MacBook

The first Geekbench 5 results of the Apple Mac Mini Developer Transition Kit (DTK) powered by the A12Z Bionic running macOS 11 Big Sur Developer Beta 1 have surfaced despite Apple's developer NDA being in force. The benchmark is running under a Rosetta 2 emulation and the performance deficit, though significant compared to the Core i5 MacBook Air 2020 and the iPad Pro, is understandable and in many ways, encouraging.

There are many products on the market that claim to convert M.2 NVMe SSDs into fast portable external storage. However, OWC claims that its own such housing is the first to come certified for Thunderbolt 3 speeds. Accordingly, it may achieve 1.533 gigabytes per second (GB/s) in "real-world performance".

The first indications of an RDNA3-based Navi 31 GPU have surfaced in the macOS 11 Big Sur Developer Beta 1 driver code. The driver also contains references to upcoming AMD APUs such as Van Gogh and Cezanne along with HPC accelerators such as the MI100 and M200. With the MI200, AMD could be looking at a multi-chip module (MCM) approach and that could trickle down to Navi 31 as well.

Apple could be working on an iPhone prototype running a full-fledged macOS, according to insider information cited by Mauri QHD. While there is no way to confirm this, such a possibility is not a distant dream given that Apple has begun transitioning its entire lineup to ARM. If this news is indeed true, it remains to be seen how effective would be its implementation considering that previous such attempts by competitors haven't been too successful.

Are you experiencing disconnects and freezes with USB 2.0 devices on your new MacBook Air or 13-inch MacBook Pro? Well, you are not alone. Apple is yet to recognise the issue officially, but there is a workaround for the time being.

Apple has finally called time on macOS X with the unveiling of macOS Big Sur. The new operating system features a redesigned UI, and is of course, the first public release of macOS that runs on Apple’s custom silicon.

The AMD Radeon Pro 5600M looks to be a good choice for MacBook Pro owners who like to game, according to benchmarks performed by Max Tech. The GPU yielded a performance similar to that of an RTX 2060 non-Max-Q laptop GPU in Fortnite and Call of Duty: Warzone, which makes it ideal for those who need power for both productivity and gaming even if it means spending an additional US$700.

Apple has announced that it will transition its entire Mac lineup to ARM-based custom silicon over the next two years. Support for Apple silicon is now available in macOS Big Sur and developers can get started right away on a Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that includes a Mac Mini powered by the A12Z Bionic. Despite the transition Apple will continue to support Intel processors for many years to come.

Apple's WWDC 2020 event may not showcase all the new hardware launches we've been expecting so far. Instead, Apple is expected to focus on new software updates and announce the existence of ARM-based Macs so as to get developers up to speed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects Apple to fully transition to ARM in 2021 starting from the ARM-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro and redesigned iMac.

Initial benchmarks have revealed just how powerful of an upgrade the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M is for the Apple MacBook Pro 16. According to multiple sources, the new GPU option offers substantial performance gains over the Radeon Pro 5500M and even sees the MacBook Pro 16 eclipsing the RX Vega 56-powered iMac Pro in some tasks.

Tipster @L0vetodream recently claimed that ARM-powered MacBooks could arrive as early as this year, potentially in time for the new A14-powered iPad Pros. Holiday buyers could potentially have trouble choosing between an ARM-powered Apple laptop and an ARM-powered Apple laptop replacement.

AMD has introduced the Radeon Pro 5600M GPU for the Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch. The Radeon Pro 5600M is a Navi 12 GPU with 40 CUs, 2,560 SPs, and features a multi-chip design with 8 GB HBM2 memory. MacBook Pro 16 configurations with the Radeon Pro 5600M will have a US$700 upcharge.

Apple has released further details on the schedule of its upcoming WWDC 2020 event. All of its presentations will be streamed this year, although the e-conference will also debut the "all-new" Developer's Forum and some one-on-one lab that is accessed by appointment only.

Apple promised that WWDC 2020 would be big, and the latest set of rumours suggest that this year's conference will not disappoint in that regard. An ARM-powered MacBook and an iPad Pro-inspired iMac may be joined by Air Tags and the AirPods Studio, too.

Instead of a full redesign, the 13-inch Apple MacBook Pro only gets the new keyboard as well as current Ice Lake processor. Did the manufacturer miss an opportunity or can the old design still shine in 2020?

Xiaomi has released a new USB Type-C 65 W PD fast charger that can be used with a diverse range of products from the Dell XPS 15 through the Nintendo Switch to the Redmi K20 Pro. Xiaomi claims the 99 yuan (US$14) product can fully charge an Apple MacBook Pro 13 in 1 h 50 m and a MacBook Pro 15 in 2 h 25 m.

Apple is considering a large US$330 million investment in a microLED manufacturing plant in Taiwan. The investment would be a joint venture with Epistar and AU Optronics. This investment could lead to the use of microLED displays in future iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBook Pros.

It now costs twice as much to upgrade the entry-level MacBook Pro 13 from 8 GB to 16 GB of RAM. RAM prices remain unchanged on other Apple products though, and the increase makes the Ice Lake MacBook Pro 13 just US$100 more expensive than a comparably-equipped Coffee Lake model.

It has been rumored that Apple is busy working on improving the highly controversial butterfly keyboard that the OEM utilized in laptops such as the MacBook Pro, MacBook, and MacBook Air over the last few years. Although more recent models have been fitted with scissor switch keyboards, it could be that the butterfly keyboard will reappear in the future.

Xiaomi executives Lu Weibing and Wang Teng Thomas have revealed that they have been using an Apple MacBook Pro to go over marketing material for the upcoming Redmi 10X smartphone. It seems the Xiaomi RedmiBook Pro laptop just doesn’t cut the mustard when it comes to this kind of work.

Apple's 2020 MacBook Air is the first Air with optional quad-core processors, which should increase the performance significantly, at least in theory. However, the entry-level SKU with the Core i3 CPU for $999 is often the better choice for everyday tasks.

The Core i5-1038NG7 and Core i7-1068NG7 have started appearing on multiple benchmarking websites following the launch of the MacBook Pro 13, and they seem to be incapable of outperforming processors like the Core i7-1065G7 despite their 28 W TDPs. The cooling system of the MacBook Pro 13 could be at play, with the 28 W Core i5-1038NG7 also falling well short of early examples of Tiger Lake-U processors.

Microsoft has been copping it for bypassing Intel’s Thunderbolt ultra-high-speed I/O once again on the new Surface Book 3. However, it appears that its recently revealed security concerns about the technology and how it interfaces with Windows may appear to vindicate its decision.

Apple seems to be adapting to the realities of a post-COVID-19 world where fewer people might venture into Apple Stores, even as some start to re-open globally. The company has just launched a new online hub that pulls together all of its bricks and mortar retail services into a one-stop-online-shop.

Mini-LED production issues may have put paid to Apple releasing a MacBook Pro 14 before 2021. The Q4 2020-bound MacBook Pro 16 refresh is apparently affected too.

Geekbench has confirmed the new MacBook Pro is running "N" Ice Lake-U processors, just like the MacBook Air. At least one identifier for the new generation has been detailed, too.

The new 10th-generation quad-core CPUs found in the new MacBook Pro 13-inch appear to be exclusive to Apple, at least at this point in time. A search of the Intel Ark does not reveal any Ice Lake parts that match up with the silicon Apple is offering in its latest laptop which are much more powerful.

The new MacBook Pro is here, but it may not quite be what you had expected. Starting at US$1,299, Apple has included its new Magic Keyboard, up to 32 GB of RAM and 4 TB of SSD storage and a choice of four processors. There is no 14.1-inch display though or any Ryzen 4000 Renoir processor options. Surprisingly, there are two quad-core 8th-generation Coffee Lake processors and two new 28 W Ice Lake processors from which to choose. An Ice Lake MacBook Pro 13 will set you back at least US$1,799, though.

Expected to drop before WWDC 2020, the next smaller MacBook Pro has been said to be making the switch to 14-inch displays. Apple's new Magic Keyboard also seems a likely upgrade, and now 3DMark has confirmed that Apple will offer up to 32 GB of RAM and a 4 TB SSD. The MacBook Pro 2020 will have a powerful CPU option too, but not one of those Ryzen 4000 Renoir processors.

Apple has published a consolidated report of its financial performance in the second quarter of 2020 (2Q2020). It shows an overall increase in revenue of about 1% compared to the same quarter of 2019; however, when these figures are divided into the categories of products and services, one has made a loss.

It has been speculated that Apple could decide to refresh its iMac lineup with Comet Lake-S desktop processors later this year. There have been many rumors about a potential upcoming iMac series redesign, including a new 23-inch variant. It’s possible the 27-inch iMac could be configured with the 5.3 GHz-capable Intel Core i9-10900K.

HYPER's 2nd-generation USB type C hub for laptops such as MacBooks has been launched via crowd-funding platforms. The resulting Indiegogo campaign has now attracted over US$1 million in backing, whereas the company had originally looked for about a tenth of that. This version of the HyperDrive has 3 SKUs with up to 18 ports each.

It has been fifteen years since Apple switched from PowerPC to Intel processors. Now, the next paradigm shift is almost upon us, with Apple set to change to ARM processors from as early as 2021. Set to be based on an improved A14 chip, the first ARM-powered MacBook will supposedly exceed all performance expectations.

From the MacBook Pro 14 to the iPhone 12 and everything in between, Apple is planning a bumper hardware refresh by the end of the year. Expect new iMacs, AirTags, Watch Series 6 and MacBook Pro 16 releases.

The MacBook Air 2020 runs hot, hotter than its predecessor. Its can run loud too, both because of Apple's questionable cooling system. As has been asked by some sections of the media, does that mean the MacBook Air 2020 has an overheating problem?

Aukey has announced that its new 100 watt (W) charger with a USB type C port is now available to pre-order. This Omnia 100W is based on gallium nitride (GaN) technology, which leaves it with a depth of 32 millimeters. This, according to the OEM at least, makes it more portable than a comparable MacBook Pro power-brick.

MacOS 10.15.5 Catalina will bring a new battery health tool that can reduce the maximum charge of a MacBook's lithium-ion battery. The tool aims to lengthen the overall longevity of a laptop's battery, but it may reduce battery life between recharges.

The new Apple MacBook Air 2020 was supposed to deal with two major issues of the popular subnotebook by implementing a new keyboard and the choice of more powerful quad-core processors. But the performance and the cooling system is still a major problem, but it looks like Apple does not want to change that.

Apple is now selling the 2018 Mac Mini desktop in its refurbished store. Prices start at US $599 for a Mini with a quad-core Core i3 CPU, 8 GB of DDR4 RAM, and a 128 GB PCIe SSD. While this might be more expensive than an equivalent Windows desktop, the value compared to other macOS computers may be enticing for some.

Apple has added support for 15 W Ice Lake processors in macOS Catalina, fuelling speculation about an upcoming MacBook Pro refresh. Supposedly arriving next month, Apple is said to be upgrading the baby MacBook Pro to a 14-inch display and its Magic Keyboard.

Rumoured to be featuring an all-new 14-inch display, the MacBook Pro J223 is said to be making the switch to faster processors and Apple's Magic Keyboard too. Previously thought to be arriving at WWDC 2020 in June, word is that Apple will launch the MacBook Pro J223 next month, instead. A new MacBook Pro is still slated for WWDC 2020 though, with a refreshed MacBook Pro 16 a likely candidate, apparently.

The alternative WWDC should be where Apple showcases some new hardware delicacies, according to one very active leaker. Apart from new over-ear headphones, Apple is set to unveil the long-rumoured Bluetooth tracker "Air Tags" and a new MacBook Pro, likely the overdue 14-inch variant.