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Apple could release a 16″ MacBook Pro and 6K display this year

Plus a bunch of new stuff we’ve seen rumored already.

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Image: Unsplash

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If you’ve been reading any news about Apple in the last few years, you’ve probably come across analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. His network of contacts in Apple’s supply chain is correct more often than not, making his forward forecasts unmissable for any Apple fan.

He’s been hard at work with what he thinks will be coming in 2019, and thanks to MacRumors we can see what he’s been thinking in regards to Apple’s roadmap.

16″ MacBook Pro

Ever since Apple discontinued the 17-inch MacBook Pro in 2012, the line has topped out at 15-inches. That looks to be changing, with either a 16-inch or 16.5-inch MacBook Pro that Apple is working on as an “all-new” design.

Could that mean OLED finally makes its way to a MacBook? With a Mini LED-like backlight slated for the new Pro display, maybe Mini LED will also turn up on the MacBook Pro, ahead of expected timelines. Maybe the touchpad will be shifted to the right of the keyboard, like on the Razer Blade Pro. Will the usual aluminum casing be changed? If Kuo is right, it’ll be interesting to see why Apple thought a revamp was needed ahead of the usual refresh cycle that would run in 2020 or so.

There also might be an upgrade for the 13-inch MacBook Pro coming, with a 32 GB RAM option.

6K Display

The last standalone monitor that Apple sold was the Thunderbolt display that was resigned to the scrap heap back in 2016. The year after that, Apple’s Phil Schiller stirred the pot by saying that Apple was “completely rethinking the Mac Pro,” also mentioning that due to the modular nature, a Pro display would be in the works as well.

Apparently, that display isn’t far off (which might also mean a new MacBook Pro this year). Kuo describes the new monitor as a “6k3k” display, which will be 31.6-inches in size and have a Mini LED-like backlight.

iPhones galore

Apple needs to pick up the pace here, with 2018’s sales of iPhones slowing to a (relative) crawl. According to Kuo’s detailed notes, this year’s iPhones will have the same screen sizes as current models, with 6.5-inch and 5.8-inch models in OLED, and a 6.1-inch LCD model. If right, that would back up the recent reports of 2020 being the year Apple goes all-in on OLED for its iPhone range.

A whole bunch of internal components are also being upgraded, from Face ID to bilateral wireless charging, larger batteries, and triple cameras (wide, telephoto and ultra-wide). The lightning connector will be used on all three models and a new frosted glass casing will be used.

iPads

We’ve already seen forecasts of anywhere between four and seven new iPads in 2019, and according to Kuo, the former number is correct. His read of Apple’s plans is that two new iPad Pro models are coming, along with a 10.2-inch iPad and (finally) a refreshed iPad Mini.

AirPods and forgotten/ignored/swept-under-the-rug AirPower

Back in October of last year, Kuo stated that the AirPower wireless charging mat would be coming in “late 2018 or early 2019.” If you can count “first-half” as “early,” then his earlier prediction is true, as now he thinks both the AirPower and the wireless charging AirPods will ship in the first half of 2019.

He also thinks a new iPod Touch will launch, which backs up earlier code snippets found in iOS 12.2.

What would you like to see from Apple? Anything above that you are particularly excited for? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience at KnowTechie, SlashGear and XDA Developers. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere, with particular focus in gadgetry and handheld gaming. Shoot him an email at joe@knowtechie.com.

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