We don’t know more about what we’ll hear, but it’s possible that something will show up by the middle of march.
According to rumors, Apple has a MacBook Pro 2022 in the works, and all signs point to it being a new entry-level MacBook Pro with Apple’s next big thing in silicon.
Because Apple shook up the laptop industry last year with the launching of the current entry-level MacBook Pro M1, this might be major. Because of the strength of the M1 chip, that 13-inch Pro delivered unprecedented increases in performance and economy over its predecessors.
It was so amazing that it propelled the 13-inch Pro to the top of our ranking of the best laptops available. Apple has now announced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros with M1 Pro or M1 Max CPUs, but those systems start at $1,999 and $2,499, respectively.
However, Apple is anticipated to release a new Pro in 2022, which might replace the $1,299 13-inch M1 Pro as the entry-level device. The anticipated MacBook Pro 2022 might be one of Apple’s biggest launches of the year if it integrates the clever design tweaks we saw in the 2021 Pros while improving upon its predecessor in the same manner that all of Apple’s M1-powered MacBooks have.
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MacBook Pro 2022: Latest news
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is anticipated to appear next month, according to a source close to Apple’s supply chain, and will keep the Touch Bar and the present design.
According to Apple supply chain sources, the new MacBook Pro could be released in March, rather than the end of the year as previously reported.
The 2022 MacBook Pro will not have the mini-LED ProMotion displays found in the 2021 versions, according to Mark Gurman. This is most likely done to keep the entry-level model’s costs low.
MacBook Pro 2022: Rumored release date
According to a reputable tech source, the MacBook Pro 2022 will be released in the second half of 2022, most likely in the fall, and will be joined by the MacBook Air 2022.
Given that the latter laptop is expected to be unveiled in the spring, determining the reliability of this fresh information is difficult. However, according to a news source, the new MacBook Pro will be released in March. This contradicts the earlier claim, but considering Mark Gurman’s prediction of one new Mac this spring, it’s possible it’ll be the Pro rather than the Air.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is anticipated to launch next month, according to a source close to Apple’s supply chain, which might coincide with Apple’s upcoming Spring event.
MacBook Pro 2022: Price
We won’t know for sure how much the projected MacBook Pro 2022 will cost until we hear a formal word from Apple.
But, based on what we’ve heard so far, it appears that the MacBook Pro’s starting price will be less than $2,000, possibly as low as $1,299 to $1,499. That prediction is solely based on the fact that the MacBook Pro 2022 is believed to be a new entry-level model, and because the present entry-level Pro is the aged 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 (beginning price $1,299), a replacement will most likely follow suit.
However, there’s reason to suspect that the beginning price of a new MacBook Pro 2022 will be a little more. The 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021, for example, is priced $100 more than its predecessor, and the smaller 14-inch Pro saw a comparable price increase. So, if Apple attempts anything similar with a new Pro next year, we can anticipate a new MacBook Pro 2022 to start at $1,499.
MacBook Pro 2022: Design
There are few details about what to expect in terms of design improvements from the new MacBook Pro 2022. The interior design of these computers has been the most popular topic of conversation thus far, as the next Pro is expected to incorporate an entirely new piece of Apple silicon: the Apple M2.
Externally, the design enhancements of the 2021 MacBook Pros are likely to be carried over to a new model in 2022. That means a flatter lid with thinner bezels around the display, which is said to be larger at 14 inches than the 13-inch panel on the entry-level MacBook Pro.
The computer, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, will not have the mini-LED panels found on the 2021 MacBook Pros. It won’t have ProMotion, either, which allows for a customizable refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
If this is the case, it’ll almost certainly be due to Apple cutting expenses for this entry-level Pro. Those mini-LED panels will very certainly be replaced by a more affordable IPS LCD Retina display similar to those found on MacBook Airs.
Along with the typical complement of Thunderbolt 4 connectors, we anticipate seeing an HDMI out and an SD card reader. Personally, I’m hoping that a new Pro in 2022 will feature the same MagSafe 3 charging connector that Apple debuted on the Pros in 2021 because it’s simple to use and I like having the option of charging via MagSafe 3 or USB-C.
Also, don’t be surprised if the top bezel of the MacBook Pro 2022 has a notch. The webcam incorporated into the 2021 Pros is surrounded by a notch, which, despite causing issues, is functional. It’s true that you grow accustomed to it.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro, however, is expected to keep the same design as the MacBook Pro 2020 model, according to information obtained by MacRumors from a source close to Apple’s supply chain. As a result, unlike the most recent high-end MacBook Pro models, the improved and less costly MacBook Pro isn’t expected to include a ProMotion display with a screen notch. The speculated 13-inch MacBook Pro will also retain the Touch Bar, according to the insider.
MacBook Pro 2022: Specs
Mark Gurman’s prediction that a new MacBook Pro in 2022 will use the Apple M2 chip is the most intriguing thing we’ve heard so far about its specifications. The M2 is expected to have the same 8-core CPU as the M1 (although at higher clock speeds), but a 10-core GPU instead of the M1’s 8-core GPU.
If this is the case, we might see a new MacBook Pro and a new MacBook Air operating on the M2 chip in 2022, similar to what happened in November of 2020. However, we’ll have to wait and see how the improved entry-level Pro’s chip compares to the M1 Pro and M1 Max, Apple’s beefed-up M1 chips found in the 2021 Pros.
Apple’s U1 processor, which powers ultra-wideband connectivity, is expected to appear in next-generation Macs as well.
MacBook Pro 2022: Features
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is currently the only Mac featuring a Touch Bar. The Touch Bar, which was originally built with professional users in mind, was removed from the MacBook Pro due to widespread dissatisfaction among professionals. Read Will the Touch Bar be missed?
This hints that the Touch Bar will be removed from the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but will it? The Touch Bar may be more suited to customers who want to manage music and movie playing, modify colors, and edit their photos using the swipe-able strip. Regardless, the Touch Bar appears to be on its last legs.
MagSafe made a comeback in 2021 with the 14 and 16in MacBook Pros, and it appears that it will be the power source for the new laptop. Will this, however, result in more USB ports? Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports are available on the M1 MacBook Pro (and M1 MacBook Air), which isn’t much when one of them is used for charging. Replacing one of the USB ports with MagSafe – it’s still a Thunderbolt / USB 4 port, but it’s magnetic, so it snaps into place and is yanked out if the cable is tripped over.
As previously said, the upcoming M2 MacBook Pro could gain a notch like the 14in and 16in models, but only if Apple approves a redesign. It’s also feasible that Apple may just replace the existing M1 MacBook Pro with an M2 processor and leave everything else the same. We’re hoping for a better webcam, whether it’s a notch or not: the current 720p FaceTime camera is horrible. Hopefully, like the 24in iMac and the 2021 MacBook Pro models, the next Mac will include an HD (1080p) webcam.
MacBook Pro 2022: Outlook
While we don’t know much about Apple’s intentions for a new MacBook Pro in 2022, what we do know so far gives us cause to be positive about your chances of seeing one. Since the late 2020 release of its first M1-powered MacBooks, Apple has gone from strength to strength in the computing space, and late 2022 seems like an ideal time to sell a revamped entry-level MacBook Pro with an enhanced M2 chip.
The prospect of comparing the performance of a new MacBook Pro 2022 to the performance of the 2021 Pros with their M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs is even more intriguing. They’re already so quick that you have to wonder how good the rumored M2 chip will be.
Our 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021 review unit’s updated M1 Max chip gave absolutely monster performance, especially when dealing with video, and it’s difficult to imagine a future entry-level MacBook Pro topping that. However, our evaluation unit cost over $4,000, but the MacBook Pro 2022 is expected to cost less than $1,500. How will they fare in comparison?
When the next MacBook Pro is introduced, we’ll have to see what we can do about getting one in for testing.