MacBook Pro 2017 Release Date, Specs Rumors: Will Apple Shift to AMD's Ryzen Chips?
It was only in October of last year that Apple unveiled the much-anticipated MacBook Pro, and was met with negative reviews because of several design flaws. However, Apple users and fans will not have to wait long for next update to the MacBook Pro line. The Cupertino-based company is set to come back stronger this year with the expected launch of the MacBook Pro 2017.
As reported by Bloomberg, new MacBook Pros are rumored to be slated for release this year, and their launch could mark Apple's shift away from Intel processors. An ARM-based chip with the codename "T310" reportedly went into development last year and would be handling the laptop's low-power mode functionality while working alongside an Intel processor.
There are also suggestions that Apple might also be considering to use AMD's new Ryzen 7 central processing units (CPUs) to replace Intel's chips instead of producing its own processor. The MacBook Pro 2017 could be powered by the upcoming Raven Ridge accelerated processing unit (APU), which is the combination of a Ryzen CPU and a Vega-based graphics processing unit (GPU).
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Moreover, AMD's CPU line delivers stunning performance per watt compared to Intel's chipsets, which is congruent to Apple's design philosophy of prioritizing efficient energy consumption over maximum performance.
As to when the MacBook Pro 2017 will be released, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts an update to the MacBook lineup later this year, according to PC Advisor. New 12-inch MacBooks will reportedly enter mass production in the second quarter, around March, and will potentially be built with 16 GB of random-access memory (RAM).
The 13-inch and the 15-inch models of the MacBook Pro 2017, on the other hand, are predicted to begin mass production in the third quarter, sometime in July. Then, in the fourth quarter (September), a high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro with 32 GB of RAM will also be produced and it will be "the most significantly redesigned product this year."
Though there is still no definite information about Apple's plans with its laptop lineup, the MacBook Pro 2017 is expected to be released sometime later this year.
