Apple Plans to Obscure MacBook Pro Notch With Wallpaper in Marketing Images

Last minute rumors that came out just days ago suggest that the MacBook Pro will feature a notch at the top for the 1080p webcam and ambient light sensor, but it turns out information about a notch was shared months ago by a Chinese leaker that may have been the source for several other rumors about the upcoming 14-inch and 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ models.

M1X MBP Feature
In a forum post shared in August, "ty98" said that both ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will have a notch. He went on to provide several other details about the machines, including a mention of the 1080p webcams and the lack of Face ID, which we have previously heard from other leakers.

The leaker claims to have intimate knowledge of the new machines, and at one point, he said that he saw both the case of the ‌MacBook Pro‌ and its packaging. Apple apparently plans to obscure the design of the notch in its marketing materials for the upcoming device.

"Today, I saw the packaging shell," he wrote. "Sure enough, it was the kind of wallpaper with a dark top. If you don't look carefully, you can't see the [notch] at all."

We don't know much about this leaker, but he shared the ‌MacBook Pro‌ notch details months ago, and it's looking like that information is accurate. Since the news of the notch leaked, there has been mounting evidence that it's real, including Apple's own display resolutions, which we outlined in our original article.

Apple has also published patents on notch implementations in the MacBook Pros, and yesterday, a photo of a ‌MacBook Pro‌ display unit with a notch surfaced. We've recently learned that the REvil leak that saw stolen MacBook Pro schematics released back in April also included photos of a ‌MacBook Pro‌ with a notch, lending more evidence to the possibility that Apple has settled on a notched design.

In light of that, we thought we'd share the rest of the information that Ty98 provided in his original August forum post and in the comments that followed.

  • There is no ‌Face ID‌, with the notch to house a 1080p webcam, an ambient light sensor, and an indicator light.
  • There will be a mini-LED display.
  • The ‌MacBook Pro‌ is "very thick, thick and heavy."
  • The maximum configuration of "32+4T" will be its biggest selling point.
  • Apple will add two large fans to the new chip.
  • "Don't expect too much on narrow borders. It is indeed narrow, but it is not much narrow."
  • Touch Bar is gone.
  • ‌MacBook Pro‌ models will feature MagSafe, HDMI Port, and SD Card slot.
  • No "‌MacBook Pro‌" logo on the bottom bezel.
  • Bezel width remains at the current size, with the bezels at the three sides basically the same width with the bottom bezel thicker.
  • The ‌MacBook Pro‌ "has various curves" to give people an "intuitive feeling that it is a large rectangle."

Not all of what Ty98 says makes sense, especially in regard to the thicker bezels, so there may be details here that are just lost in translation. The leaked schematics and a notch design seem to suggest the inclusion of very thin bezels. Just today, the leaker shared a look at the "M1X" chip variations that he says are representative of the Apple silicon chips set to be used in the new ‌MacBook Pro‌ models, complete with pin counts.

m1x chip info ty98
It's worth noting that because this forum post is from August and the leaked schematics are from April, there's a chance that Apple changed design directions and does not plan to release ‌MacBook Pro‌ models that feature a notch, but there is overwhelming evidence that it was at least considered.

We don't have long to wait to find out if the notched design is happening as Apple's event is set to take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time tomorrow and will provide us with all of the details about the new machines.

Related Roundup: MacBook Pro
Tag: Ty98
Buyer's Guide: MacBook Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: MacBook Pro

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro 3 4ths Perspective Aluminum Camera Module 1

New iPhone 17 Pro Details: Brighter Display, Best Battery Life, and More

Wednesday September 3, 2025 5:33 am PDT by
Apple's iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models will feature a number of significant display, thermal, and battery improvements, according to new late-stage rumors. According to the Weibo leaker known as "Instant Digital," the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature displays with higher brightness, making it more suitable for use in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. The iPhone 16 Pro and...
iPhone 17 Pro in Hand Feature Lowgo

iPhone 17 Pro's Biggest Design Mystery is Finally Solved

Friday September 5, 2025 9:33 am PDT by
Apple is set to unveil the iPhone 17 series in just four days from now, and the biggest design mystery surrounding the Pro models has finally been solved. In a report outlining his expectations for Apple's event next week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPhone 17 Pro models will have "a new cutout area on the bottom two-thirds of the phone that doubles as the wireless charging area."...
iPhone 16 Battery Life Feature

iOS 26's New Battery Life Mode is Limited to These iPhone Models

Wednesday September 3, 2025 1:19 pm PDT by
iOS 26 introduces an Adaptive Power Mode on the iPhone, alongside the existing Low Power Mode. Apple says Adaptive Power Mode can make "performance adjustments" when necessary to extend an iPhone's battery life, including slightly lowering the display brightness, allowing some activities to "take longer," and automatically turning on Low Power Mode when the iPhone's remaining battery life...

Top Rated Comments

frogslapper Avatar
51 months ago

Here comes the complainers. Some will never be happy, no matter what
Do you realize you just complained about complainers?
Score: 78 Votes (Like | Disagree)
The Clark Avatar
51 months ago
I don't mind the notch, but no faceID? That's a little heartbreaking.
Score: 42 Votes (Like | Disagree)
magicschoolbus Avatar
51 months ago
I don’t understand the notch. Apple pulled off a beautiful design with the iPad Pro screen and there is no notch. It’s built into the bezel which is quite small. Why not just keep that design language and extend the sides and bottom to go more bezel less and just leave the top bezel to feature the hardware underneath.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
slb Avatar
51 months ago

Here comes the complainers. Some will never be happy, no matter what
Here come the stockholders who defend everything Apple does. I'd be happy not having a dark object on screen all the time like a hair you can't wipe off.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sos47 Avatar
51 months ago
i hope there will be a virtual notch for mac mini and mac pro users
Score: 32 Votes (Like | Disagree)
_Spinn_ Avatar
51 months ago
Why even add a notch if there is no Face ID?
Score: 29 Votes (Like | Disagree)