MacBook Pro will regain SD card reader and HDMI port in 2021, Kuo says

AppleInsider · February 23, 2021 5:01AM

At least two MacBook Pro models rumored to debut in the second half of 2021 will come equipped with an SD card reader and HDMI port, according to TF Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

Adding detail to previous predictions, Kuo in a note to investors on Tuesday said the additions will arrive with a major design change that includes more options for external device connectivity. Apple over the past six years has pared down MacBook's I/O choices to USB-C and Thunderbolt 3. The shift to a more inclusive mobile platform will be a welcome one for those averse to dongles.

The MacBook Pro last included an SD card slot and HDMI port in 2015, with subsequent models eschewing those parts completely.

Genesys Logic appears to be the exclusive controller supplier for the upcoming SD card reader and could play a larger role in Apple's product line moving forward, Kuo says. The firm could be on tap to fill orders for an expected hardware upgrade to the USB 4.0 protocol.

In a report last month, Kuo said he expects Apple to launch 14- and 16-inch mini LED MacBook Pro variants that boast a "flat-edged" look more in line with the company's modern design language. The first of those angular devices was the 2018 iPad Pro, with last year's iPhone 12 series closely following suit.

Also resurrected from past MacBooks will be MagSafe charging technology, a version of which was introduced with the iPhone 12 series last year. The much-maligned OLED Touch Bar will get the boot in favor of physical function buttons, according to Kuo.

The analyst is predicting a launch in the third quarter.

As a result of the new design and specification changes, Kuo expects overall MacBook shipments to grow between 25% and 30% year-over-year to hit 20 million units in 2021.

JFC_PA · February 23, 2021 5:33AM

Meh. My dSLRs have moved on to XQD and CFexpress Type B.

Rayz2016 · February 23, 2021 5:43AM

JFC_PA said:

Meh. My dSLRs have moved on to XQD and CFexpress Type B.

I was wondering how many professional photographers still use SD cards.

And MagSafe over USB-C?

CurtisHight · February 23, 2021 6:01AM

Rayz2016 said:

JFC_PA said:

Meh. My dSLRs have moved on to XQD and CFexpress Type B.

I was wondering how many professional photographers still use SD cards.

I suspect that like the Sony a7S III and the Sony A1, there will be support for both SD and CFexpress Type A cards in the same slot.

photography guy · February 23, 2021 6:28AM

JFC_PA said:

Meh. My dSLRs have moved on to XQD and CFexpress Type B.

Newer cameras also have USB-C connections as well, so it shouldn't be a problem. It makes sense for Apple to build for the most common media format for photographers (SD), than for more limited use options.

CheeseFreeze · February 23, 2021 7:10AM

I’m surprised about HDMI... Many monitors support USB-C now and with Airplay for presentations the lack of HDMI was only a slight inconvenience, and a worthy omission from a design aesthetics point of view (and the push to USB-C).

As for SD, it’s nice to have but I wonder what the overall usage is versus other type of storage ports in cameras.

entropys · February 23, 2021 7:55AM

Maybe it isn’t so much, or just about photographers anymore and more about the new SD express standard. The card is basically an SSD and the slot two channel PCIe 4.0 with a bus speed max of 3938 Mbps. Apple might want to be the first to supply a slot meeting that standard.

The only doubt I have about that scenario would be Apple losing the ability to extort buyers of storage upgrades. But you never know.

randominternetperson · February 23, 2021 8:01AM

These additions only makes sense for the largest model where the wasted space won’t matter.

I really hope the loss of the Touch Bar is wrong. I’m due to replace my MBP and I don’t want to lose the functionality going back to physical f-keys.

seanj · February 23, 2021 8:38AM

Absolutely pointless from my perspective.
Like the majority of people now, my camera is my phone (or more specifically an iPhone). So I haven’t touched an SD card in over a decade.

I’d much rather have another Thunderbolt/USB port than HDMI. More versatile and not hobbled with the copyright protection signal.

A USB-C compatible version of MagSafe would be cool though, something which I appreciate on my 2015, 2012, and 2006 Macs.

gbdoc · February 23, 2021 9:06AM

For me, the most important aspect of these changes is that Apple is willing to admit to their mistakes and correct them. Butterfly keyboard, Touch Bar, and now I/O slots. Of course, they’ll never openly apologize, and instead tout the changes as something new and wonderful, but no matter, the corrections are welcome.

normm · February 23, 2021 10:03AM

Apple should be moving forward, not backward. I think they're listening too much to a vocal minority.

SNJOps · February 23, 2021 10:15AM

normm said:

Apple should be moving forward, not backward. I think they're listening too much to a vocal minority.

Photographers (who also shoot video)
Yotubers
Indie film makers
Video content creators

That’s a very large number of people who need HDMI ports and SD card slots, Apple is right to pivot back and give those and others who need “legacy” ports. I’m a photographer and even just getting the SD card slot back is very welcome news.

doggone · February 23, 2021 10:40AM

I don’t quite get why Apple would bring back these legacy ports.

USB-C offers the ultimate flexibility. Get a dongle hub and you can have all those connections and more. And you are not just limited to one side.

I have one in my office setup and used to use it when we were allowed to travel. Also plugging in a far easier since you do not have to orient the connect a specific way.

Also if you do need to use cards, then a dongle approach will cover all types and covers all throughput.

Compared to my old MBP which had a range of ports, I am much happier with the USB-C solution. It offers everything I would need, especially with 4 ports and the choice of which side I want to plug in.

maclin3 · February 23, 2021 10:44AM

So excited about this about-face by Apple. At this rate the DVD drive should be back in 2022. I know Apple wouldn’t want me to have to repurchase my entire DVD movie library as digital.

viclauyyc · February 23, 2021 11:07AM

I really don’t think apple will look back.

Digital camera, DSLR and mirrorless sales is all time low and will never go back up again. The market for a SD or other card types reader is for very small market. SD is far less important than a USB-A port. Which most people still
use most of the time.

asdasd · February 23, 2021 11:29AM

doggone said:

I don’t quite get why Apple would bring back these legacy ports.
USB-C offers the ultimate flexibility. Get a dongle hub and you can have all those connections and more. And you are not just limited to one side.
I have one in my office setup and used to use it when we were allowed to travel. Also plugging in a far easier since you do not have to orient the connect a specific way.
Also if you do need to use cards, then a dongle approach will cover all types and covers all throughput.
Compared to my old MBP which had a range of ports, I am much happier with the USB-C solution. It offers everything I would need, especially with 4 ports and the choice of which side I want to plug in.

The dongle is one more thing to forget on a business trip and then you look like a chump at a presentation, or whatever. I don't really get the SD slot though. Thats very old hat.

spheric · February 23, 2021 12:53PM

photography guy said:

JFC_PA said:

Meh. My dSLRs have moved on to XQD and CFexpress Type B.

Newer cameras also have USB-C connections as well, so it shouldn't be a problem. It makes sense for Apple to build for the most common media format for photographers (SD), than for more limited use options.

Cool. A lot more people use their machines to make music than for photography.

Can we expect 1/4" jack outputs and XLR inputs with phantom power any time soon?

DuhSesame · February 23, 2021 1:18PM

Sure.

could be a micro HDMI in return.

🤣

DuhSesame · February 23, 2021 1:32PM

If Timmy can put HDMI back then he might just well bring back some Type-As too. Since that’s unlikely, Kuo is being high again.

zeus423 · February 23, 2021 1:34PM

Crossing my fingers for a 5-1/4" floppy disk drive next

DuhSesame · February 23, 2021 1:47PM

zeus423 said:

Crossing my fingers for a 5-1/4" floppy disk drive next

Or serial and parallel ports too, some pros still needs them 🤣

MacBook Pro will regain SD card reader and HDMI port in 2021, Kuo says

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