Apple

Apple

Who needs rumor sites and analyst reports when Apple leaks its own hardware ahead of time in its own software? An eagle-eyed MacRumors reader went digging into the macOS 10.12.1 update that was released yesterday and found an official Apple Pay-related image that outs the new MacBook Pro and a whole bunch of its banner features.

The image, seen above, appears to show off the 13-inch MacBook Pro that Apple is expected to reveal at its hardware event on Thursday. The screen bezel is noticeably thinner than in the current design, and there's less metal surrounding the keyboard, which is in keeping with reports that the hardware would have a smaller, slimmer profile than the current model. The row of function keys (including the Escape key and the power button) has also been replaced with a long narrow black strip, which rumors have said is an OLED display panel that can display different information depending on the app you're using. The right-most section of the strip includes an embedded Touch ID fingerprint sensor, which can be used for Apple Pay and presumably to unlock your Mac.

Trademark filings suggest that this OLED strip will be called the "Magic Toolbar," and analyst notes have suggested that it may be powered by some sort of ARM-based coprocessor separate from the Mac's main CPU and GPU. This would make some sense if Apple wanted to bring over the Secure Enclave and encryption features from iOS without having to redesign them for the Mac.

There's still a lot we don't know about the new MacBook Pro, including its port selection, its thickness and weight, its keyboard travel, and what's inside it, but these images go a long way toward confirming the reports we've been reading all year. We'll be at Apple's event on Thursday to bring you the rest of the information as we get it.

Listing image by Apple