Apple's New Generation MacBook Pro 2016: Rumor Roundup, Likely Features, Release Date & More [VIDEO]

There is no doubt that the MacBook Pro, Apple's high-performance laptop, is getting a pretty significant update this year. The laptop has not been given an overhaul for some time, with its design still being identical to its 2012 counterpart.

This year, however, Apple seems to be intent on redesigning and redefining the MacBook Pro experience. Such a move by the tech giant makes sense, considering that Apple's market share in the computing space plunged 4.9 percent in Q2 2016.

Simply put, if Apple wants to take another big chunk of the laptop pie, it needs one attractive, sleek, powerful device. That device might very well be the 2016 MacBook Pro.

The Rumors

Many rumors about the 2016 MacBook Pro have emerged over the last few months, and while some are outlandish (such as speculations that the device would feature a removable screen), most are grounded pretty well. In fact, if recent rumors about the machine prove to the true, the 2016 MacBook Pro would be Apple's best laptop to date.

The 2016 MacBook Pro's Features

Many speculations are emerging about the new laptop's unique features, with the most prominent being the addition of a dedicated touch OLED panel that would take the place of the laptop's function keys. While this has not been shown in leaks thus far, such an innovation would most likely be appreciated by fans.

Speculations are also high that the 2016 MacBook Pro would feature Intel's 6th-generation Skylake chips. While Apple's competitors such as Dell and HP have already embraced Intel's 7th-generation Kaby Lake processors, the Cupertino-based tech giant has so far stayed with Intel's 5th-generation Broadwell chips.

Needless to say, at this point in time, Apple's machines are terribly outdated. Thus, the upgrade to a Skylake processor for the 2016 MacBook Pro would be a welcome upgrade for fans.

The 2016 MacBook Pro's Design

Considering that the design of the current MacBook Pro is still similar to the machine's iteration back in 2012, it would make perfect sense if Apple updates the frame of its performance laptop. With this said, it is highly speculated that the 2016 MacBook Pro would be far slimmer and sleeker than its predecessors.

Going for a thin frame might have its drawbacks, however, and this has been addressed in a number of rumors stating that the 2016 MacBook Pro would probably have far lesser ports than its current version. While the inclusion of a USB Type-C port is pretty much a no-brainer, an HDMI, Thunderbolt 2, and USB 3.0 port might not make it to the device's final design.

The 2016 MacBook Pro's Release Date

The release date of Apple's performance-grade laptop has been speculated to happen sometime around Q4 2016. These rumors originated from reports that Apple would be utilizing a new, special hinge for the 2016 MacBook Pro. According to the hinges' manufacturer, Ampenol, the 2016 MacBook Pro's parts are set to fully arrive by the third quarter of 2016; thus, making a Q4 2016 reveal for the device very likely.