Future MacBook Pros may bring back MagSafe charging and expanded USB ports

MacBook Pros from 2016 and beyond have been limited to USB-C ports, a design choice widely criticised by creatives.

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Apple Macbook Pro

Photo: Tetiana Vitsenko / Alamy

The next generation of Apple‘s MacBook Pro may restore MagSafe charging, expand connection ports and bring back physical function keys, according to some notable Apple insiders.

New 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are purported to be in development, according to a research note from securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (per Macrumors.com).

The new laptop designs are said to have squared edges like an iPad Pro, but also bring back many of the most-missed hardware features from the 2015 MacBook Pro. That includes MagSafe charging, more ports beyond just USB Type-C, and physical function keys in lieu of the context-specific OLED Touch Bar.

MacBook Pro models from 2016 and newer have been limited to only USB-C ports, requiring extra adaptors to interface with common connectors. The design drew much criticism from creatives – particularly when so many of their peripherals, storage devices and more relied on non type-C connectors.

Kuo’s predictions were mirrored by Bloomberg Journalist Mark Gurman, who tweeted: “For new high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, Apple indeed plans return of MagSafe, the end of the Touch Bar (finally), brighter screens, minor design changes, next-gen M-series chips and more. Launch around mid-2021.”

Stay tuned for more Apple news here.

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