MacBook Pro 2016 To Come With Touch ID, 4 USB-C Ports

Apple is expected to launch a new MacBook Pro this 2016 and previous rumors have it that the powerhouse will arrive with an OLED touch panel and a fingerprint scanner.

On Tuesday, a reliable 9To5Mac source has come out to confirm the veracity of the rumors and shed light on how they will be incorporated into the device’s hardware.

According to the source, the MacBook Pro 2016 will come with a Touch ID power button, which means the fingerprint scanner will be embedded in the power button, giving the device another security feature upon turning it on.

The source also confirmed the inclusion of OLED touch-sensitive function keys, which KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo spoke of back in May. At the time, Kuo projected that Apple will be replacing the top row of the function keys of the MacBook’s keyboard with an OLED panel.

The OLED panel would bring a new functionality to the laptop, since it is rumored to be contextual and as such, it is designed to display control buttons based on the apps that are running, according to MacRumors.

The body of the MacBook Pro 2016 is a redesign of the previous iteration, sporting new hinges made to complement the thinner and lighter device. The speakers have also been moved to the sides of the keyboard as part of the redesign.

Additionally, the new MacBook Pro is reportedly arriving with four USB Type-C ports with Thunderbolt 3 support, as per GSM Arena.

While all of the aforesaid features are still unofficial as Apple has yet to confirm their existence, there is already one thing about the MacBook Pro 2016 that the Cupertino giant has confirmed, and it is Auto Unlock.

Auto Unlock is a feature that will allow users to access their laptops using their Apple Watch. Basically, what this does is unlock a password-protected MacBook when an authenticated Apple smartwatch is nearby. The feature is part of the macOS Sierra, according to a separate MacRumors report.

Though the MacBook Pro 2016 does not have an official release date yet, sources are claiming that Apple could be launching the device alongside the iPhone 7 smartphones and the new Apple Watch devices this September.