Why did Apple not launch a revamped MacBook Pro last month at WWDC? Is the wait indicative of a major upgrade?
These and more questions are being directed at Apple as the launch of Intel Kaby Lake processors draws near. With the latest from Intel reportedly being sent to OEMs and slotted for launch before the end of this year, speculation is rife Apple may skip a Skylake upgrade and jump onto the Kaby Lake bandwagon if only to one-up its competitors including Microsoft.
Apple unveiled an upgraded MacBook Pro last year during its March event. An upgraded MacBook Pro 2016 release date was expected to coincide with Worldwide Developer Conference in June this year. While many felt WWDC was an unlikely occasion for hardware launches and ruled out a launch, Apple had launched MacBooks at WWDC in 2012 and 2013. Last May, Apple launched a 15-inch MacBook in with dedicated Radeon graphics powered by Haswell processors due to delay in shipping of high-end Broadwell processors.
Apple quietly upgraded the MacBook earlier this year with Skylake processors. With first half behind us and a new Intel processor on the horizon, Apple may opt to wait for Kaby Lake. Microsoft Surface Pro line of hybrid devices that jostle with MacBook Pro, have been ahead of Apple's offerings in hardware terms. Adopting Kaby Lake could help Apple take a big lead ahead of its competitors. Kaby Lake promises significant performance improvements over Skylake and improved battery life.
However, the argument against such a move is also a strong one. Early adoption is fraught with risk. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a case in point. Early buyers faced battery drain issues, which Microsoft pegged to compatibility between software and the new Skylake processors. Apple is known to upgrade its computers well into the maturity cycle of a processor when it has gained wide acceptance. If Apple opts to introduce Kaby Lake, MacBook Pro 2016 release date could get pushed beyond October.
In other recent reports pertaining to MacBook Pro 2016, Apple is likely to introduce USB-C ports on the device, doing away with the port clutter.
