According to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, at least two MacBook Pro models said to debut in the second half of 2021 will be equipped with an SD card reader and HDMI port.
Kuo added details to previous forecasts, saying in a note to investors on Tuesday that the additions will come with a major design change that includes more options for external device connectivity. For the past six years, Apple has reduced MacBook I / O choices to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. The shift to a more inclusive mobile platform will be a welcome step for those who hate dongles.
The MacBook Pro last included an SD card slot and HDMI port in 2015, with later models eliminating those parts entirely.
Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive controller supplier for the upcoming SD card reader and could play a bigger role in Apple’s product line in the future, Kuo says. The company could be fulfilling orders for an expected hardware upgrade to the USB 4.0 protocol.
In a report last month, Kuo said he expects Apple to launch 14- and 16-inch mini LED MacBook Pro variants that have a “flat-edged” look, more in line with the company’s modern design language. The first of those angular devices was the 2018 iPad Pro, and last year’s iPhone 12 series followed closely.
Also resurrected from previous MacBooks will be MagSafe charging technology, a version of which was introduced last year with the iPhone 12 series. The much-maligned OLED Touch Bar will take the boat in favor of physical function buttons, according to Kuo.
The analyst predicts a launch in the third quarter.
As a result of the new design and changes in specifications, Kuo expects the total number of MacBook shipments to grow between 25% and 30% year-on-year to 20 million units by 2021.