Rumors suggest Apple may be making significant changes to the MacBook Pro as early as next year, commemorating five years since its last redesign. Here are five major speculations about the upcoming MacBook Pro.
OLED Display
After its introduction in the iPad Pro in 2024, OLED technology is anticipated to be featured in the redesigned MacBook Pro in 2026. This will enhance brightness, contrast ratios, and color quality for the laptop line.
Moreover, reports indicate that Apple plans to utilize the same Tandem OLED technology used in the iPad Pro:
The OLED MacBook Air is likely to feature a standard single-stack display, as opposed to the more advanced Two-Stack Tandem displays expected for the MacBook Pro.
Single-stack displays incorporate one red, green, and blue layer, while two-stack tandem OLED adds a second RGB layer for increased brightness and durability.
Thinner Design
According to Bloomberg, the upcoming MacBook Pro will introduce a slimmer design. However, details on chassis changes remain unclear:
While Apple has improved the product with new chips and internal upgrades, a comprehensive redesign might not occur until 2026. Although originally planned for 2025, delays in display technology pushed back the timeline.
Touchscreen Feature
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts that touchscreen Macs could debut as soon as 2026. There is growing evidence that Apple is moving in this direction, likely to be included in the 2026 redesign.
Cellular Support
Rumors also suggest that Apple might launch its first cellular Mac with this redesign. Mark Gurman from Bloomberg noted late last year that Apple is working on an in-house modem for Macs, targeting release in 2026.
Advanced M6 Chip
The new MacBook Pro redesign will introduce the M6 chip series, expected to be the first Apple Silicon using TSMC’s 2nm technology, sharing this advancement with the A20 chip for iPhone.
The M6 Pro and M6 Max chips will be a core part of this new design, although it’s unclear if there will be an immediate base model 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip. Recent reports suggest this redesign may only apply to M6 Pro and M6 Max models.
Release Timing
The redesigned OLED MacBook Pros are expected to debut between late 2026 and early 2027. While exact timing remains uncertain, an unveiling could be anticipated around the end of 2026, possibly in October, though initial supplies may be limited.
Conclusion
Overall, the transition to OLED is a standout feature of the upgrade. Additionally, a slimmer design is eagerly awaited, especially for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which currently weighs 4.7 pounds.
If you’re not inclined to wait up to a year and a half for a new MacBook Pro, there are attractive discounts on the existing M4 Pro and M5 models currently available. Prices include the M5 14-inch for $1349, the M4 Pro 14-inch for $1749, and the M4 Pro 16-inch for $2149, all marked down by $250-350.
