Hours ahead of Apple's expected touch-enabled MacBook Pro launch, a leaker backs up rumors about price rises and changes to the hinge.
Apple is holding a "Pro and Tell" press event on Wednesday, with it capping off a week of updates. That event is expected to include not only the iPad mini, iMac, and M6 MacBook Pro for members of the media to try out, but also an OLED MacBook Pro.
The evening before the event, Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital decided to post about the upcoming launch and what to expect. Bumping up an earlier post saying it would be an OLED display with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, they added a bit more detail about the major changes.
The touchscreen will use a dual-layer OLED display, they claim. This is a display tech that Apple has used before in the iPad Pro for a brighter and more power-efficient panel.
Including such a panel in the MacBook Pro seems like a natural progression for the tech. It's also something that will significantly increase the price of the inbound model, in the leaker's estimation.
Hinge changes
Fixed Focus Digital also insists that Apple is improving the hinge design of the new MacBook Pro. This is apparently in line with the development of hinges for the iPhone Duo's second- and third-generation models.
A change of hinge does make sense, as the display will have to cope with being tapped by the user in daily use.
However, linking it to the hinges of future iPhone Duo versions is a strange claim. The iPhone Duo's hinge is made specifically with the flexible display in mind, which the MacBook Pro wouldn't have barring a major overhaul of the product line.
A call for attention
While the Fixed Focus Digital post is framed to make the leaker seem as authoritative as possible, it doesn't quite manage to achieve that effect.
The post includes elements that are just an educated guess away for anyone who has followed the OLED MacBook Pro rumors. There's very little new in the post, and it feels like a "me too" post made after the information was already out there
By contrast, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman posted on Tuesday night with a more detailed assessment of the next MacBook Pro launch. He specified prices, such as the $400 price increase over the non-OLED version for the 14-inch M5 Pro model.
Gurman also discussed the OLED XDR displays, including the use of a Dynamic Island, slimmer bodies, and a lighter overall weight. There was even a brief mention of a redesigned hinge so that the screen stays put while users touch it.
In comparison, the Fixed Focus Digital post serves as a reminder to the account's followers that they are active in the rumor scene.
