Skip to main content

A new 14-inch MacBook Pro is coming, unfazed by coronavirus delays

A new report indicates a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro that uses a mini-LED display is on schedule for launch.

The news comes from well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who says a number of upcoming Apple products will use mini-LED displays, and that they won’t be delayed by coronavirus. In addition to the 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, these products include a 27-inch iMac Pro set to arrive in the fourth quarter of 2020, as well as a 16-inch MacBook Pro, a 10.2-inch iPad, a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini — all of which will also be released in 2020.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Most of these products have used traditional LED screens in the past, unlike the premium iPhones that use OLED displays, also known as Super Retina.” Mini-LED is a new display technology that’s come to televisions, but is just now beginning to arrive in laptops and smaller screens. Mini-LED offers many of the same benefits of OLED, such as deeper blacks and higher contrast, but it’s more power efficient and less prone to burn-in.

News that a 27-inch iMac Pro is set for release later this year is noteworthy as well. It has not been updated since late 2017 and uses outdated Intel Xeon processors.

Reports had been pointing toward an official announcement at a press event in late March, where an update to the 13-inch MacBook Pro was expected to be announced. A 14-inch MacBook Pro lines up well with Apple’s recent update to the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which increases the screen size but cuts the bezels down a bit to maintain a similar overall footprint.

We also expect this 14-inch MacBook Pro to get updated with the “Magic Keyboard,” which would replace the controversial butterfly switch keyboard. The longer key travel of the Magic Keyboard has been well received as more reliable and enjoyable to type on. There has, however, been mixed reporting on how quickly Apple will switch all its laptops to the Magic Keyboard.

We also expect this 14-inch MacBook Pro to get updated processors. The obvious choice (and likely one) are 10th-gen Intel Ice Lake processors, which include improved integrated Iris Plus graphics. There’s a chance Apple could switch to AMD’s latest Ryzen 4000 processors, which are set to launch at a similar timetable and would bring impressive eight-core chips to the smaller MacBook Pro.

Editors' Recommendations

Luke Larsen
Senior Editor, Computing
Luke Larsen is the Senior editor of computing, managing all content covering laptops, monitors, PC hardware, Macs, and more.
Steve Jobs killed this MacBook feature 15 years ago. Now it might be back
Someone using a MacBook Pro on a table in front of a scenic background.

In 2008, Steve Jobs claimed that Apple had explored adding some sort of 3G connectivity to its MacBooks, but abandoned the plans because the required chips would take up too much space inside the laptop’s case.

If Apple can integrate a wireless modem into its Apple silicon chips by 2028, however, that problem could be fixed -- 20 years after Jobs admitted defeat.
20 years in the making
In the future, your MacBook could come with wireless connectivity, allowing you to access the internet even without a Wi-Fi link. That would be perfect for any time you head out onto the road with your MacBook and struggle to connect to the internet, and would bring it on par with the iPhone and Apple Watch.

Read more
The easy way to decide between the MacBook Air 15 and MacBook Pro 14

Picking out a new MacBook isn't as easy as it used to be. While Apple finally dropped the 13-inch MacBook Pro that didn't match the line's modern design, it introduced a new 14-inch MacBook Pro with an entry-level M3 processor. If you prefer a larger screen or more performance, you might be left considering two compelling options: the 15-inch MacBook Air and the 14-inch MacBook Pro.

Having reviewed and used both laptops extensively, I'm here to lay it all out for you. Here's the difference between the two machines and how to easily determine which is right for you.
The easy way to know which to buy

Read more
These are the best games to play on your new M3 Mac
Lies of P being played on an iMac.

It’s an exciting time to be a Mac gamer. The latest MacBooks are genuine gaming machines thanks to the addition of ray tracing, mesh shading, and some impressive GPU performance. Even more, Apple is courting more developers to port their games to Apple’s computers with features like Game Mode and the Game Porting Toolkit.

In short, Mac gaming has never been in a better place. If you’ve bought a new Mac loaded with a chip from the M3 family, you might want to test out its power with a few demanding games to see what it can do. There’s no need to stick to mild indie games that won’t cause your Mac to break a sweat -- we’re talking AAA titles that will run natively on Apple hardware. And, of course, you can always use an app like CrossOver to run any Windows games you can imagine. But here are the best games that run natively on an M3 Mac to try out, ranging from incredibly deep fantasy RPGs to exhilarating battle royales.
Baldur's Gate 3

Read more