The MacBook Pro 2016 may stick with the Intel Skylake processor instead of the newer Intel Kaby Lake if the latest reports about the highly anticipated laptop are anything to go by.
In a conversation with Forbes, IHS Markit Technology tablet and notebook PCs director Rhoda Alexander revealed that the development for the MacBook Pro began way before the seventh-generation Intel processor was announced.
Alexander specifically said that Apple worked on the MacBook Pro 2016 during the "second calendar quarter." Around that time, the Intel Kaby Lake was still unannounced, although it is expected to be released soon.
"Given the timing of the start of production, inclusion of [Intel's] Kaby Lake chip appears unlikely," the analyst went on to say.
Forbes also pointed out that there is a wider range of Skylake chipsets available on the Intel processor model database than the all-new Kaby Lake.
That being said, the MacBook Pro 2016 might be powered by the Intel Skylake instead of Kaby Lake. Despite this, users can still consider it a big upgrade.
It has been four years since the MacBook Pro line got an update and everything about it has gone behind the times. With that, it is still a big jump even if Apple goes with Skylake.
Being the newer iteration, the Kaby Lake, of course, has advantages over the Skylake in the performance and graphics department. Despite this, it looks like the MacBook Pro 2016 will go with the former.
However, Apple is also expected to take advantage of AMD's newly released Polaris graphics cards as well, so the MacBook Pro 2016 will still pack some power.
Alexander also stated that IHS has a long-standing expectation that the MacBook Pro 2016 will be released this month or the next. With a few days left for September, an October launch is more likely.
This is additionally what Bloomberg claimed in its report. The publication also stated that the new MacBook Pro will come with an OLED bar that will replace the physical function keys.
The addition of Touch ID, a thinner build, and gray, gold, and silver color options are also expected in the MacBook Pro 2016.
