Apple announced during its WWDC event in June that it plans to move to its in-house ARM processors for Mac PCs. The company will phase out Intel processors from its devices in a two-year transition plan. The company added that it will be releasing an ARM-powered Mac before the end of this year.
Now, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted in a new research note (accessed by MacRumors) that a 13.1-inch MacBook Pro powered by Apple Silicon will go into mass production later this year. The company is expected to retain the design of the device. The analyst adds that the company could also press into production an ARM-powered MacBook Air in the fourth quarter of this year, or in the first quarter of 2021.
Additionally, the report states that the iPhone company is planning to launch 14.1-inch and 16-inch versions of the MacBook Pro with mini-LED displays in the third or fourth quarter of 2021. This timeline is different from previously reported plans that suggested that the 16-inch MacBook Pro refresh sporting a mini-LED screen was slated for Q4 2020. Interestingly, both the new devices are expected to arrive with an “all-new form factor design” and will unsurprisingly be powered by Apple Silicon.
Lastly, Kuo reports that he expects Apple’s MacBook shipments to increase to 16-17 million units for this year. For 2021, the analyst expects the number to grow to 20 million units under “optimistic circumstances” if the company prices the new MacBook Air lower than its current price, and if the redesigned Pro models see high demand.
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