Bloomberg reports Apple is preparing the first major overhaul of its MacBook Pro line in more than four years, and that the new laptops will include a secondary display above the keyboard.
According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will reveal new 13- and 15-inch models of its high-end, retina display laptop soon, although this announcement isn’t expected to coincide with the September announcement of the iPhone 7 (which may actually be called the iPhone 6SE). However, TechCrunch “could see Apple introducing the new laptop in October.”
The MacBook Pro line hasn’t seen an update of any kind in well over a year, and according to Bloomberg, part of the reason for the overhaul is that the iPad is no longer the reliable cash-cow it once was; sales were down 23 percent in the last year. “Consumers are taking longer to buy or replace iPads,” Gurman said. “Apple research suggests customers upgrade iPads roughly every three years, while they buy new iPhones every 18 to 24 months.”
Perhaps the most significant design change to the new MacBook Pros comes in the addition of a secondary OLED display above the keyboard, replacing the function key row. “Instead of physical keys, a strip-like screen will present functions on an as-needed basis that fit the current task or application,” Gurman said.
It’s not yet clear how the OLED strip will work, though TechCrunch predicts it could go beyond basic laptop functions to “display shortcuts and information depending on the app you’re using.”
What do you think of the potential of a revamped MacBook Pro? Have you been holding off on an Apple laptop purchase? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
