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Here's everything we know about Apple's upcoming 2016 MacBook Pro

There will be two main models with different screen sizes.

Here's everything we know about Apple's upcoming 2016 MacBook Pro

It'll have a new design.

It

A report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims the new MacBook Pros will have some subtle design changes, like "shallower curves around the edges," which could give the new MacBook Pros a sleeker and sharper design.

They'll be even thinner than the current MacBook Pro lineup.

They

Kuo believes the new MacBook Pros will have an even thinner design than the current crop.

To help make the new MacBook Pros even thinner than they are now, the Chinese news site Commercial Times claims Apple is reportedly designing new hinges to save space.

They'll have an OLED strip with customizable keys instead of the "F" keys.

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One of the biggest supposed new features on Apple's upcoming MacBook Pro lineup is an OLED display strip that will take the place of the "F" keys, which are usually found above the row of number keys on a keyboard, according to 9to5Mac.

That OLED strip is said to let users customize the "F" key functions, whereas the functions on the current "F" keys on the MacBook Pro can't be customized.

For example, you could potentially move the volume control keys (F10 to F12 on the current MacBook Pro). Or you could assign one of the keys on the OLED strip to open an app or a shortcut to a feature.

They'll use USB-C.

They

The new MacBook Pros will apparently use USB-C ports for connecting external devices, like external hard drives, displays, and anything else you normally connect to your computer, according to Ars Technica.

That potentially means you'll need an adapter to connect legacy peripherals that don't use USB-C, which could be a pain.

At the same time, USB-C allows for faster data transfer speeds, and you could have all your devices connected to a single USB-C adapter rather than having multiple cables sticking out of your MacBook Pro, which makes it easier to plug and unplug all your peripherals when you need to.

USB-C will also be used for charging.

USB-C will also be used for charging.

Ars Technica also claims that USB-C will be used for charging the new MacBook Pros.

This one worries us a little, as USB-C for charging might not be as practical as the MagSafe power connectors used on the current MacBook Pros. That's because the MagSafe's magnetic connection allows the power cord to disconnect safely and without damaging your MacBook Pro if you trip or pull on the wire by accident.

If you accidentally trip on a USB-C cable, on the other hand, it could pull the new MacBook Pros off a table and potentially damage them, as USB-C's connection could be more "secure." We'll have to wait and see, but it seems like a devolution rather than an upgrade if the rumor is true.

You might use TouchID to unlock the new MacBook Pros.

You might use TouchID to unlock the new MacBook Pros.

In his report, Kuo predicts the new MacBook Pros will have a TouchID fingerprint sensor built into the power button, which can be used instead of typing in a password to unlock the new Apple laptops.

Like it is on iPhone, using TouchID to unlock the new MacBook Pros would be easier and more convenient than typing in a password, especially if you're doing it multiple times a day.

They'll run on Intel's latest processors, with some models running with AMD graphics cards.

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Most of the new MacBook Pros will used Intel's latest "Skylake" processors, and some of the models designed for power users who need extra graphics power for video games and photo/video editing will include AMD's "Polaris" graphical processors, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

They'll run Apple's new macOS Sierra.

They

Apple's new macOS Sierra will come with some nifty features, including "picture in picture" mode that'll let you pop a video out to a separate window, save space by storing old files and apps in iCloud, and use Apple's voice-activated assistant Siri.

They'll be announced in October.

They

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who's well connected with insider Apple sources, predicts that Apple will announce and make the new MacBook Pros available in October.


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