Apple could be on the verge of giving its MacBook line up and the Apple Watch a speed boost by adopting faster circuit board tech.
The reliable Ming-Chi Kuo from analyst firm KGI Securities has explained Apple is working to create faster and more flexible circuit boards that it will integrate into its 2018 product line up, in an investor note obtained by 9to5Mac.
The circuit board tech seems to be inspired by the flexible liquid crystal polymer circuit board found in the iPhone X and iPhone 8, which allows for faster performance and low-latency data transfer.
This LCP PFBC technology will be integrated into a refreshed MacBook line up, according to Kuo, who notes Apple is working with manufacturer Career on a circuit board that could save on internal space for Apple’s laptop line-up.
“It order to address future hardware form factor design requirements (e.g. saving more internal space) and to keep abreast of potential data transmission spec upgrades (e.g. USB 3.2), we believe Apple is now working with Career, its FPCB supplier for MacBook, in exploring LCP FPCB designs for future MacBook models,” said Kuo.
This could hint at a new MacBook, which has only received a rather basic refresh earlier in the year, and yield MacBook Pros that have more connectivity than a few USB Type-C ports.
The Apple oracle also noted that Cupertino and Career are in cahoots to create LCP antennas for the Apple Watch, which should provide more stable frequency signal transmission for the smartwatch, as well as have hardware that’s more moisture and heat resistant when compared to the PI-based antenna the Apple Watch Series 3 currently uses.
Kuo is generally hailed as an accurate analyst, so there’s a very good chance we could soon see some interesting MacBooks and other Apple devices crop up in 2018.
Related: MacBook Air vs Surface Laptop
What tech would you like to see Apple use in its next-gen MacBooks? Let us know on Twitter or Facebook.
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