MacBook Pro 2016 Release Date Happening Soon with Skylake, AMD Polaris GPU and Intel Integrated Graphics? (Photo : Getty Images/Justin Sullivan)
The rumored MacBook Pro 2016 unveiling during the iPhone 7 intro last week did not materialize but hopes remain of an imminent release date, thanks to a hint provided by Apple CEO Tim Cook, a new report said. When asked on the upcoming Macs, Cook reportedly replied: "Stay tuned."
The Apple chief specifically responded to an email inquiry on the possibility of a MacBook Pro 2016 refresh, MacRumors said, and the answer that came back: "I love the Mac and we are very committed to it."
The short reply, however, did not include timing and feature specifics but enough to shore up hopes that the new Macs - likely including the MacBook Pro and Air and the desktop versions - will see the light of the day real soon. Prior to the iPhone 7 revelation a few days back, speculations were rife that Cook will surprise the audience by uncloaking at least the Pro and Air duo but the event wrapped up and the devices were nowhere in sight.
Still, fans remain optimistic that an upgrade is forthcoming and the hope is all the more fired up by the hint provided by Cook though short in details.
Rumors and leaks, however, are aplenty on the things to expect. Analysts like Ming-chi Kuo of KGI Securities has predicted that the release date will happen in the last three months of 2016 and that the device will sport a build and design that is significantly slimmer and lighter than the past versions.
In recent weeks, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg revealed that, alongside with the 2016 iPhones, the new MacBooks will be made public with mostly the rumored feature bumps the have been the subject of discussions. An OLED touch bar or function keys that adjust to the task being performed on the screen is said to be part of the deal.
Touch ID is also rumored to be embedded with the power button that will permit the unlocking of the laptop with no password. And with MacOS Sierra set to run all Macs, Siri for Mac will come to the lineup that will usher hands-free control of the machines.
However, the mystery remains on what will be the power under the hood of the new Macs. Many would want to see Intel's seventh-gen Kaby Lake chip as the new MacBook Pro muscle source but it is believed that using Skylake instead will allow Apple to meet its nearing rollout schedule for the device.
And that likely will happen around November but prior to the actual MacBook Pro 2016 release date, Business Insider said that an announcement will be made in October.
