MacBook Pro 2016 release date: October launch expected, digital function keys, Siri and Apple Pay support teased

A staff member of Japanese electronic retailer Bic Camera walks past an advertising poster of Apple MacBook laptops in Tokyo, August 25, 2015.REUTERS/Thomas Peter/Files

The MacBook Pro 2016 is one of the most highly anticipated products of this year. It has been four years since the laptop line got an update, but Apple CEO Tim Cook says they are not done with it yet.

In a recent exchange with a fan, which was confirmed as authentic by Macrumors, Cook reassured the fan when asked if they are pulling away from the Mac line.

"I love the Mac and we are very committed to it. Stay tuned," the CEO stated. This is believed to be a tease of what's to come in the Mac department.

The MacBook Pro 2016 is expected to be launched next month. This is according to a report by Bloomberg, which also stated that other Mac products will be released in October.

In another report by the site from last month, the publication claimed that the new iteration of the MacBook Pro will come with a thinner build and some tweaks in its appearance.

For starters, Apple is reportedly looking to trade the physical function keys on the keyboard with a touchscreen strip or an OLED bar that will display them instead. This feature is internally referred to as the Dynamic Function Row.

Other functions could be displayed on it depending on the apps that users access. When on the desktop, the bar will display brightness and media controls. When on an app, controls specific to that app will be shown.

When using the Safari web browser, users will see controls on search and define terms function. The touch strip will also make things easier in the iMovie video editor by displaying a more accurate volume slider and easier tools for cutting clips.

This feature will function in conjunction with the macSierra OS set for release by the end of the month. The operating system will also improve the MacBook Pro 2016 by adding Siri and Apple Pay support on the web.

If the reports are accurate, the MacBook Pro 2016 will see the light of day next month.