The next MacBook Pro 2021 is rumored to potentially include a feature that would be a great boon to professional photographers and video editors: a high-speed UHS-II compatible SD card reader

This is according to an Apple Track report, which claims that "reliable sources" have tipped them off about this high-speed SD card reader The next-generation MacBook Pro may also feature an illuminated Touch ID button and up to 32 GB of RAM

While we cannot confirm the veracity of the Apple Track report, it does suggest some interesting information about the MacBook Pro 2021, which is expected to come in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes

Let's start with the UHS-II SD card reader; Apple eliminated the slot for USB-C connectivity in 2016, but we've heard rumors before that it plans to bring back an SD card reader on the new MacBook Pro

This is because transferring files from the camera will be a simple matter of plugging the SD card into the laptop, rather than relying on cable connections and slower transfer speeds

However, while traditional SD card readers only offer speeds of 100 mb/sec, UHS-II readers improve to 312 mb/sec with compatible cards Readers are also backward compatible, but the speeds are not improved when using UHS-I SD cards

Assuming this information is accurate, this will clearly be a killer feature of the 2021 MacBook Pro Video and image files are notoriously large in file size, and a 3x speed increase would make working on location, for example, much easier

Apple Track also reports that the next generation MacBook Pro will have up to 32 GB of RAM This would be an upgrade over the 16GB of RAM that the MacBook Pro M1 offers with the Apple M1 chip, but contradicts a Bloomberg report that suggests a 64GB option may be on the way

For tasks like manipulating large RAW photo files or 4K video, more RAM is better And while 32 GB is a good thing, 32 GB may not be enough for some MacBook Pro fans

The MacBook Pro 2021 is expected to feature either the Apple M2 chip or Apple Silicon's M1X slice Both chips are said to be more powerful versions of the impressive M1 chip, and combined with more RAM, could be a professional powerhouse

Speaking of rumors, the next-generation MacBook Pro is also said to feature a mini LED display, which could improve screen brightness and contrast over the standard LCD panels found in current MacBooks Such an improvement would be a boon to creative professionals seeking a colorful and bright display

Given that the iPad Pro 2021 has a mini LED display, it is not a leap of imagination to include this technology in a MacBook One can only hope that Apple chooses a slimmer display bezel so that the MacBook Pro can maximize the display area without bulging the body

Finally, the Apple Track report claims that the MacBook Pro will feature illuminated and backlit Touch ID buttons for the first time There are few details on this, but it is claimed that the sensor will be illuminated by "multiple dedicated LEDs" While this is hardly a major upgrade, it lends credence to the idea that the next MacBook Pro will not be a spec refresh, but a proper redesign

With the new MacBook Pro due out in the fall, it won't be long before we know which rumors will come true Of course, the chip shortage could throw a wrench in the works, the iPhone 13 could be announced in the fall, and the MacBook could be introduced in 2022 As ever, time will tell