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Report: New ultra-thin MacBooks coming later in 2016, featuring new metal-injection molded hinges

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Although it seems inevitable that the MacBook lineup will see some significant changes this year, as a major upgrade has been due for a while, the rumor mill is yet to close in one particular design or release date. Earlier in the year, Digitimes was reporting new MacBooks (intended to supplant the MacBook Air) are due sometime before July, resembling 13 inch and 15 inch versions of the 12 inch Retina MacBook.

A new report from Digitimes today says otherwise, suggesting the new MacBooks will not be available until the second half of this year, although an announcement at WWDC still seems possible if Apple met the earlier side of that release range.

The new ultra-thin MacBooks will apparently feature a new hinge design, created by metal injection molding. According to the report, this specialized process is a requirement for Apple to achieve its thinness goals. Digitimes names Amphenol as the supplier of this component, which currently makes components for Microsoft’s Surface tablets — which also feature a special hinge part.

Other reports have suggested that the new MacBooks will have a major change in connectivity ports. Not as drastic as the one-port Retina MacBook, it is rumored that the new MacBook (Pro’s?) will only feature USB-C ports on both sides. Again, this is to enable Apple to make the sides of the case as thin as possible for a stunning new design. The new MacBooks are also likely to come with gold and rose gold color options.

In terms of branding, it remains unclear whether Apple will name these new products like bigger versions of the Retina MacBook or as true replacements for the current MacBook Pros.

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Comments

  1. Oflife - 8 years ago

    Wish Apple would make something like the Surface Pro! MacOS (!) on a 12-13″ kickstand equipped touch screen tablet, which would allow the user to choose a decent keyboard, rather than the awful one on the 2015 MacBook that crunches fingers. I have a Surface Pro 4 plus backlit Logitech K810 Bluetooth keyboard. The ergonomics of this setup are perfect, but Windows still sucks, so something similar with an Apple logo on it would be salvation! Oh, and yes, two or more USB-C ports so one can connect 4K monitors, SSD drives etc.

    • viciosodiego - 8 years ago

      Where would the apps for the tablet come from.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        Hopefully Apple addresses the wasteland that is the Mac App Store at WWDC. Be nice to have a tool to easily compile apps between iOS,tvOS and MacOS.

        I want to see 1st part and good Apps on the Mac App Store.

        I think we will see a lot of new things for the App
        Stores at WWDC.

      • @taoprophet420, couldn’t agree with this more! I really hope you’re right. That’d be awesome.

      • srgmac - 8 years ago

        Developers, developers, developers…developers, developers, developers, developers…YEAH!

    • Howie Isaacks - 8 years ago

      A kickstand? That would look like crap. Apple doesn’t make crap. As for Apple’s keyboards, they’re awesome. They don’t “crunch” my fingers, or anyone else’s that I know.

  2. Alex Simkin - 8 years ago

    I really hope these are MacBooks, not MacBook Pros. I know that USB-C is the future, but hardly anything uses it at the moment – on the Pro models they should really keep a few USB-A ports as well.

    • applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

      I see what you mean, I for one like where Apple is going with the Macbook. Giving all those ports the boot for the 2015 Macbook was the right choice. I think it will be the right choice for the Macbook Pro as well, the only thing which will hurt is the price of them adapters.

      I feel a Macbook Pro should allow the user to connect at least 2, maybe 3 external devices at once. A mouse, an external drive or USB stick and a cellular data USB stick.

    • realgadgetblogger - 8 years ago

      Do the USC-C power cables have a brick? They could put a few USB-A ports on the brick.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      I’m kind of pissed that the last one didn’t have thunderbolt. TB was supposed to be Apple’s baby, they were supposed to embrace it and put it on everything; when in actuality it seems like they stopped caring about it. The TB display hasn’t even been updated since the first model IIRC. Oh well, when TB 3 and USB-C combine, I guess that will be epic, hopefully that is still the plan. I’m hoping these new MacBooks will support TB 3.0.

      • r00fus1 - 8 years ago

        Exacerbated by the fact that their current TB display doesn’t do USB-C either. It’s been years since the last update :(

  3. taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

    Hope they are holding the Pros back waiting for new GPU’s. Also hope they don’t go the supper thin route. I hope these MacBooks they keep referring to are new Airs. It make no sense to have 12″, 13″ and 15″ MacBooks. The 12″ models are way underpowered and overpriced and 1 USB-C port sucks balls. The thin design leaves to many compromises for a Pro model.

    • dailycardoodle - 8 years ago

      There won’t be new Airs – MacBook 12 and 14 – MacBook Pro 13 and 15… most likely

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        The original rumor was these 13″ and 15″ models were Airs. I hope these are indeed Airs and Apple bumps the sizes of the Pros to 14″ and 16″.

    • srgmac - 8 years ago

      I think he’s right. I think the MB airs are dead in terms of updates, with the “MacBook” from last year being the new “air” platform.

  4. Paul Van Obberghen - 8 years ago

    MacBook 12″ + 14″
    MacBook Pro 13″ + 15″ + 17″
    MacBook Air 11″ + 13″

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      MacBook 12″
      MacBook 12″ with A series chips priced $899 with MacOS that supports ARM chips. budget and education model
      MacBook Air 13″ and 15″
      MacBook Pro 14″ and 16″

      • YU No - 8 years ago

        Doesn’t make any sense to release just a model with ARM of another existent model. It would not gain traction, nor developers to support it. Either you switch completely to the A-series and manage the transition or you don’t at all. Besides that, 899 is far from “budget”.

      • viciosodiego - 8 years ago

        Apple would never built an operating system to support 1 laptop.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        I think the MacBook should just used the chips of the 12.9″ iPad Pro to begin with. Those core M processors should not make the MacBook $1299 and $1599.

        I would like to see a $799 education or entry model with A series chip.

        I think at least in the MacBook and non retina 21″ iMacs we will start to see with A series chips or custom Apple processor son the base models. With Intel moving to a 3 year cycle and giving up its tick tock upgrade cycle it makes sense for Apple to move to their own processors on some
        Macs.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        @vicious I never said build an OS for one laptop. Make MacOS support ARM chips this year at WWDC and use it for entry MacBook, Mac Mini and no retina 21″ iMacs.

  5. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    The Macbook Pro could use a redesign. Not that it’s bad looking but we’ve had this design for 4 years now. Getting dull. My God what wouldn’t I pay for a Space Gray Retina Macbook Pro with 32GB of RAM…

    • Jake Becker - 8 years ago

      Oh yes. And butterfly keyboard.

    • standardpull - 8 years ago

      Definitely needs an ARM cpu, a touchscreen, 2xUSB-C and micro-SD card slot. Plus two USB2 ports not “USB-C” ready.

      Offer it in the iPhone colors, like SpaceGray and RoseGold.

      This is the future. I’d buy one tomorrow. They could call it the MacbookHomer.

  6. applegetridofsimandjack - 8 years ago

    When was the last time Macbook Pro got stage time at an Apple Event? WWDC 2014 or earlier?

  7. I wonder if Apple are waiting for Kaby Lake chips too. All this waiting is very frustrating, but I guess they have good reason.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      I think they are just waiting for new GPU’s. No telling when MacBook Pro appropriate Kaby Lake’s will start shipping. the Skylake chips appropriate for the Pro didn’t start shipping until February on a limited scale. Im still not sure they have been released on a large scale.

      • Maybe, I guess that would mean they could at least release an updated MacBook 12-inch soonish

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        Yes, the chips are ready for the MacBook. They were earlier pegged for an April or May release.

  8. I am ok with just 2 usb-c ports on an ultra thin 15″ MacBook Pro, but I would like to have an SD slot as well. I don’t like to hook up my camera to the usb cable or use wifi to transfer (raw) files. Using an adapter is not the best experience.

    • Keeping the SD slot sounds do-able to me, after all it’s pretty slim

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      HP fit 3 USB-C ports(2 support ThunderBolt) in its new Spectre 13. It’s 10.4 mm compared to the MacBooks at 13.2 mm thick. Apple should be able to fit 3 USB-C ports, SD slot and phone jack on 13″ or 15″ Pro. I still hope they bump up to 14″ and 16″

      Go to thin and your loosing power out of the Pto. It needs room to cool powerful chips. I want the the rumored 13″ and 15″ MacBooks to be Airs. The original rumor was for them to be Airs. I think the Airs should be the everyday MacBook and curren MadBook a low priced ultraportable for basic tasks. $1599 for the top spec 12″ MacBook is insane.

  9. macmaniman - 8 years ago

    Pretty stunning rendering

  10. giuseppe1111 - 8 years ago

    we should ask ourselves what “PRO” mean in apple’s rationale

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      I still hope the new 13 and 15″ models they are referring to are MacBook Airs like first rumored.

  11. Juliusz Krokowski - 8 years ago

    We need Marc Gurman to have a take on the subject ;)

  12. The biggest thing I’d like to see in upcoming Macs is TouchID. Please and thank you :)

  13. viciosodiego - 8 years ago

    taoprophet420
    Lol.
    Are you sirius?
    If apple switched to ARM, We would lose windows, vmware, and other os X apps.
    Also, developers won’t want to develop for one more os that would only be used by 0.0.0.0.0.0.1 of people.

    • Alex Simkin - 8 years ago

      Yeah, a fair number of people seem really eager for Apple to switch to ARM chips, but I really don’t see the point. Developers wouldn’t build for it. Performance wouldn’t be as good for power users. Windows access would disappear. And if it was a general switch to ARM across the lineup, Intel Macs would stop getting new MacOS/OS X updates within a few years, which would (rightfully) annoy everyone who spent $2k on devices only a few years ago that couldn’t run new software.

      I see no advantages to having ARM chips in Macs. Microsoft tried it with Windows RT and that was a failure – the same would happen with Macs.

    • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

      We had vmware on PowerPC, they can’t do emulation for ARM chips? I mostly would want them to use it on entry MacBooks and entry iMac’s.both PowerPc and ARM run RISC. I think the way Apple is pushing Swift as a language having MacOS and apps support both ARM and x86 is not that difficult. Apple did it for years with apps supporting both Power Pc and x86.

      • viciosodiego - 8 years ago

        You can’t emulate x86 on arm.
        If you’re looking for a cheep mac, buy a used one, or by the macbook air or mac mini.

      • taoprophet420 - 8 years ago

        You can indeed emulate x86 on ram.

        I was not the one wanting emulation on Arm macs, but it’s possible.

        Just like it’s possible to have universal apps that can run on both arm and Intel macs. Developers made universal apps for x86 and Power PC for years after Apple switched to Intel chips.

        I have the top speced 5K iMac, so I am not worried about a cheap Mac for myself.

        I can see the usefulness of sub $999 MacBooks that can be used for education and people wanting an affordable Mac.

  14. minatory - 8 years ago

    USB-C is here to solve the problem of too many different connectors. In order it to work, it has to replace the current connectors not just to be added as yet another connector.

    I have been dreaming about USB-C professional laptop for some time. Please, it’s time Apple. Give us something light, thin with amazing battery life and USB-C only.

  15. Thinner does not get my job done any faster. If shaving ounces is your idea of innovation, go to the gym once in a while. I do not notice the weight or thinness of my Macbook Pro when I’m working. I notice its speed RAM, storage and connectivity.

    • kpom1 - 8 years ago

      Evidently you don’t travel much. Lighter and thinner are better. I have a sleek Tumi messenger bag (sadly discontinued). My MacBook neatly fits into the padded inner pocket (no extra case or sleeve needed!). My HP Elitebook 820 (roughly .83″ thick) does not and needs a sleeve so that I can put it in the main compartment. The new HP Spectre 13 would fit inside the inner pocket, as well.

  16. triankar - 8 years ago

    I’m happy with what I see, as long as it has at least two usb-c ports, preferably three, and they don’t put that shallow keyboard of the 2015 MacBook. The SD slot is also very useful (still), but I’d favour a microSD slot instead. And I won’t miss an HDMI port as long as there are enough usb-c ports and the adapters are cheap enough.

    We’ve all invested in oodles of usb-a devices and cables, but if things like that don’t happen, we’ll never get rid of that outdated port. It’s been around, what, 15 years?

  17. bdkennedy1 - 8 years ago

    The MacBook was redesigned last year. Maybe everyone forgot. It has one USB-C port and a headphone jack. Maybe the writer of the story means Macbook Pro.

  18. Robert Butler - 8 years ago

    I’m a VJ so this might be a problem. I need two Thunderbolt Ports (video in) and Thunderbold High Speed Drives (Dual-transfer), including at least two USB’s. How is USB-C going to help me????

  19. Robert - 8 years ago

    “metal injection molded hinges” almost certainly means a Bulk Metalic Glass alloy or that which is branded as LIQUIDMETAL.

    It’s the only metal injection material that could have the strength for a thin hinge.

    After all the empty LIQUIDMETAL headlines over the years you miss it when it finally comes along!

  20. escaperout3 - 8 years ago

    If they honestly get rid of all ports and leave just the USB-C it’s not a MacBook Pro. As much as I absolutely love Macs this will inevitably kill off my interest in getting another one, and I’ll likely go for something with ample ports like a SurfaceBook

  21. PeachFreq (@PeachFreq) - 8 years ago

    The ambiguity around what product is being referred to here made this a frustrating article to read. You open by saying a major update is overdue to the ‘MacBook lineup’ which is untrue unless you’re talking about the MacBook Pro. I suppose you’re using the word ‘MacBook’ to refer to all Apple laptops considering they all have that word in their product names, but there is a product called the MacBook so I was repeatedly confused – more clarity would have helped.

  22. iali87 - 8 years ago

    Apple threw the word “pro” on the iPad to justify increasing the price by $100. Isn’t it the time to throw it again on the Macbook pro to great the almighty Macbook pro pro and increase the price a little bit.

    • viciosodiego - 8 years ago

      By pro, They mean a better, more sophisticated version of a product.
      Look at the mx6pro android phone, for example.

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Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.