Apple is working on a high-end MacBook Pro and it’s almost ready to launch. It will have several firsts on a Mac, including an OLED display and a touchscreen.
Design
Apple hasn’t redesigned the MacBook Pro since launching the M1 Pro and M1 Max models in 2021, so it should have a new look. The new MacBook Pro is expected to feature some minor design changes. There’s not much you can do in a laptop form factor, but rumors say it will be lighter and perhaps a bit thinner than before, which suggests some tweaks to the case.
Apple plans to get rid of the notch and replace it with an iPhone-style Dynamic Island. A Dynamic Island could better unify Siri AI behavior on iPhone and Mac with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, and it will take up less screen space.
We haven’t heard any rumors about keyboard or trackpad changes, and neither needs an overhaul.
Size options
The OLED MacBook Pro will be available in 14-inch and 16-inch size options. It’s not yet clear whether it will replace current models or be sold as a premium option alongside them.
Display
Apple’s next MacBook Pro will be the first with an OLED screen. OLED display technology is already used for the iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad Pro, but it has taken time for the price of larger OLED displays to come down.
OLED will be an upgrade over current mini-LED display technology in most cases, bringing richer colors and a higher contrast ratio with true blacks. In an OLED display, individual pixels turn off instead of dimming when not in use, reducing blooming. OLED displays tend to have better HDR than mini-LEDs, but sometimes don’t match the brightness levels of mini-LEDs.
Apple is rumored to be using rigid OLED panels with oxide TFT backplanes and advanced tandem OLED structures. Tandem OLED panels are used in the iPad Pro and have a longer lifespan with less burn-in than single-stack OLED panels.
Touch screen
In addition to OLED technology, the MacBook Pro should feature the first touchscreen on a Mac. Users will be able to use their fingers to interact with the Mac screen, just like on an iPad.
The touchscreen capabilities will be used alongside the trackpad and keyboard, suggesting that Apple views touch as an additional control method rather than a primary control method. Apple is rumored to adapt macOS Golden Gate for touch input.
Apple plans to add a reinforced hinge to the MacBook Pro screen so that it doesn’t wobble when pressed.
Touchscreen Tips in macOS 27
Some features of macOS Golden Gate hint at a future touchscreen Mac. Apple added direct touch input to Sidecar so users can tap and interact with macOS elements when using the iPad as a Mac display.
macOS Golden Gate supports an iPhone-style pull-to-refresh option and can be used in apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. A pull-to-refresh option makes the most sense on a touchscreen.
Bullets
Current high-end MacBook Pro models feature M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and Apple plans to use the same chips for the OLED MacBook Pro.
Apple has already introduced an M6 chip in the latest Mac mini, and it is expected to appear in a low-end MacBook Pro and an iMac on October 28, but Bloomberg says that Apple will not release any other M6 series chips. Apple’s chip plans changed earlier this year and the company is now accelerating the launch of the M7 series. The M7 chips feature major improvements in neural processing that will meet the demand for machines better able to handle AI tasks.
With no M6 Pro or M6 Max planned, Apple will have to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max so it doesn’t have to wait for the M7 series before launching the OLED MacBook Pro. A second-generation OLED MacBook Pro will use the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, with that machine scheduled for release in late 2027.
Appellation
There were rumors that the OLED model would be called “MacBook Ultra,” but that apparently isn’t happening. Apple’s product reveal carries the tagline “Pro and tell”, making it clear that the new device will retain the Pro name.
Prices
Apple’s OLED MacBook Pro is expected to be a premium product, with a higher price tag than current MacBook Pro models. Apple raised prices on all Macs in June 2026, so the MacBook Pro could be even more expensive. The price of the MacBook Pro increased by at least $300 as part of the June price hikes.
The high-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro chip starts at $2,499 after the price increase, while the 16-inch MacBook Pro M5 Pro starts at $2,999. M5 Max models start at $4,099 for the 14-inch model and $4,399 for the 16-inch model.
Launch date
Apple will introduce new Macs on Wednesday, October 28 as part of a “Pro and tell” launch. There will be no live event, but some members of the media have been invited to Los Angeles to try out the new devices.
The OLED MacBook Pro could launch as early as November 6.
Gn tech
