Apple MacBook rumours: new Pro to boast secondary screen, TouchID

Apple’s latest MacBook (that’s simply MacBook now) is rather thin for a laptop at 12.7mm, but the company wants its top level MacBook Pro to be as thin, if not thinner than that.

Expected in Q4 2016, the upcoming MacBook Pro will take many of its design cues and features from the company’s 12-inch MacBook launched earlier this year. This comes from 9to5Mac and KGI Securities’ Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who tends to be right more often than not).

Along with the lighter and thinner body, the MacBook Pro will also get TouchID support, and likely Force Touch support as well, keeping in tune with the 12-inch MacBook.

But more interestingly is the addition of an OLED display touch bar on the machine, above the keyboard. This strip is said to house important commands, much like the LG V10’s second screen system.

To make things even more confusing, Apple is also said to be reshuffling its MacBook lineup. The MacBook Air is now the entry level machine, while a new MacBook (replacing the less-than-12 months old MacBook) will debut next to the refreshed Pro occupying the middle tier, and the MacBook Pro taking up residence atop the pecking order.

The new 13-inch MacBook, said to be debuting alongside the Pro, will be given power enhancements. That likely means the Intel Skylake treatment.

There’s no word on Apple using primary OLED screens in its new laptops though, nor do we have a suggestion of colour availability as yet, but these piece of information will likely surface as we draw towards the MacBooks’ launch.