MacBook Pro 2016 Rumors, News and Release Date: Will New MacBook Pro Have a Keyless Keyboard?

By Kanika Gupta - 15 Apr '16 11:14AM
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According to recent rumors, Apple is developing a 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro 2016 variant as well as a 12-inch MacBook Air that is expected to launch in 2016.

Just recently, the Cupertino based company revealed that the new MacBook models may come with keyboards that are touch sensitive and lack keyboard keys. Apple has already filed an application for "force-sensitive input structure for an electronic device" in September 2015, and the news of patent was made public last week.

According to Apple, this type of input technology is called "zero travel." It means that unlike traditional keyboards, these ones will be sensitive to touch and will not have any physical keys. The keyboard will come with a touch-sensitive surface that will be capable of recognizing changing pressure from fingers and provide an output accordingly.

This new kind of keyboard will help users to configure the keys as per their preferences. The users will be able to choose different sections on a wide touch-sensitive keyboard for numeric and special keys.

To make typing easier, the keyboard will come equipped with micro-perforations for each key that will be lit automatically through backlighting. Apple says that this type of keyboard will eliminate the risk of component breakdown as fewer parts will be involved. It will also prevent dust from entering Apple devices.

Even though Apple files for all kinds of patents, they don't use all of them on their commercial devices. Also, it may take a lot of years before these patented technologies can be made commercially available.

According to the rumors, MacBook Pro 2016 is slated to release in the upcoming WWDC in June.

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