Apple is considering a new step in MacBook design that could revolutionize the laptop market.
According to a recently published patent, Apple plans to equip the MacBook with a virtual keyboard and trackpad, while the body will be made of glass. This is reminiscent of the time when Apple changed the mobile market landscape with the launch of the iPhone when other manufacturers were still loyal to the physical keyboard design.
All-glass MacBook coming soon?
To find out, we have to go back to 2018, when 9to5Mac revealed one of the patents that described a three-way approach to displaying a single component on a MacBook. Users would be able to feel the surface change right under their finger when pressing a virtual key on the screen, which is equipped with a “sensor layer” that can detect the depth and position of the finger, allowing it to sense the pressure and number of keys.
Haptic feedback will be used to create the feeling that the user is pressing a physical key. Specifically, an electrostatic charge will simulate the feeling when a finger touches the edge of a virtual key, creating an experience close to a traditional keyboard.
Some images from the patent granted to Apple.
The latest patent also reveals the appearance of a “vibrator module” that will be integrated into the MacBook to provide haptic feedback. This module will be difficult to appear on compact devices such as iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch or AirPods, but can exist on the MacBook, thereby promising to bring a unique experience that only large products like MacBook receive. In addition to haptic feedback, this technology is also capable of creating or simulating low-frequency sounds and vibrations, thereby opening a new era for users.
According to the patent, the device will use glass as its main material. More specifically, the glass casing is said to not only protect the internal components but also create a design without traditional connection ports thanks to the ability to "accept input" as described in the patent.
The use of a physical MacBook keyboard is about to disappear.
Earlier, another patent was discovered for a MacBook Pro with a glass back and a touchscreen. This design could allow Apple to bring back the glowing logo on the back, a feature that was once very popular.
It’s also worth mentioning a patent from 2020 that hints at the potential of a glass iMac. If we look at the latest MacBook releases, we can see that these ideas are not far off. This could signal the beginning of a new era for the MacBook lineup, especially considering the possibility of Apple launching a foldable MacBook in the future, alongside other foldable devices like the iPhone and iPad.
