It remains highly likely that Intel's Kaby Lake processor will power the MacBook Pro 2016 on release date as reports emerged that "laptop manufacturers ... are in receipt of laptop-class Kaby Lake processors earlier than expected ... with the new chip possibly suitable for a MacBook Pro refresh."
Apple Insider picked up the latest supply chain update from Taiwanese publication DigiTimes that claimed device makers are now in possession of Intel's seventh-gen processing chip that is ready for use with the MacBook Pro 2016 specifications. The report added that Intel has confirmed that laptop makers have received delivery of the sequel to Skylake as early as July this year, providing more credibility with latest report.
But AI reminded on its report that DigiTimes as source of confirmed information regarding upcoming Apple products is largely hit and miss. Yet in terms of supply chain information, which provides hints on specs and features upgrades packed with planned devices, the Asia-based publication is "generally accurate on timelines of specific part arrival to manufacturers."
In the event that among the mentioned manufacturers in the report are Apple contractors, the possibility is quite high that Kaby Lake will make it in time for the MacBook Pro 2016 launch. Recent reports have suggested that Apple plans to introduce the next-generation MacOS Sierra notebooks alongside the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus on September 7.
If indeed Kaby Lake will be on board, the benefits for would-be MacBook Pro 2016 users are immense. While the chip shares the same 14-nanometer process used in producing Skylake, the former is seen as a major step up in terms computing muscle and speed plus its better use of energy that will significantly extend battery life.
Kaby Lake will also natively support USB 3.1 Gen2 connectivity that for end-users will mean 10GBPS of data transfer speed while at the same time promising superfast charging up. In the same USB ports, Thunderbolt 3 is believed to baked in and that translates to support of two 4K monitors plugged in.
"Also expected in Kaby Lake are integrated graphics speed improvements," Apple Insider said.
However, the same news site has earlier reported that Kaby Lake might come too late for the scheduled MacBook Pro 2016 release date that AI said will happen no later than November or following an October introduction. And Intel Skylake will end up as the MBP 2016 main engine, the report added.