Apple supposedly plans to announce the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro, as well as an update for the MacBook Air, sometime this June with an expected release date of August 2016, according to Japan-based Mac Otakara.
However these announcements won’t be happening at WWDC, according to MacRumors, who cites “multiple reliable sources” indicate that this year’s developer’s conference “will effectively be a no-hardware event.”
That being said, DigiTimes reported one of the manufacturers that Apple is using for the new MacBook Pro hinges has started shipping the component parts for the 13-inch MacBook Pro already, and is expecting to ship the hinges for the 15-inch model later this year.
Mac Otakara claims their information comes from a reliable Chinese supplier, and backs up earlier leaks alleging the new notebook redesign will get rid of USB-A ports, as well Thunderbolt 2 and Magsafe 2 ports, in favor of USB-C and Thunderbolt 3.
The 12-inch MacBook, for example, has a single USB-C port through which it charges. Accessory support is only possible with a separately purchased accessory dongle.
KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has gone on record as predicting the new 2016 MacBook Pro models will have a OLED touchbar above the keyboard, as well as support for Touch ID and a much thinner/lighter physical design.
