This week was certainly a busy week in the Apple world, with a wave of announcements from CES early in the week, followed by a wave of Mac and iPhone-related rumors later in the week.
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New rumors this week include details on updated MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Pro models, as well as a few other tidbits, so read on below to stay tuned!
Kuo: New MacBook Pro models with a flat design, MagSafe, no touch bar and more ports
Well-known analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released an important report this week detailing several new details about the next-generation MacBook Pro models due out in the third quarter of this year.
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According to Kuo, Apple will release 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicone, a redesign with flatter iPhone 12-like bezels, the return of MagSafe for charging, and more ports. Apple would also ditch the controversial Touch Bar that has replaced traditional function keys in recent years.
BloombergMark Gurman also weighed in on the topic, confirming many of the details shared by Kuo and noting that the new MacBook Pro models will also have “brighter, more contrasting” displays and that the return of MagSafe will allow faster charging.
Apple is developing a redesigned iMac with slimmer bezels and Apple Silicon Chips
In addition to redesigned 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple is also planning a new design for its iMac lineup, according to Bloombergis Mark Gurman.
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Gurman says there will be two iMac models to replace the current 21.5-inch and 27-inch sizes, and they will have a design similar to that of the Pro Display XDR, with thinner bezels all around (including the removing the long-standing “chin” below the screen) and a flat back. The new iMacs will also be based on Apple silicon chips with more processing cores and graphics horsepower than the first batch of M1 Macs released in late 2020.
Apple is working on two new Mac Pro desktops, one of which will be reminiscent of the Power Mac G4 Cube
Also on the desktop Mac, Gurman says Apple is working on a few Mac Pro models. The former is a direct successor to the current model and will likely continue to use Intel processors.
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The second model would be less than half the size of the current Mac Pro and will feature a largely aluminum exterior with a design that evokes “nostalgia” for the Power Mac G4 Cube of yesteryear.
Apple said it is working on a cheaper external monitor to make Thunderbolt Display a success
Now that Apple’s Pro Display XDR is priced at $ 5,000 (plus an additional $ 1,000 for the booth), many Apple users have pushed for the launch of a new consumer-facing display, and Gurman says Apple has one in the works too.
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Few details are known about the new consumer display beyond the scaled-down specs compared to the Pro Display XDR, but it would be Apple’s first consumer-facing display since the Thunderbolt Display was discontinued in 2016.
Apple is testing in-display fingerprint sensor for iPhone 13, foldable iPhone also in the works
In a separate report, Gurman highlighted developments in the iPhone, claiming that Apple is considering adding a Touch ID sensor below the display to this year’s iPhone in addition to the Face ID TrueDepth sensor.
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He also says that Apple is indeed working on foldable iPhones and has developed several prototype foldable displays with behind-the-display electronics and a largely invisible hinge. However, development is still in its infancy, so the launch of a foldable iPhone is “probably years away”, if ever.
The best Apple related accessories at CES 2021
This week marked the first all-digital CES 2021, and while Apple isn’t directly participating in the convention, there’s always a wide variety of Apple-related announcements, including smart HomeKit accessories for the home, AirPlay 2 speakers and TVs, CarPlay- receivers and more.
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On our YouTube channel, we’ve highlighted some of the best Apple-related accessories introduced at CES 2021 this week. This year we’ve chosen Kensington’s new iPad Pro docking station with built-in iPhone and AirPods wireless charging, LG’s first UltraFine display with OLED technology for Macs, Belkin wireless earphones that integrate with Apple’s Find My app for lost and found , and more.
Visit our CES 2021 news hub for our full coverage and subscribe to MacRumors on YouTube for more Apple-related videos.
New AirPods Pro and iPhone SE are said to be launched in April
Apple plans to release second-generation AirPods Pro and third-generation iPhone SE in April 2021, according to Japanese blog Mac Otakara, citing information from Chinese sources in the supply chain.
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The report claims that the new AirPods Pro comes with a slightly narrower charging case, but no further details on either product were provided.
BloombergMark Gurman has previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the second-generation AirPods Pro more compact by removing the stem protruding from the bottom, but it is unclear whether Apple will achieve this feat. Gurman said Apple had a design during testing with a more rounded shape that fills more of the ear, similar to Google’s Pixel Buds.
As for the iPhone SE, many rumors have suggested that a larger version of the device may be released. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that Apple plans to release an iPhone with an LCD screen and Touch ID power button in 2021, and that device may become the new iPhone SE.
Safari allows users to enable hidden ‘Items’ tab in ‘Find My’ app before launching AirTags
Apple’s highly anticipated AirTags item trackers are expected to be managed through the Find My app on the iPhone, iPad and Mac. This week a simple Safari trick was discovered that allows anyone to view this tab on these devices early on.
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As noted by MacRumors reader David Chu, entering the findmy: // items link in Safari on devices running iOS 14.3, iPadOS 14.3, macOS 11.1 or later leads to a hidden “Items” tab in the Find My app where both AirTags and third-party tracking accessories are expected to be managed. It is still unclear when AirTags will be launched, but Apple often introduces the first new products of a calendar year in March.
As with Tile and Samsung’s new Galaxy SmartTag, AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings such as their keys, wallet and backpacks, with users receiving a push notification on their Apple devices when they are separated from a tagged item. AirTags are expected to support Ultra Wideband for better spatial awareness, while current Tile and Samsung trackers are limited to Bluetooth (both Tile and Samsung are also expected to release Ultra Wideband trackers in the future).
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