Apple Partner Quanta Starts 16-Inch MacBook Pro Production, Report Claims

Apple supplier Quanta has started production of the rumored 16-inch MacBook Pro and is already shipping it.

According to sources speaking with DigiTimes (paywall), Quanta Computer has already started producing 16-inch MacBook Pro units and is already shipping them at volume. The sources didn't give actual release dates, but the report seems to confirm earlier claims saying the device will be released soon.

The report's accuracy remains unclear at the moment as DigiTimes has a record of hits and misses when it comes to rumors, Apple Insider noted. Nevertheless, several details included in the report confirm earlier predictions, making it worth looking into.

Processor

First, the processor. DigiTimes said the 16-inch MacBook Pro units possibly feature Intel's Coffee Lake or Ice Lake processors. Earlier reports suggested that the device is likely to use a ninth-gen Coffee Lake processor instead of a 10th-gen Ice Lake processor as the latter is considered to be Intel's fastest 45W mobile processor to date.

Display

The report said the device features an “ultra-thin” bezel design. An earlier DigiTimes report said this design will allow the device to have a 16 inch screen placed in a casing the same size as that of the older 15-inch MacBook Pro.

Another report said the device will have an LCD panel with 3,072 x 1,920 resolution. This display will have the same pixel density as that of the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro at 227 pixels per inch.

Keyboard

The sources said the upcoming 16-inch MacBook Pro and will use Apple's new scissor mechanism keyboard. This confirms analyst Ming-Chi Kuo's assertions, saying the new keyboard, which will replace the faulty butterfly keyboard, will debut on the 16-inch MacBook Pro this year, and will be featured in all MacBook models starting next year.

“We have revised our prediction that the keyboard of the 16-inch MacBook Pro that will launch in 4Q19 will feature the scissor mechanism instead of the butterfly mechanism,” Kuo said. “The refresh versions of other MacBook models in 2020 will change to adopt the scissor mechanism keyboard, too,” he added.

Apple hasn't said anything about the device yet, which means it's best to take the news with a grain of salt. Stay tuned for more updates as they come.