Apple's new MacBook sounds both brilliant and baffling

MacBook Pro
Apple could be working on a super-charged MacBook Pro (Image credit: Future)

Ah, good old Apple patents. Offering us a glimpse at what bold (and often bizarre) ideas the company has up its sleeve, leaked filings are often our first look at the tech innovations Apple could end up revealing. And if the latest leak is anything to go by, all of your Apple devices could soon be spending a lot more time together. 

Spotted by Patently Apple, the patent depicts a MacBook with the ability to wirelessly charge your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and more. The MacBook Pro is already our best laptop for graphic design, but the ability to juice your other devices could make it the ultimate tech hub for creatives. Or could it?

MacBook charging patent

A screenshot from Apple's latest patent filing (Image credit: Patently Apple)

The filing describes how multiple charging coils could be placed inside both the frame and lid of a MacBook "that could accommodate charging of multiple devices at one time". According to Patently Apple, it's the super-powerful new M1 processor that would be able to pull off the extra heavy lifting. (If you haven't checked out the mind-blowing new machines yet, Apple's M1 MacBooks have already seen a surprise price cut.)

MacBook patent

The MacBook lid can even charge an iPad (Image credit: Patently Apple)

But while one machine to rule (sorry, charge) them all sounds tempting, Apple's patent filing raises some questions – most notably, how on earth you're supposed to use the laptop with an iPhone and Apple Watch sitting on top of it. It certainly wouldn't make for a comfortable typing experience, and while we hope Apple has a more elegant solution in mind, this is the company behind the mouse that can't be used while charging

AirPower

We're reminded of Apple's ill-fated AirPower charger (Image credit: Getty Images)

Secondly, this three-in-one wireless charging solution reminds us of another Apple product – one which never saw the light of day. Yes, we're talking about AirPower, the three-way wireless charger Apple unceremoniously dumped for failing to meet the company's "high standards". If Apple couldn't figure out how to make AirPower work as a simple charging pad, will it really be able to incorporate it into a working laptop?

Still, if Apple does figure out a way to turn the MacBook into a wireless charging hub, it could spell the end of carrying (and losing/tripping over) countless charging cables and power adaptors. Until then, our list of the best power banks has you covered.

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Daniel Piper
Senior News Editor

Daniel Piper is Creative Bloq’s Senior News Editor. As the brand’s Apple authority, he covers all things Mac, iPhone, iPad and the rest. He also reports on the worlds of design, branding and tech. Daniel joined Future in 2020 (an eventful year, to say the least) after working in copywriting and digital marketing with brands including ITV, NBC, Channel 4 and more. Outside of Future, Daniel is a global poetry slam champion and has performed at festivals including Latitude, Bestival and more. He is the author of Arbitrary and Unnecessary: The Selected Works of Daniel Piper (Selected by Daniel Piper).