MacBook Pro 2021 tipped for $1,799 price with these specs
There could be four potential versions of the M1X chip for Apple's new Macs
Apple reportedly has a bunch of new Macs on the way this fall in the form of the MacBook Pro 14-inch 2021, MacBook Pro 16-inch 2021 and possibly a new Mac mini. And one tipster predicts that Apple will offer four potential variants of its powerful M1X chip to power these computers.
According to content creator Luke Miani, who has a limited track record when it comes to Apple rumors, the new 14-inch MacBook Pro could start at $1,799. And Apple could offer these four M1X chip options for the new Macs.
- 16GB RAM/16-core GPU
- 16GB RAM/32-core GPU
- 32GB RAM/16-core GPU
- 32GB RAM/32-core GPU
As first reported by Notebookcheck, Miani believes that Apple won't be offering a 64GB RAM option with its M1X Macs, which could be due to Apple partner TSMC raising its prices.
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According to Miani's theory, M1X MacBook Pro and Mac mini shoppers would be to choose between 16GB and 32GB of RAM. And there could be 16-core or 32-core GPU M1X options for the new Macs. This is just my take, but Apple may reserve the 32-core GPU option for the 16-inch MacBook Pro 2021, which could help justify the expected price premium over the new 14-inch MacBook Pro.
MacBook Pro 2021 14-inch price
Miani believes that the 14-inch MacBook Pro could be priced at $1,799 and offer a 10-core CPU, 16-core GPU, 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. This would ostensibly replace the 10th-gen Intel model of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, which is also priced at $1,799. Apple could decide to up the price to $1,999, but Miani says that would leave too much of a price gap between it and the existing MacBook Pro M1.
Of course, the MacBook Pro would offer a lot more than just a new M1X chip if the other rumors are accurate. You could expect a much better mini-LED display, a redesign that includes smaller bezels and a larger screen, more ports (such as HDMI and an SD card slot) and MagSafe charging.
The current 16-inch MacBook Pro starts at $2,399, so it's likely that Apple will keep the pricing about the same while offering a beefier M1X configuration. Today's version offers 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, so a jump to 32GB standard would be welcome.
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Of course, this is all speculation until Apple launches the new MacBook Pros and Mac mini, which are tipped for this fall. Stay tuned for more rumors as we get closer to launch.
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Mark Spoonauer is the global editor in chief of Tom's Guide and has covered technology for over 20 years. In addition to overseeing the direction of Tom's Guide, Mark specializes in covering all things mobile, having reviewed dozens of smartphones and other gadgets. He has spoken at key industry events and appears regularly on TV to discuss the latest trends, including Cheddar, Fox Business and other outlets. Mark was previously editor in chief of Laptop Mag, and his work has appeared in Wired, Popular Science and Inc. Follow him on Twitter at @mspoonauer.