Apple's new 16-inch MacBook Pro coming in October for over $3000, claims report

Apple's release window for a possible 16-inch MacBook Pro has been narrowed down, with a new supply chain report suggesting that the screen with be LCD rather than OLED.

The 16-inch screen is again said to be a LCD model, running at 3072 pixels wide, by 1920. Assembly duties are said to be performed by Quanta and Foxconn. Should the new model have the same pixel density as the existing MacBook Pro, that suggests the screen is approximately a 16.4-inch display on the diagonal.

Any such device would have to be at some point in the manufacturing process now. Prior to the 2016 MacBook Pro, milled shells of the new case enclosure started appearing in April, for the October refresh.

At present, it isn't clear if the report by UDN is uniquely sourced, or a repeat of previous predictions by Ming-Chi Ku or other venues. UDN also believes that the model will come in starting at about NT$90000, over $3000.

The publication is often accurate with details from the supply chain. However, it doesn't have a good track record with Apple's specific product plans. Casting doubt on this particular report is the suggestion that Apple will update the MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro again in 2019 at some point.

If true, the MacBook Pro line will see its first significant bump in display size since Apple discontinued the 17-inch model in 2012. Currently, the largest MacBook Pro on offer features a 15-inch Retina display packing a resolution of 2,880-by-1,800 pixels.

A June filing spotted at the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) regulatory website listed seven models prior to the July refresh of the MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports. Three model numbers remain that haven't been taken by the July releases.

104 Comments

jimh2 661 comments · 8 Years

About 5 years ago

I am still predicting this is the end of the 15.4". The current bezel has more than enough room for a 16.4" screen. I have been waiting patiently for a new MacBook Pro and almost bought the most recent release, but then saw this rumor so I held off. I'm using a maxed out mid 2014 model that still commands a decent resale value.

McJobs 29 comments · 5 Years

I'm so sick of the Tim Cook era, where every product redesign comes with a substantial price increase over previous model. When Steve was there, products got better at the same price points (e.g. MBP--->unibody MBP), or even were less expensive at the same time (e.g. polycarbonate iMac--->aluminum iMac).

tomahawk 171 comments · 23 Years

McJobs said:

I'm so sick of the Tim Cook era, where every product redesign comes with a substantial price increase over previous model. When Steve was there, products got better at the same price points (e.g. MBP--->unibody MBP), or even were less expensive at the same time (e.g. polycarbonate iMac--->aluminum iMac).

Why wouldn't a new device, with a larger screen, and likely a true "Pro" version of the Pro, cost more? It's going to have a more expensive screen, likely larger battery and potentially more powerful CPU/GPU combos. It should cost more... Even if it has the same config as the "better" 15" (8-core, 16GB and 512GB SSD) it would only be ~$200 more than the 15".

And Jobs raised prices too. Look at the Mac mini. Started at $499, raised to $599 in 2006, and raised again to $699 in 2010.

doctwelve 56 comments · 6 Years

McJobs said:

I'm so sick of the Tim Cook era, where every product redesign comes with a substantial price increase over previous model. When Steve was there, products got better at the same price points (e.g. MBP--->unibody MBP), or even were less expensive at the same time (e.g. polycarbonate iMac--->aluminum iMac).

Aren't all the headlines lately talking about how the updated MacBook Pro 13 has updated, better specs for LESS money? Even Mac-hating Verge spoke positively about it.