Apple recently refreshed the MacBook Pro lineup with 9th-generation octa-core Intel processors. It has also launched a new Mac Pro. But there are still a handful of MacBooks that have gone ignored over the last couple of years. The Cupertino company might be planning to refresh them this fall. It has just registered as many as seven new MacBook models in the Eurasian database.
New MacBook models just around the corner
First spotted by MacRumors, the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) database shows seven new Apple devices. Apple traditionally registers its devices with the Eurasian regulator several weeks before launching them. The devices carry model numbers A2141, A2147, A2158, A2159, A2179, A2182, and A2251.
In the past, the Eurasian Economic Commission filings have pointed to an imminent release of new iPhones, iPads, and Macs. The regulatory filings are mandatory before Apple could sell its devices in Russia and a few of its neighboring countries.
How do we know these are the new MacBook models? Apple has described all of them as “portable” computers, meaning they are going to be notebooks. The regulatory filing doesn’t reveal much about the upcoming MacBook models except their model numbers, and the fact that they are all running macOS Mojave. Earlier this month, Apple announced macOS Catalina, which will be rolled out to the public this fall.
In the past, Apple has unveiled new MacBooks at a Mac event in September or October. Seven models seem like a lot, but different color variants and screen sizes of the same device carry different model numbers. So, there could be only 1-3 MacBooks in store.
What should you expect?
Apple is most likely to refresh the 12-inch MacBook, which hasn’t been updated since June 2017. It lacks the Touch ID button, and has only one USB-C port. The 12-inch MacBook features the first-generation Butterfly keyboard while the recently launched MacBook Pros come with the third-generation Butterfly keyboard.
Apple could also launch a new MacBook Air with upgraded specs. The MacBook Air was refreshed in October 2018 with an entirely new design. It could get a spec bump (probably Intel’s Ice Lake chips?) nearly a year after its launch. It also makes sense if Apple launched a new MacBook with optional 4G LTE connectivity for people who work on the go.
The tech giant is also rumored to be working on a larger 16-inch MacBook Pro with an entirely new design. The 16-inch MacBook Pro could offer a bigger screen while retaining the same form factor as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, thanks to the thinner bezels. Many Apple fans are craving for a bigger MacBook since the company killed the 17-inch MacBook Pro in 2012.
Ming-Chi Kuo, one of the most respected Apple analysts out there, predicted that Apple would launch a 31.6-inch 6K display and a 16-inch MacBook Pro this year. The company recently launched the 6K display. Kuo is well connected within Apple’s supply chain and has made numerous accurate predictions about the company’s upcoming products.
If Apple indeed launches a 16-inch MacBook Pro, it could drive a massive upgrade. The 13-inch and 15-inch machines offer portability. But for some people, there is no substitute for a large screen size for photo and video editing. A larger screen also enables users to have more than one windows visible at the same time. Kuo claims the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro would be targeted at professional designers and gaming users.
