If you’ve missed the SD card reader and HDMI ports on recent model MacBook Pro notebooks, it looks like they may return this year.
TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has indicated that at least two MacBook Pro notebook models with an SD card reader and HDMI port will debut in the second half of 2021. In a note to investors on Tuesday, Kuo indicated that the additions will arrive with a major design change that includes more options for external device connectivity. Apple over the past six years has pared down MacBook’s I/O choices to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. The shift to a more inclusive mobile platform will be a welcome one for those averse to dongles.
The last MacBook Pro notebook to include an SD card slot and HDMI port shipped in 2015, with subsequent models eschewing these ports in favor of the slimmed down design.
Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive controller supplier for the upcoming SD card reader and could play a larger role in Apple’s product line moving forward, Kuo says. The firm could be on tap to fill orders for an expected hardware upgrade to the USB 4.0 protocol.
In a report last month, Kuo stated that he expects Apple to launch 14-inch and 16-inch mini LED MacBook Pro variants that feature a “flat-edged” look more in line with the company’s current designs.
Kuo also stated that he expects next-gen MacBooks to once again feature MagSafe charging technology. He also stated that the much-maligned OLED Touch Bar will get the boot in favor of physical function buttons.
The analyst is predicting a launch in the third quarter.
Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.
Via AppleInsider