Skip to main content

Russian listing shows three new portable personal computers using MacOS Sierra

If you’re still wondering what Apple plans to reveal during its “Hello Again” media event this Thursday, three new portable Macs running MacOS 10.12 “Sierra” reportedly just passed Russian registration. This registration is required for all electronics that include cryptography and encryption technologies, which are used in nearly all of Apple’s products.

As seen in a screenshot of the Russian listing, the country passed new “portable personal computers” by Apple using MacOS version 10.12. Valid as of October 10, these models are A1706, A1707, and A1708, and are presumed to be new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros and a new super-slim 13-inch Retina MacBook. Unfortunately, that’s all the data the listing provides.

Recommended Videos

Over the weekend, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo released a new research report forecasting what Apple will reveal during its event on Thursday. The company is expected to showcase products packing Intel’s sixth-generation “Skylake” processors, and not the more recent “Kaby Lake” seventh-generation chips that are now cropping up in new laptops provided by Asus, Lenovo, Acer, and more. Of course, that info could be wrong, as the use of Skylake or Kaby Lake processors will depend on when Apple actually began production of its new Macs.

Kuo’s report also indicated that new MacBook Pros will have the same resolution as the previous generation, but the display itself will have better quality and energy efficiency due to its Oxide Thin Film Transistor LCD panel. This technology allows Apple to create a display that is thinner overall with a highly sensitive touch capability and a low power requirement, extending the MacBook Pro’s battery life.

Additionally, the new MacBook Pros are expected to use a second processor, similar to what is used in the Apple Watch to handle a new OLED touch bar in a more “energy-efficient” way. This bar will be mounted above the keyboard to permit users to access the most-used apps on the fly. The new MacBook Pros will be slimmer than the previous generation, too, packing hardware that will provide a huge performance boost over models currently available on the market. USB Type-C ports will provide Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

As for the rumored 13-inch Retina MacBook, it’s supposedly like the 12-inch version already on the market. However, reports are rather mixed about this specific product, as it’s claimed to actually be either a new Retina MacBook or a new MacBook Air. Previous reports indicated that Retina MacBooks would get so thin that Apple would discontinue the MacBook Air family. Regardless, this specific device will supposedly be outfitted with additional USB Type-C ports.

In addition to the three MacBook units, Apple could reveal two new iMacs with 21.5-inch and 27-inch screens, and a new 27-inch Cinema Display with a 5K resolution. The iMacs may come packed with discrete AMD graphics options that will likely stem from the new Radeon RX 400 Series. These products may not be revealed given they won’t reportedly ship until the first half of 2017.

To watch Apple’s press event on Thursday, you can tune in to the company’s live-stream right here.

Kevin Parrish
Kevin started taking PCs apart in the 90s when Quake was on the way and his PC lacked the required components. Since then…
WWDC may not deliver the macOS magic I’d love to see. Here’s why
macOS Sequoia being introduced by Apple's Craig Federighi at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) is just two months away, and that means I’m starting to look forward to what could be coming to the Mac at Apple’s big summer show. The problem is that every time I think about WWDC 2025, I can’t shake one feeling: that Apple Intelligence is going to dominate everything at the event.To be fair, I don’t think Apple can do things any other way. As I’ve written about before, this year’s WWDC is make or break for Apple Intelligence. Apple has to not only make sure that its artificial intelligence (AI) platform catches up with rivals like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, but that it actually offers a service that can outdo its competitors in some ways. It needs to convince the public that Apple Intelligence is a worthy contender for their AI needs.And if Apple gets it right, then Apple Intelligence might finally become the system it was always meant to be, with a revamped Siri that possesses incredible contextual awareness and useful additions to key Mac apps that help you in your everyday life.But while I’m really hoping that Apple Intelligence gets the shake-up it so clearly needs, I don’t want the likes of macOS 16 and iOS 19 to miss out as a result. After all, these are the core aspects of Apple fans’ favorite devices. Without meaningful upgrades here, we’re all going to be a little worse off.

Déjà vu

Read more
iPad is the best secondary screen I’ve used with a MacBook
You can extend your MacBook's screen by using an iPad as a secondary monitor.

I spend an unhealthy amount of time lurking in communities where people share aesthetic desktop setups. One of my friends recently set the group chat on fire with a triple monitor setup that had two vertical screens and an ultrawide curved panel at the center. An impulse swipe later, I achieved a similar makeover for my desk at home.

Here’s the problem, though. My $600 workstation overhaul did bring me visual joy, but not much utility. For reporting assignments, I spend the majority of the year away from home, working from deserted cafes or unnaturally uncomfortable bunk beds. I do miss the convenience of large secondary screens. Interestingly, that yearning is addressed by a rather unconventional device —the humble iPad. 

Read more
macOS 16 / macOS 26: everything you need to know
Major changes are expected for the new macOS update, with talk it might be called macOS 26 instead
Craig Federighi introducing macOS Sonoma at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2023.

The next macOS installment, macOS 16 / macOS 26, is likely to be one of the main attractions at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC 2025), which kicks off on June 9, 2025.

Excitement is already building for this year's macOS update thanks to rumors of a major design overhaul for the Mac operating system - plus there's talk of a new name - macOS 26. This is everything we've heard so far about the next macOS update.
Latest macOS 16 / macOS 26 news

Read more