The MacBook Air 2020 on the left and the 13-inch 2020 MacBook Pro on the right.
Todd Haselton | CNBC
TFI’s Ming-Chi Kuo, one of Apple’s leading analysts, said in a note Friday that Apple will launch two new MacBook Pro models this year with 14- and 16-inch screens, a new design and the return of MagSafe load.
MagSafe charging used to appear in MacBook designs before Apple switched to USB-C charging in recent years. People like it because the cord comes in and stretches easily, avoiding the risk of damaging the laptop if someone pulls it. Apple has recently reclaimed the MagSafe brand with the latest iPhone 12 models, which are loaded with a magnetic disk that attaches to the back of the phones.
“The MacBook Pro hasn’t changed the form factor design for five years,” Kuo said. “We believe the launch of two new MacBook Pro design models in the 3Q21 will attract consumer attention and increase replacement demand.”
Apple Mac revenue rose 28% year-over-year in October, when the company reported its fourth-quarter 2020 tax benefits. There has been a clear increase in demand as people work from home. due to the continuous diffusion of Covid-19. Apple also launched the first computers with its new M1 chip in late 2020. But the computers look the same as previous models and the MacBook Pro has long had to make a design change.
Kuo said Apple plans to get rid of the curved edges and will adopt sharper lines, making the edges look a little more like the angled edges of the iPhone 12, iPad Air and iPad Pro. Kuo said Apple will remove the touch bar, which allows users to tap shortcuts on a touch screen at the top of the keyboard.
“Benefiting from the demand for replacement of new models, we predict that total MacBook shipments will grow significantly by 25-30% year-on-year to 20 million units by 2021,” Kuo said in the note.