Some reports suggest that the new high-end MacBook Pro models Apple is expected to announce today may not be called “MacBook Pro” at all. It could actually be something completely new and more exciting – “MacBook Ultra”, perhaps – marketed as the company’s top-tier laptop offering. The machines are expected to sit above the current MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max, rather than replacing them, suggesting the latter will remain in Apple’s lineup.
One thing to state upfront is that Apple should stick with the existing M5 Pro and M5 Max chips for its touchscreen MacBook models. Apple reportedly plans to abandon what would have been the “M6 Pro” and “M6 Max” for more powerful “M7 Pro” and “M7 Max” chips. Apple announced the new entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M6 chip yesterday, before pre-orders opened today, but the first ‘MacBook Ultra’ models will use the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, after which the second generation models will ship with M7 Pro and Max chips in late 2027.
Apple has already revealed the bulk of a second round of new products this week, as MacRumors” Sources had indicated earlier: the iPad mini OLED arrived on Monday, and the iMac M6 and 14-inch MacBook Pro M6 followed yesterday. The new touchscreen models are expected to debut today at Apple’s “Pro and tell” event in Los Angeles and be available for pre-order at 10:10 a.m. PT, with Bloomberg reporting that availability could begin as early as November 6. Recent reports have referred to the machines simply as new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, so the final name remains uncertain.
Below, we’ve listed the features and changes we expect for the new high-end MacBook Pro models.
OLED screen
BloombergMark Gurman and analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claim that Apple is preparing OLED technology for these models, and industry reports support their claims. Samsung Display would manufacture the panels exclusively and the supplier has invested heavily in an 8.6 generation OLED production line in South Korea. The line reached a key milestone for mass production in May.
OLED presents an overall upgrade over current mini-LED display technology, bringing deeper colors and a higher contrast ratio with true blacks. In an OLED display, individual pixels turn off instead of dimming when not activated, reducing light leaks and improving energy efficiency. OLED displays also tend to have better HDR output than mini-LEDs, but they don’t always match the brightness levels of mini-LEDs.
Touch screen
The new MacBook Pro is expected to become the first Mac to support touch input directly on the screen. This is a notable change from Apple’s long-standing stance against introducing touchscreen functionality to the Mac.
Apple previously experimented with touch controls via the OLED Touch Bar on previous MacBook Pro models, but the feature was ultimately abandoned following lukewarm reception. Rather than positioning the MacBook Pro as a touch-enabled device like the iPad, Apple reportedly intends to allow users to seamlessly switch between touch and traditional trackpad or mouse input throughout the system.
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 also 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.
Reinforced hinge
Apple has reportedly developed a reinforced hinge and screen hardware to prevent the screen from bouncing or moving when touched. Apple is apparently aware of the same problem affecting existing touchscreen PCs.
Lighter design
Gurman reported that Apple is working to make the MacBook Pro OLED thinner, as part of the company’s plan to create “the thinnest and lightest products in their class in the entire technology industry.” (Think of the latest iPad Pro and iPad Air – two of the thinnest devices the company has ever made.) Indeed, the reporter said there’s a good chance the next MacBook Pro model will represent a “real overhaul” for the laptop, thanks to the combination of the OLED display and a slimmer design.
In October 2025, Gurman announced that MacBook Pro OLED models would have “thinner and lighter” bezels. Then again in November 2025, he said touchscreen models would have “a thinner chassis.”
However, Gurman somewhat backtracked on his previous report that Apple’s upcoming OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro would be thinner than current models. “I don’t think it will be significantly thinner in the end,” he said in early October 2026.
In a last-minute detail, Gurman reports that Apple also reworked the cooling system to improve airflow through the hinge while helping to reduce the laptop’s weight.
Dynamic Island
The MacBook Ultra could ditch the current notch used in MacBook Pro models for a screen cutout potentially similar to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island, according to Bloomberg. Such a move would reflect the evolution of Apple’s iPhone, as the iPhone notch became the current Dynamic Island starting with the iPhone 14 Pro models in 2022.
As with the iPhone, the Mac Dynamic Island will be interactive and expand contextually based on the app or Mac feature being used. The change should address long-standing user complaints about the notch, which physically penetrates the menu bar in macOS.
Price changes
There is no doubt that Apple will unveil the new MacBook Pro models as ultra-premium products priced higher than the current 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Apple raised prices on all of its Macs in June 2026 – the price of the MacBook Pro increased by $300 – so the “MacBook Ultra” will likely be even more expensive than expected.
For what it’s worth, 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. More precisely, Bloomberg reported this week that Apple had considered charging $2,899 for the new 14-inch model with an M5 Pro chip, which would mean a starting price of at least $3,399 for the 16-inch model. Keep your wallets!
Gn tech
