound1]

can't you use USB-C to HDMi cable? There is no need for HDMI to HDMI on MBP.

I think the ports will be 4 USB-C, MagSafe, 1 USB - A(maybe), 1 SD Card slot(maybe)

There's lots of HDCP and format issues when using the genuine Apple USBC to HDMI that is only solved by using cheap chinese adapters because they aren't active, so the link drops to HDMI Alternate mode. It's a huge issue in meeting rooms to the extent that we have mac minis ready to transfer the presentation or airplay to because physically connecting a USBC MBP is so flaky.

 

[yurc]

My vote goes to ADB.

I vote for ADC for XDR display !!

 

[crevalic]

Agree with all, except for the Ethernet port - it would be very helpful to have an integrated 10G Ethernet port!!

10Gb Ethernet on a laptop is insane. Firstly, the port is way too big to fit on a modern laptop, secondly, 10Gb cabling is incredibly niche and definitely not something you might just randomly run in while using a portable device, thirdly unnecessary for internet and therefore basically useless on a laptop and finally, still very expensive and the chips get hot.

You can always buy a TB3 10Gb ethernet adapter.

 

[svanstrom]

LocalTalk anyone?

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

I personally doubt we're getting any legacy ports back. USB-A would be heavily utilized. I would get the most use out of any kind of SD-card port. But a man can dream.

 

[johnnytravels]

Magsafe will make a return if Apple has determined that they now make less money with adapters and usb chargers than they did before with magsafe chargers and display dongles.
Of course, for your convenience, you will not be able to charge your device using usbc anymore. /s

 

[Bacci]

An NVMe slot on the bottom haha. One can dream...

 

[darngooddesign]

Now that we're discussing legacy tech, I want an upgradable math co-processor.

 

[jdiamond]

SD abd retain the headphone jack. Go all in on usb c for everything else.

You found a USB-c mouse? All the mice I love still use USB-A. None of the bluetooth mice are reliable at all.