Apple to Launch 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models With More Power-Efficient Displays This Year, Claims Report

[MacRumors]

Apple is preparing to release new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with more power-efficient mini-LED displays before the year is out, claims a new report by DigiTimes.

Apple is expected to ship new models of 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro devices in the fourth quarter of 2023 with miniLED backlighting that can increase the display brightness by 10% compared to the first-generation specifications, the sources said.

Perhaps counterintuitively on first reading, the claim is that the increased brightness the enhanced mini-LED displays are capable of will not result in perceivably brighter displays on the MacBook Pro. Instead, the mini-LEDs will output the same brightness but use less power in the process. From the report:

Apple has not made major changes to the miniLED backlighting specifications since adopting it for its tablets and notebooks, the sources said. But the upcoming MacBook Pro devices will feature miniLEDs that are 10% brighter than the previous ones without changing the number of miniLED chips in the backlighting module, the sources said. The brightness enhancement is not meant to improve picture quality, but rather to save power and improve battery life, the sources said, adding that the new devices will start shipping in the fourth quarter of 2023.

These claims are not out of the question, but there's good reason to doubt the launch timing in DigiTimes' latest supply chain report. Apple updated the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips in January, and most rumors suggest refreshed models are coming next year.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next version of these two machines are expected to feature M3 Pro and M3 Max chips and will "probably" launch by the middle of 2024 at the latest. Likewise, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes new MacBook Pro models with updated 3-nanometer M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are set to launch in 2024.

Having said that, MacRumors received information earlier this week that indicates Apple will likely begin accepting some of its latest Mac models for trade-in this month, suggesting it may be proceeding with plans to release a new Mac model imminently. Whether this correlates with the launch of at least one new machine around mid-October remains to be seen.

The second part of the report is more aligned with rumor consensus, and goes on to suggest that the iPad Pro series may give up mini-LED backlighting and switch to hybrid OLED in 2024, while the MacBook Pro devices will continue using mini-LED until 2026, citing the burn-in problem usually associated with OLED screens as a remaining concern given that laptops tend to be left on for extended periods.

Apple is widely rumored to be working on OLED technology for future Macs and iPads, and the company is expected to switch iPad Pro models to OLED displays next year. iPad Pro display sizes are expected to see a slight increase from 11 and 12.9 inches currently to 11.1 and 13 inches with the next models. Apple is rumored to be planning to start mass production at the beginning of 2024.

Meanwhile, the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models are not expected to be upgraded with OLED display technology until 2026. That is when Apple's supply chain is expected to have sufficient notebook-optimized OLED display production capacity, according to Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants. Until then, Young believes suppliers will be focused on OLED displays for tablets, such as the iPad Pro, although an OLED MacBook Air could come earlier.

DigiTimes obtains its information from the suppliers who manufacture parts for iPhones and other Apple products. Its sources often provide reliable information, but the site has a mixed track record when it comes to interpreting that information and accurately deciphering Apple's plans. It is often best to view information from the site with some skepticism until the info is corroborated by additional sources, especially when it comes to rumors.

Article Link: Apple to Launch 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models With More Power-Efficient Displays This Year, Claims Report

 

[ridgero]

I‘m pretty confused with Apple MBP cycles right now 🤔

 

[Armada2]

I stopped reading when it said "report by DigiTimes"

 

[sammich]

How is that in any way counterintuitive? Nothing in the first quote says anything other than 'brighter'. It's like saying 'the engine has more power but counterintuitively the car doesn't handle better'.

Update: article has been stealth edited. Original text (which can also seen quoted below):

Perhaps counterintuitively, the claim is that the increased brightness that the enhanced Mini-LED displays are capable of will not result in improved picture quality

 

[ph001bi]

Apple is preparing to release new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with more power-efficient Mini-LED displays before the year is out, claims on a new report by DigiTimes.

Perhaps counterintuitively, the claim is that the increased brightness that the enhanced Mini-LED displays are capable of will not result in improved picture quality for the MacBook Pro, but will instead preserve battery life. From the report:
These claims are not out of the question, but there's good reason to doubt DigiTimes' latest supply chain report. Apple updated the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 Pro and ‌M2‌ Max chips in January, and most rumors suggest refreshed models are coming next year.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next version of these two machines are expected to feature M3 Pro and M3 Max chips and will "probably" launch by the middle of 2024 at the latest.

Likewise, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes new MacBook Pro models with updated 3-nanometer M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are set to launch in 2024. The 3nm technology will offer improved performance and better power efficiency compared to the current chips manufactured on a 5-nanometer process.

DigiTimes obtains its information from the suppliers who manufacture parts for iPhones and other Apple products. Its sources often provide reliable information, but the site has a mixed track record when it comes to interpreting that information and accurately deciphering Apple's plans. It is often best to view information from the site with some skepticism until the info is corroborated by additional sources, especially when it comes to rumors.

Article Link: Apple to Launch New 14-Inch and 16-Inch MacBook Pro Models With More Power-Efficient Displays This Year, Claims Report

A Digitimes report? It must be a slow news day.

 

[andrewxgx]

any why would apple make this right now and not wait to bring more features to the M3 version?

stupid rumor, those guys have no idea how apple operates

 

[nortonandreev]

I don’t believe these will be released this year. But M3 MacBook Pros with more efficient displays next year defo sounds good.

 

[Jobsian]

Implausible as it may be given Apple’s modus operandi, this rumour was enjoyable and entertaining, compounded by the impending torrent of incredulity that one can dare cite a rumour on a rumour board. This is the literature I seek.

 

[dannys1]

Absolute nonsense again - Apple are not going to bring out a new model of a MacBook Pro less than a year after they released the last one.

M3 will be in the lower end machines first.

I mean you keep quoting Gurmans nonsense haven't you learnt the simple logical upgrade cycle and time length yet? You run a page which tells people when it's safe to upgrade and you don't appear to have grasped the basics yourselves yet Macrumors editors.

 

[dannys1]

I‘m pretty confused with Apple MBP cycles right now 🤔

No you're not, you're confused by people writing articles who haven't got a clue what they're going on about and have zero business common sense to just work out whats likely to happen based on the bleeding obvious.

 

[zombierunner]

Please make 27 inch imac/imac pro. My 2015 imac struggles with 4k video on youtube.

 

[Berti10]

Given that the always available 2nd gen Apple Pencil is unavailable at Amazon Germany for almost 4 weeks now, and referenced to a 3rd gen Pencil are found, there will be something coming this month.

 

[iBluetooth]

I‘m pretty confused with Apple MBP cycles right now 🤔

you mean by the conflicting rumours

 

[zombierunner]

Given that the always available 2nd gen Apple Pencil is unavailable at Amazon Germany for almost 4 weeks now, and referenced to a 3rd gen Pencil are found, there will be something coming this month.

I feel like this will just be usb-c version of 2nd gen pencil much like the updated airpods pro with usb-c. They might make 3rd gen pencil with the new oled iPad pros next year.

 

[contacos]

I feel like I only bought my launch day M1 Pro MBP. Time flies!

 

[DMG35]

DMG35 is reporting that this is false.

I’m as reliable a source as Digitimes.

 

[gpat]

any why would apple make this right now and not wait to bring more features to the M3 version?

stupid rumor, those guys have no idea how apple operates

Actually this is not the craziest rumor.
It has happened in the past multiple times for the Macbook Pros when Apple reused the same Intel chips for multiple years in a row.
But otherwise yeah, it makes little sense and I'm not buying into it either.

 

[nottorp]

I don't believe it. Sanity! Instead of blinding us even more in the name of competing with sunlight (which isn't ever going to happen) they save power!

50 more decisions like this and they'll maybe be able to atone for the butterfly keyboard.

 

[Moukee]

Highly unlikely they'd launch new MBPs with only slightly better displays and nothing else. Surely the next version will have M3 (Pro/Max) chips, and so far we didn't even see the standard M3.

 

[wanha]

you mean by the conflicting rumours

Came to say the exact same thing. So many people here really can't tell the difference

 

[whoknows2597]

I still don’t understand the obsession with OLED displays on computers. It was highlighted that burn-in is a factor as displays are turned on for longer periods. Yes there have been improvements, but have we not seen how long iPhones are turned on in-store? Imagine Macs and their irregular refresh cycles.

I’d prefer if Apple continues to perfect microLED and getting manufacturing up to date to meet demand.

 

[gpat]

I still don’t understand the obsession with OLED displays on computers. It was highlighted that burn-in is a factor as displays are turned on for longer periods. Yes there have been improvements, but have we not seen how long iPhones are turned on in-store? Imagine Macs and their irregular refresh cycles.

I’d prefer if Apple continues to perfect microLED and getting manufacturing up to date to meet demand.

I sincerely hope OLED stays far from the Mac line at least.
At the actual stage, it's only perfect for flashy Asus laptops that are ready to be scrapped as soon as the warranty expires.

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

The MacBook pros are such fantastic machines.

I wished my wrists could handle that thick and sharp front ...

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

I still don’t understand the obsession with OLED displays on computers. It was highlighted that burn-in is a factor as displays are turned on for longer periods. Yes there have been improvements, but have we not seen how long iPhones are turned on in-store? Imagine Macs and their irregular refresh cycles.

I’d prefer if Apple continues to perfect microLED and getting manufacturing up to date to meet demand.

I mean OLED would help to save a lot of power especially since you use them indoors in controlled environment and as such can use dark mode almost all the time

I'm not sure how dual stacked OLED helps with burn in (if it does help that is )

 

[MacBird]

I feel like I only bought my launch day M1 Pro MBP. Time flies!

...and it still feels super fast.