MacBook Pro in 2018

MacBook Pro in 2018

Find out what could be in store for the MacBook Pro in 2018. Here are all the rumours about the MacBook Pro 2018's release date, specs, price and more

The MacBook Pro lineup was updated on 7 June 2017 at WWDC 2017. At the time, Apple's Pro laptops gained faster Kaby Lake processors, but not everyone was happy with the update. Read on to find out people were disappointed, and how Apple could be addressing the complaints with new features in the 2018 update to the MacBook Pro range.

One thing we know for sure is that Apple is aware of the complaints: In November 2017 Apple's head of design Jony Ive admitted to being aware of the disappointment and criticism regarding the MacBook models.

Speaking at Smithsonian Magazine's Future of Design event in Washington DC in December, (listen to the recording here), Ive said: "Absolutely, all of your feelings and feedback around the MacBook you use, we couldn't want to listen to more... And we hear - boy, do we hear."

So, with that revelation in mind, it seems likely that Apple will be focused on fixing the criticisms of the MacBook Pro range in 2018.

Read on to find out what might be in store for the MacBook Pro in 2018 - including the possibility of 6-cores in the 15in models and changes to the problematic keyboards.

You can read more about the current MacBook Pros here - 2017 13in MacBook Pro review and 2017 15in MacBook Pro review. We also have a comparison of the two models and a comprehensive Mac buying guide. In this article, which will be regularly updated, we examine some of the rumours about the 2018 MacBook Pro.

2018 MacBook Pro: Release date

We think it's likely that Apple will update the MacBook Pro in June 2018, to coincide with WWDC. We may see new MacBook Pro models during the WWDC keynote. Read all about the next Apple event here.

However, we may not see a major update in 2018 - despite Apple head of design Jony Ive stating that he was aware of complaints about the models (as referrenced above).

The suggestion that Apple has no exciting plans for the MacBook in 2018 came from Digitimes sources in January 2018, who claimed that: "Since Apple has not had a major upgrade to its MacBook product line since the releases of its new MacBook Pro devices at the end of 2016 and has no plan for one in 2018, the US-based vendor is planning to shift orders for models that are already in mass production to Foxconn to save costs and reduce risks."

Following this report though, there have been further reports in Digitimes suggesting that a new 13in MacBook model is going to launch this year. So, we think that something is definitely in the works.

2018 MacBook Pro: Price

It's likely that the 2018 range of MacBook Pro laptops will have a similar price to what they retail at currently. There are four 13in models ranging from £1,249/$1,299 to £1,949/$1,999 and two 15in models from £2,349/$2,399 to £2,699/$2,799 (there is also an additional older 15in model still sold at £1,899 which is likley to be discontinued soon).

With regard to the rumour that Apple is going to launch a cheaper 13in MacBook (read about Apple's new 13in MacBook plans here), it’s not clear whether this 13in MacBook will be an update to the MacBook or MacBook Air range, but as a result of its introduction the price of the entry-level 13in MacBook Pro could increase.

The cheapest 13in model is currently the non-touch pad, 2.3GHz Processor, 128GB Storage model that costs £1,249. The new 13in MacBook is likely to cost less than £1,000.

2018 MacBook Pro: Design

Looks-wise we'd be very surprised if Apple made any significant departures from the new look unveiled in 2016. However, it's possible Apple may tinker with the colour options.

The MacBook Pro series currently comes in two colour finishes: silver and Space Grey, while the MacBook series is available in Gold and Rose Gold as well. Is the MacBook Pro ever likely to adopt the gold colour?

It's a possibility. But our prediction is that Apple will continue to offer gold as an option on its consumer-focused laptops, while keeping the more business-like silver and space-grey for the professional machines.