Apple is planning to release new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models with scissor keyboards in the second quarter of 2020. That prediction was contained in a new research note released today by well-connected industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In the note, originally shared by MacRumors, did not mention the size of the new MacBook Pro, but he may have been referring to the previously-mentioned 14-inch model which would allegedly replace the current 13-inch MacBook Pro model.
Kuo says the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models will include various cost optimizations, but he says users shouldn’t notice any differences.
Both the Air and the Pro will do away with the butterfly keyboards used on current models. Those keyboards (and their users) have suffered from various issues, including sticky or unresponsive keys after prolonged usage. The issue prompted Apple to initiate a free keyboard repair program in 2018. Apple reverted to the scissor keyboard mechanism on the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which so far hasn’t proven to have the issues of its predecessor.
Kuo noted customer response to the 16-inch MacBook Pro notebook has been better than expected.
As for the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic’s effect on the production of the new notebook, Kuo says operations at MacBook component suppliers should improve significantly starting in late March, easing the production of the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models.