This article was published on October 18, 2016

Apple may kill the USB port on the new MacBook Pro – and that’d be a pain in the ass


Apple may kill the USB port on the new MacBook Pro – and that’d be a pain in the ass

It appears Apple might be on another quest for innovation as reports suggest the new MacBook Pro may ditch the standard USB port in favor of USB Type C.

The rumor comes from noted Japanese publisher Macotakara which was among the first to predict the iPhone 7 is killing the headphone jack.

The website claims that along with the USB port, Apple may also get rid of the MagSafe 2 and Thunderbolt 2 ports. Instead, the new MacBook Pro will support Thunderbolt 3.

This means you’ll likely have to charge the laptop through the USB-C port or Thunderbolt 3. Of course, you’ll still need to resort to some sort of USB 3.0 adapter since the majority of peripheral devices still use the traditional standard.

Macotakara’s report further suggests the tech titan will unveil the new MacBook Pro at an event sometime this month. According to the rumor, it will arrive in 15.4-inch and 13.3-inch models. The Japanese publisher also speculates Apple will release a next-gen 13.3-inch MacBook Air, but will likely discontinue its current 11-inch model.

Previous reports around the the company’s new lineup of laptops hinted that – much like the iPhone 7 – Apple might also be considering killing the standard headphone jack on the MacBook Pros.

So in case the reports turn out to be true: Apple fan boys and girls better prepare to spend a boatload of cash on auxiliary adapters and docks.

At present, Apple sells its own USB Type C dock with ports for USB 3.0, USB-C for charging as well as HDMI. Still, it’s a bit pricey at $79.

via Engadget

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