With Apple rumored to working on sleeker versions of its 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro models in time for a possible reveal at WWDC, designer Martin Hajek has provided one possible take on how the new machines might look. His mockups essentially scale up the 12-inch MacBook design, the above image contrasting with the existing design.
The renders also incorporate a rather lovely OS X concept created by Andrew Ambrosino, the UX designer behind the standalone Apple Music app concept we showed you last year. The same duo also teamed up for a beautiful Apple TV concept.
You can see more renders below …
One oddity is that the keyboard hasn’t been scaled-up, so it looks a little lost there in the wider expanse of the 15-inch casing. In reality, Apple would use almost certainly use larger keys with wider spacing between them to make for a better typing experience – though I’m not sure it would go so far as the edge-to-edge design used in the 12-inch MacBook and Magic Keyboard.
One key to the ultra-thin form factor of the 12-incher is the fanless design. This is probably not a realistic prospect for the higher-powered processors in the Pro models, so we’re not expecting to see anything quite this sleek, but the general design direction seems likely.
Hajek uses rose gold to illustrate the concept, but obviously all the usual MacBook colors would be available.
What do you think? Check out our gallery below, the full set of renders on Martin Hajek’s site and then take our poll. As ever, share your thoughts in the comments.
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Would buy if the keyboard is the old version (former MacBook Pro.) I find the new butterfly keys of the 12″ MacBook to be difficult to adjust to — and I make more mistakes using it.
The keyboard probably won’t be the keys from the old version but it also won’t be the butterfly keys. I suspect that Apple is going to use the new scissor mechanism from the brand new Magic keyboard in it as it is slimmer but more stable and click like the last version
I agree with you there. In essence, the new MacBook Pro keyboard will just be version 1.1 of their Magic Keyboard.
A rosegold option would be nice. But this concept is really ugly.
As if.
I like it a lot but I don’t like the large speaker spaces around the keyboard. I hope the new MacBook Pro comes with the same design from the MacBook
The MacBook will be a reference and the other MacBook lines will take certain design aspects like they did with the original iPad Air.
The same design would suck for the pro do to what power users need. There is not a one model fits all needs for laptops, just like their is t one model of phone that fits everyone’s needs. The MacBook is a highly overprice sleek ultraportable for low workloads. The Pro’s are for people editing multiple 4K videos, several raw and other tasks that demand a fan and capable processor.
That’s why they need to give the Air a Retina display. It’s the perfect sweet spot.
This article purports to show a likely design – but, as the text notes, it cannot be the design, as the cooling would be inadequate. Also the keyboard is ridiculous looking, and smaller than it should be, so this is little more than taking the MB image and stretching it. That is all
That keyboard is enough to drive me away. Ugly & criminal waste of precious real estate.
What is all that space above the keyboard for?
For ventilation of the keys. Keys get really hot when you type too quickly xD
Um. No. Rose gold? Yuck. USB C only? Nope. WTF would I do with all of my Thunderbolt drives? And I’m not going to use an adapter either. I actually like the current design of the MacBook Pro just fine. I’m going to be buying a new MacBook Pro soon, and if Apple releases one in space grey, that would be awesome. I hate gold.
Thunderbolt 3 uses the USB-C port. I kind of doubt Apple would have both TB3 and TB2 ports on the same device.
Knowing Apple, if they bring in rose gold, then they WILL bring in space grey. It’s not like those colours are going away anytime soon.
Noooo! Bigger trackpad! Looks ugly!
The rose gold looks like shit.
The keyboard doesn’t translate well and I think the the display would be close to edge to edge to display.
Sounding like Apple is going back to macOS naming scheme and finally ditching OS X. I can’t say much positive about the OS X design shown here.
The keyboard needs to be moved up. :P Just like on the 15″ MBP.
Many of use use MacBook Pros as our only machines and for us (well, for me) the fastest processor possible is important. So, while a fanless design would be nice, I’m not sure it’s going to happen if Apple sticks with the current line of processors.
I think the new MacBook is a very slick computer but if I got one, it would be to replace an iPad Air 2/Pro, not as a replacement for my MacBook Pro.
I touch type so the keyboard is important to me. I like the current MacBook Pro keyboard and I’ve tried the MacBook keyboard and while it’s a bit odd, I’m not sure it would kill me to switch. Just don’t have enough experience with it to know for sure. Anything new is going to feel weird at first…
USB C would be fine, as long as Apple provides adaptors to get to USB 3.
Personally, I’ll be fine with an upgrade to the current design. What I want is a new Apple “Thunderbolt Monitor” with all the modern ports and attachments on it and a non-reflective screen. I’ve been waiting to buy an Apple monitor for many years and I refuse to buy one that isn’t compatible with their current line of machines and that has a reflective screen. I know they’re no doubt attempting to make a 4K version of it but the fact that it’s taking this long says to me that Apple doesn’t care enough about the Mac and Mac users who use their equipment to get real work done.
Someone is confusing the MacBooks with the MacBook Pros. I think what Apple’s working on are larger screen versions of the MacBooks and that’s what they should be calling these things. MacBookPros use a different class processor that requires fans, larger batteries, etc. so I highly doubt these would apply. But I do believe that Apple might make larger screen MacBooks, that’s possible.
I agree. I’m hoping they don’t merge the two or take too many MacBook attributes and apply them to the Pro.
That concept looks absolutely horrible with the keyboard and empty space around it. I’d laugh hysterically if Apple did that.
They better not make this move. Going all USB-C would be a terrible idea. I understand adding the port in, but leaving out Thunderbolt and regular USB would be crap for the power users that actually use the MacBook Pro to do anything useful. Plus on top of it all the keyboard piece looks ridiculous and the butterfly mechanism is terrible and it barely feels like you’re typing on a keyboard. Make the current Macbook Pro slightly thinner, color it space grey, gold, silver and maybe rose gold and add USB-C. Otherwise you’ll end up in a situation where Apple loses power users and has either a larger amount of old MacBook Pros selling or loss of sales altogether. This design would be like taking the mac pro, making it half its size and removing all ports and replacing them with USB-C, it just doesn’t make sense for the money spent on the computer
I completely agree! A lot of people seem really eager for Apple to drop all the current ports in favour of several USB-C ports… but hardly anything uses USB-C at the moment so adaptors would be necessary, which would be annoying and an added expense. If they include only USB-C ports, I couldn’t even connect my Apple phone to my Apple computer using the provided Apple cable without an adaptor.
They definitely need to include USB-C, but ideally they’ll also keep at least one regular USB port and at least one regular Thunderbolt port.
I also agree about the keyboard; I’m not a fan of the butterfly mechanism as I prefer having key travel.
Considering that apple brings technologies from previous releases over to new releases along with new features here’s what I’m guessing we’ll see.
Speaker above keyboard.
Aluminium hinge.
Individually lit keys.
usb-c port.
thunderbolt 3 port imagine they will drop this down to 1 port
slanted body.
YES. Finally someone bringing sense into this talk.
This sums up everything I had to say!
The idea of scaling up the design of the MacBook 12 is fine with me, and what we saw in the background of that recent “inside Apple” feature looked good to me. These mocks don’t look nice though, that plain expanse of metal around the keyboard is the worst part.
I own the MacBook 12, and completely understand people’s reservations about the keyboard, but give it a week and you adapt. In fact for me, it went further than adapting. I love it and can type really quickly on it. It’s so responsive. Hope the longevity is there with it though.
IMO it’s time for a Space Black MacBook Pro.
A true black one would be great.
And 17″ to boot!
Sadly I’ve now given up all hope, though I do still think there’s a possibility of a 16-inch screen in a 15-inch sized footprint …
Oh yes, hope springs eternal with the reduction of bezels and increase of effective screen space…
Replying to your reply on a 17inch Pro… couldn’t reply to it as there is no ‘reply’ button.
I still use an early 2011 17inch Macbook Pro (2.3 GHz and 16GB ram). It’s still absolutely flying, no lag nothing. Paid 3300€ for it but if it lasts this long, it’s worth the money.
Very heavy though… which is why I got a 13inch Air for on the road work.
Yes, still using my late-2011 one, though upgraded to 16GB RAM, 2GB SSD. I’m steeling myself to an eventual shift to a 15-inch, but really need a 2GB SSD option …
I guess you meant 2TB? You really need that much storage? Couldn’t you use an external HDD? Also don’t forget Apple’s huge margins on storage, ram and processor upgrades… I’m getting a 15inch retina Pro when the new ones are announced and I will only get 256GB SSD, just annoys me that Apple earns this much money on spec upgrades…
I like having all my content on board when I travel. External hard drives are too much hassle for me.
The concept has too much side bezels, I think they’ll leave the speaker grill up top and reduce the keyboard side bezels, making a smaller form factor
Add at least one USB-C port for future proof and if possible please reduce weight down for easy portability. At the end, it is workhorse portable computer.
Really not a fan of the design – the rose gold isn’t helping, but it’d look bad in any colour. If the 2016 MBP resembles this, I’ll buy the 2015 model or the Air, despite the worse processor/screen.
Looking forward to this machine, but let’s hope Apple does better with the design than these mockups.
http://i.imgur.com/DcAUscg.jpg
More realistic approach..
http://i.imgur.com/DcAUscg.jpg
That looks like exactly what I think it will look like.
This makes a lot more sense then the concept that we’ve seen in the article.
In addition, homely the number of ports either stay the same or go up (but not by too much; maybe by one).
An extra usb-c port or two are a MUST.
Apart from that, a micro/mini HDMI port and a microSD slot would be VERY welcome (they’re practically everywhere), if their full-sized versions cannot be accommodated.
A USB-A port would also be very handy (not many usb-c drives out there yet), but gimme the above and I won’t complain a bit.
And normal-depth keys please. Tried the thinner ones but wasn’t particularly impressed over the deeper ones (quite the opposite), even after an hour of typing
needless to say… we need powerful processors in this baby. I own a late 2013 rMBP13 and I’d be very unimpressed if the mid2016 equivalent model has similar or worse performance than mine.
I’d love to see a physically lighter (hence thinner by necessity) rMBP13, so I understand that compromises with “fat” ports like USB-A and Thunderbolt have to be made. But don’t compromise on performance here.
Anyone noticed Samsung’s new Notebook 9 announced yesterday? Solid specs and good looking hardware; looks almost like something Apple would design. Since, Apple outsources its manufacturing anyway, and the MacBook line has been slow to move forward, I suggest they consider just having Samsung OEM this (and future) laptops for them, and Apple stay focused on solidifying OSX.
I think the Notebook 9 is an Ultrabook class, not a MacBookPro class laptop. What i7’s are the Notebook 9’s using? 2 core? 4 core? Lower power?
No, Apple’s not going to have Samsung OEM their computers. That would be stupid. Apple’s trying to get away from relying on Samsung for anything that they have someone else make. That’s why they are getting Foxconn to buy Sharp so Apple doesn’t have to rely on Samsung for screens.
Samsung outsources their mfg of finished goods too. Samsung uses a variety of outsourcing companies to make their products, the thing that Samsung makes are components, but finished goods are typically made by outsourcing companies.
Samsung uses a variety of outsourcing companies, Foxconn, HEG Electronics, and others for their finished goods. Please don’t confuse their component mfg division with their other divisions.
Most laptops, BTW, are made by Quanta, at least they do the majority of laptops by HP, Dell, and I believe Lenovo.
Actually Apple sells more laptops than Samsung. Seriously, Samsung isn’t one of the big 5 computer mfg. It’s HP, Lenovo, Dell, Apple, and maybe ASUS (at least for the global consumer market). Acer has been losing about 30 to 39% sales from year to year over the past few years, and Acer caters more towards consumers. Samsung is part of the OTHER catagory when it comes to computers. Just saying….
I think Apple might make larger versions of the MacBook’s, but I don’t know if they are going to make thinner MacBookPros.
I feel like thats so much wasted real estate surrounding the keyboard.
I need do buy a new MacBook Pro this year, so i’m waiting for the next generation MacBook Pro, which should be updated in June on WWDC.
There are only THREE things i wish on the next Generation!
The actual(!!) MacBook Pro-Modell (Not thinner!!!) with:
1) intels Skylake-Generation
2) Retina 4K Display!!!!
3) Thunderbolt 3 and USB-C
I would say (1) is a certainty, as is USB-C with embedded Thunderbolt. 4K in laptop sizes I’m less convinced about.
I think the design is perfect with the exception of the keyboard placement. I think the keyboard will stay where it always is and be closer to the top and contain a bigger trackpad. Other than that it looks good.
do not care to reduce thickness, increase battery life instead, make battery, memory and hard-drive user-replaceable/upgradable: this is why MacBooks lasted so long (still using 2003 17″ G4 and 2009 17″ Intel), this is better for the environment than having to replace the whole laptop more often because Apple decided to solder memory allegedly to get them thinner.
I love and collect vintage Macs, but soldered memory does increase reliability. SSD is replaceable in everything except the MacBook, and the MacBook’s MLB including ram and SSD actually fits inside an iPhone it’s so tiny. A remarkable feat of engineering.
I’d like to see a proper concept instead of that ugly stuff from Hajek. It always seems to me that he’s got no taste and brains. And indeed I’d like to have the old keyboard of the 2010 models. The 2013 rMBP also feels different.
I really hope they do not ditch the MagSafe connector, it’s by far one of the best parts of owning a MacBook Pro. I’ve owned MacBooks for over a decade and the MagSafe has saved my laptop from folks tripping on the cord more times than I can count. Having to charge through USB-C would be annoying, and would lead to more damaged MacBook Pro devices.
It’s missing something
Windows 10 and a touch screen.
* joking
Keep the existing rMBP. I don’t want it.
Scale up the 12″ MacBook: a 14″ MacBook. Same performance. Same port. Just bigger screen, bigger speakers, bigger battery. Just like 11″ and 13″ Air, we have 12″ and 14″ MacBook.
Take the thick hinge end depth of the Macbook 2015 and run it down the line for a constant thickness, forget this sloping thinness malarky that is cutting out the option for more battery space in the unit. Add in the Apple Magic Keyboard design (forget the 2015 Macbook keyboard – it’s virtually unusable) and prep a bezel less screen. Restyle the sunken trackpad and keep it as a flush feature of the top deck. Incorporate the speaker layout of the Macbook 2015 and retain the side speakers of the Macbook Pro design to date. USB C x3 ports, SD to remain and do not remove the headphone port. Last but not least the illuminated Apple logo is a brand legend, leave the shiny logos for iOS devices and keep the beautiful glowing badge in place.
Great, only maybe two USB-C ports. Looks like I have bought my last MacBook when I got the 13in with the DVD burner. Where am I suposed to hang my firewire hard drives? Where is the slot for my SD card? Where am going to hang my monitor? Will This be the end of Thunderbolt? A lot of people bought MacBooks as Desktop replacements. I know I did. Trying to get any kind of real desktop work on these new portables is just not going to happen. How are you connecting to anything without a hideous rats nest of dongles and hubs? I’ve looked and the USB C infrastructure and it can only be described as laughable.
I understand that the brave new world is supposed to be all Bluetooth all the time but to me Bluetooth solutions have always been dodgy and irritating at best. Even when fed with good rechargeable batteries the Apple Mouse gets wonky and balky at odd moments. Non Apple products, hoo-boy, I have yet to find a good, reliable, Bluetooth audio solution that does not want me to sign over a few limbs as payment. Keyboards? You’re prying my corded mechanical beauty from my dead, cold hands. I despise the look and feel of modern keyboards.
If Apple is really going forward with this super-slim, USB-C only solution they need a dock. God, everything is new again and we just went back to the stone age of portables where to get any real work done the portable had to be put in a dock. Still a dock it is. The dock would have Mag safe, 2 Thunderbolt ports and at least two more USB-C ports. From there, at least you could bolt on some external drives, a bigger monitor, various and sundry nonsense needed to get work done. You would be reinventing the wheel, what the Retina is now, but hey Uncle Timmy needs a new Carbon Fiber bike to tool around Cupertino in.
I can see this new design as part of the Air line, the “Car” of the Mac line. I can even see “MacBooks” being the new Airs. I can not see Apple scrapping their “Truck” for this. It makes no sense what so ever. I see it as yet another FU to the professionals who use the device to get real work done and as another example of letting Johnny Ive impose form over function to wow the fashionistas.
The new keyboard layout is messy. I do not want to invest my money on a device with such crappy keyboard. In the start, I wanted to get it, but after few hours usage at conference. I simply dislike it.
With my next MBP I want:
1) Space grey is good, rose gold is too feminine IMHO… how about a tungsten flat black?
2) I haven’t used my SD slot in years – ditch it and buy a USB-C adapter if you really need it
3) Keep at least one USB-A port so the old accessories don’t require an adapter
4) Three USB-C ports
5) 4K display or better
6) A NEW FRIGGIN’ MONITOR APPLE!! Love my Thunderbolt Display but it’s getting long in the tooth… how about something with USB-C, 4-5K display, old USB-A ports, maybe Thunderbolt and FW ports, etc.
The only ugly part about this mock up is that the keyboard looks way to small, to much extra random space… If that is fixed it would look gorgeous