New MacBook Pro 2016 Packing USB-C And Thunderbolt 3: What To Expect

The new high-performance MacBooks are coming -- possibly being unveiled sooner rather than later -- packing USB Type-C/Thunderbolt 3 connectors. Here's what to expect.

USB-C will land on everything including the vast majority of laptops, according to a report this past week from ABI Research. "Almost half of the smartphones and 93% of laptops will include USB Type-C connectivity by 2020," ABI said. “USB-Type C and Thunderbolt 3.0 will be the last major physical ports to gain major significance and mainstream traction before the transition to wireless alternatives,” according to ABI analyst Andrew Zignani, in a statement.

I consider myself somewhat of a USB-C expert (on the user side) as three of the laptops I use have USB-C ports, including the 12-inch MacBook and a 2016 version of the Dell XPS 13 (which supports Thunderbolt 3, the 12-inch MacBook doesn't). After grappling with USB-C for the last six months, here's a few things to keep in mind if you've been waiting with bated breath for the new high-performance MacBooks.

Thunderbolt 3 is boon for all laptops: Thunderbolt 3 is delivered through the USB-C connector (instead of the Thunderbolt 2/Mini DisplayPort connector on the current MacBook Pros). It doubles the bandwidth over the previous Thunderbolt to 40 gigabits per second, reduces power consumption, and can simultaneously drive two external 4K displays at 60 Hz or one 4K display at 120 Hz. Thunderbolt 3 via USB-C will of course support any 5K display that Apple is rumored to be bringing out. HDMI, among others, is also delivered through the USB-C port. In short, one connector covers everything (including charging).

USB-C is a great connector for really thin designs -- and pretty much everything is going thin: Despite an initial issue (now fixed) I had when hooked up to an external display, Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter is a great solution for me (see photo at top). Though the upcoming high-performance MacBook will almost certainly have more than one USB-C port, I now prefer the 12-inch MacBook's single USB-C port paradigm to a bigger/thicker laptop with a bunch of connectors because: (1) Grab-and-go: it's easy to unplug, grab, and go, i.e., you just need to unplug one connector and you're off; (2) Removes bulk: the tiny USB-C connector moves bulk from the laptop to an external adapter not unlike the docking stations (aka, port replicators) of yore -- that makes a lot of sense to me now; (3) Adapters as hubs: a corollary to #2 is the Dell USB-C to HDMI/VGA/Ethernet/USB multiport adapter: this is essentially a hub with most of the connectors that many consumers would need. I've been using this too with a 2016 version of the Dell XPS 15. 

HDMI in, Mini DiplayPort out: If you have an Apple Cinema Display get ready for a shock: it's not supported on any USB-C adapter Apple offers. The same applies to the newest versions of the Dell XPS 13 and 15 -- they have both swapped out Mini DisplayPort for USB-C/Thunderbolt 3. HDMI is king. Apple's Digital AV Multiport Adapter and Dell's multiport adapter both have physical HDMI connectors. And Dell also offers a dedicated USB-C-to-HDMI adapter.