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- The 16-inch MacBook Pro could be cooler than ever, even with a more powerful GPU
Apple's refreshed 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models theoretically arriving later this year will have an improved cooling system, and the larger laptop will have a more powerful GPU, with perhaps the ability to load a lot more RAM. Let's start with the basic components mentioned here, and according to LeaksApplePro, a regular Apple peddler, the 16-inch MacBook Pro will exclusively have a more powerful GPU, i.e. a 32-core solution (in system-on-a-chip, which theoretically it will be the M1X). The leaker also adds that "64 GB of RAM may also be exclusive to this model", which seems uncertain. Enjoy plenty of seasoning with all of these claims, as always.
Cool with full transparency
The latest rumor here is that the redesigned MacBook Pros will have improved cooling and use a one-piece solution, rather than the previous design of a heat block soldered to a pipe. This should allow for better cooling, which could be especially important with the 16-inch MacBook Pro and its potentially more powerful configurations. LeaksApplePro doesn't say if the new cooler will also be exclusive to the larger 16-inch redesign, like the aforementioned changes with the GPU and RAM load. Also note that the person responsible for the leak actually mentioned the refurbished cooler in the past, so perhaps this can be taken as a stronger reaffirmation of this rumor. LeaksApplePro also mentions the removal of the Touch Bar, which is another nugget we've heard from Vine lately. Finally, the release date for these new MacBook Pros is "around" October, according to the leak manager, in line with other rumors. Also worth noting here is the absence of any mention of the Mini-LED display that was constantly brought up for the MacBook Pro redesign.
Analysis: what is the probability of these rumors?
Much of what is being said in this latest speculation is what we have heard from the rumor mill before, or even as we have mentioned from LeaksApplePro themselves in the case of the cooling solution. However, it certainly makes sense that if there were upgraded components and a more powerful chip in the 16-inch MacBook Pro, it would be a clear benefit to be able to control temperatures better. The 32-core GPU is a claim we've seen before, with earlier speculation by Mark Gurman pointing to a 10-core chip (M1X in theory) with both 16-core and 32-core GPU configurations. Again, with the latter being exclusive to the more powerful 16-inch model, it makes sense. Whether or not there is a 64GB option on the 16-inch MacBook Pro seems to have become a bone of contention. While Gurman had previously claimed and LeaksApplePro believes it could be now, another Apple leaker on YouTube claimed that the maximum RAM configuration will be 32GB. It's hard to even guess which way things might go on this front, and LeaksApplePro looks uncertain as well, but if 64GB isn't available with the larger MacBook Pro, it could be a source of disappointment for power users. Then again, even 32GB, the supposed fallback spec, would be a big step up from the 16GB maximum available with current M1-powered machines, and certainly enough for most users. Via Notebookcheck.net