macOS 10.15.1 suggests 16-inch MacBook Pro has discrete Touch ID

AppleInsider

An image pulled from Tuesday's macOS 10.15.1 release shows a new MacBook Pro with a discrete Touch ID sensor, suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.

Alleged 16-inch MacBook Pro image in macOS 10.15.1 Catalina beta 2, now removed

The image is not a photo of the new, rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro, but a rendering included in the macOS 10.15.1 release. This is not the first set of images of the as-yet unreleased machine, but the iconography discovered earlier in October has been stricken from the release.

Clearly shown is a discrete Touch ID next to the Touch Bar strip. It isn't clear what this implies in regards to the escape key -- which would be at the other end of the keyboard not shown in the image. But, the design of the Touch ID sensor suggests at least that the reinstitution of a physical escape key is possible.

MacBook Pro Touch Bar with discrete Touch ID sensor

Rumors suggest that the 16-inch MacBook Pro will be powered by an refresh of Intel's Coffee Lake-H mobile processor series. Apple currently relies on Coffee Lake-H silicon to power its 15-inch MacBook Pro lineup. A 96W USB-C power adapter is said to be included, and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.

Production of the 16-inch MacBook Pro has reportedly already begun. The laptop was likely designed by Apple's pro product team, the same group that worked on the upcoming Mac Pro. If true, the Pro could benefit from custom hardware specifically designed to handle professional applications.

Pricing is expected to exceed $3000 for the unit.

gregoriusm

“...suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.”

“...and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.”

Butterfly or scissor? Which is it?

Mike Wuerthele

gregoriusm said:

“...suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.”

“...and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.”

Butterfly or scissor? Which is it?

The two are both accurate. The image suggests that it is keeping the butterfly keyboard. The rumors say otherwise.

seanismorris

The Touch ID means we can tape over the creepy cameras...

wood1208

Important rumor suppose to be end of October release of 16" MBP. That would have answered which keyboard selected, ESC key discrete, touch id discrete, WiFi 6, USB 4, etc,etc.

DuhSesame

Mike Wuerthele said:

gregoriusm said:

“...suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.”

“...and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.”

Butterfly or scissor? Which is it?

The two are both accurate. The image suggests that it is keeping the butterfly keyboard. The rumors say otherwise.

So how did the 4th-gen butterfly compared to older scissors?

StrangeDays

seanismorris said:

The Touch ID means we can tape over the creepy cameras...

Why? Gruber’s source explained the green LED is part of the camera circuit, you’d know if it was on. There’s nothing creepy about it. Do you tape your cell phone’s camera? Its mic? Why not?

foljs

seanismorris said:

The Touch ID means we can tape over the creepy cameras...

Yeah, also the new chassis is very tinfoil friendly!

Soli

StrangeDays said:

seanismorris said:

The Touch ID means we can tape over the creepy cameras...

Why? Gruber’s source explained the green LED is part of the camera circuit, you’d know if it was on. There’s nothing creepy about it. Do you tape your cell phone’s camera? Its mic? Why not?

In theory, but I wonder if a clever programmer couldn't write code that uses a power option that causes the LED to light so minimally that it's not really noticeable or a fluctuation that causes it not to light up at all while still allowing the camera to work, or some other solution that bypasses the complex circuitry. Maybe it's foolproof but I've heard that before. All I know for sure is that the board for the camera and LED is more complex than simply wires form: power <=> LED light <=> camera.

Soli

Mike Wuerthele said:

gregoriusm said:

“...suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.”

“...and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.”

Butterfly or scissor? Which is it?

The two are both accurate. The image suggests that it is keeping the butterfly keyboard. The rumors say otherwise.

Even if you weren't looking at a render, how can you tell which mechanism is under a key by looking at its top?

DuhSesame

Soli said:

Mike Wuerthele said:

gregoriusm said:

“...suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.”

“...and a new scissor-switch mechanism for the keyboard is predicted as well.”

Butterfly or scissor? Which is it?

The two are both accurate. The image suggests that it is keeping the butterfly keyboard. The rumors say otherwise.

Even if you weren't looking at a render, how can you tell which mechanism is under a key by looking at its top?

I assume the key travel won't be different, it looks exactly the same.

anome

AppleInsider said:

An image pulled from Tuesday's macOS 10.15.1 release shows a new MacBook Pro with a discrete Touch ID sensor, suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh.

This sentence doesn't really follow, nor is it borne out by the following article.

Specifically: The presence of a discrete Touch ID sensor does not suggest anything about the keyboard mechanism, and the text of the article makes no further mention of the butterfly keyboard. From comments above, the keyboard mechanism is suggested by the appearance of the keys, rather than the placement of the Touch ID sensor.

More accurate would be "An image pulled from Tuesday's macOS 10.15.1 release shows a new MacBook Pro with a discrete Touch ID sensor. The same image also suggests that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh."

fastasleep

AppleInsider said:

An image pulled from Tuesday's macOS 10.15.1 release shows a new MacBook Pro with a discrete Touch ID sensor, suggesting that Apple is keeping the butterfly keyboard for its rumored 16-inch refresh. 

How so? Why would a discrete Touch ID sensor indicate what’s under the key caps? The Touch ID button is already discrete, it just doesn’t have an aluminum gap between it and the Touch Bar. 

kamilton

If the Mac Pro and iPhone Pro are indications... and they are... of a new design philosophy, then the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar. Perhaps a bit more I O, thicker with improved keyboards and battery life. The butterfly keys were a design mistake in the service of Jony’s obsession with thin. I expect a really great new product.

Eric_WVGG

kamilton said:

the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar

This is the first I've heard of a 14"… but yes, Apple is saying and doing all the right things. iMac Pro, too, lot of happy users over there.

(Fanciful thinking here, but I am probably the only person who isn't crazy about “Space Grey”. I'd love to see them pick up that wild jet black finish from the iPhone 7, ye were too short for this world.)

anome

Eric_WVGG said:

kamilton said:

the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar

This is the first I've heard of a 14"… but yes, Apple is saying and doing all the right things. iMac Pro, too, lot of happy users over there.

(Fanciful thinking here, but I am probably the only person who isn't crazy about “Space Grey”. I'd love to see them pick up that wild jet black finish from the iPhone 7, ye were too short for this world.)

I'd definitely take black over Space Grey, but on the other hand that iPhone 7 Jet Black did end up showing abrasions a lot.

What I really wish is that Space Grey looked a bit more consistent over the various products. They're all about the same, but there's a subtle difference between my iPad, iPhone XS, and MBP. And the matching keyboard/trackpad/mouse are much darker.

tenthousandthings

Eric_WVGG said:

kamilton said:

the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar

This is the first I've heard of a 14"… but yes, Apple is saying and doing all the right things. iMac Pro, too, lot of happy users over there.

I’ll guess a 14” Pro is unlikely — they need the larger chassis to achieve the performance they want.

I’m thinking it will be like the iMac and iMac Pro— there will be two sizes of MacBook but only one MacBook Pro size. 

The new MacBooks will compare favorably with the current MBP lineup. The new MBP will go perfectly with the new Pro Display. Remember that Apple no longer sells a MacBook. So they’re all set for this. 

frank777

wood1208 said:

Important rumor suppose to be end of October release of 16" MBP. That would have answered which keyboard selected, ESC key discrete, touch id discrete, WiFi 6, USB 4, etc,etc.

USB4 won't be out until 2020. My understanding, from internet blogs, is that the required tech is still in the production phase.

fastasleep

anome said:

Eric_WVGG said:

kamilton said:

the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar

This is the first I've heard of a 14"… but yes, Apple is saying and doing all the right things. iMac Pro, too, lot of happy users over there.

(Fanciful thinking here, but I am probably the only person who isn't crazy about “Space Grey”. I'd love to see them pick up that wild jet black finish from the iPhone 7, ye were too short for this world.)

I'd definitely take black over Space Grey, but on the other hand that iPhone 7 Jet Black did end up showing abrasions a lot.

What I really wish is that Space Grey looked a bit more consistent over the various products. They're all about the same, but there's a subtle difference between my iPad, iPhone XS, and MBP. And the matching keyboard/trackpad/mouse are much darker.

I can see the Space Gray finish wearing off a bit my MacBook Pro (2018) in the two spots where my palms rest. I'd be into a more robust black finish for sure.

9secondkox2

Apple should keep the butterfly keyboard. After using mine for nearly 3 years, typing on anything else feels clunky and outdated. It’s the perfect amount of travel 

16” is the perfect size to be mobile while full fledged. I love my MacBook Pro 15.  But dang I miss the screen size of my old 17 PowerBook. 

Eric_WVGG

anome said:

Eric_WVGG said:

kamilton said:

the 14” and 16” MacBook Pros should be stellar

(Fanciful thinking here, but I am probably the only person who isn't crazy about “Space Grey”. I'd love to see them pick up that wild jet black finish from the iPhone 7, ye were too short for this world.)

I'd definitely take black over Space Grey, but on the other hand that iPhone 7 Jet Black did end up showing abrasions a lot.

I think those abrasions are a feature. Like worn leather or tarnished silver, gives it a “Millennium Falcon” feel.