Apple is working on a high-end MacBook Pro and it’s almost ready for launch. It will have several firsts in a Mac, including an OLED display and a touchscreen.
Project
Apple hasn’t redesigned the MacBook Pro since the launch of the M1 Pro and M1 Max models in 2021, so a new look is in order. The new MacBook Pro is expected to feature some minor design changes. There’s little you can do in a laptop form factor, but rumors say it will be lighter and perhaps a little thinner than before, which suggests some changes to the case.
Apple plans to eliminate the notch, replacing it with an iPhone-style dynamic island. A Dynamic Island may better unify how Siri AI behaves on iPhones and Macs with iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, and will take up less space on the display.
We haven’t heard any rumors of changes to the keyboard or trackpad, and neither needs an overhaul.
Size options
The OLED MacBook Pro will be available in 14- and 16-inch sizes. It’s not yet clear whether it will replace current models or be sold as a high-end option alongside them.
Display
Apple’s next MacBook Pro will be the first with an OLED display. OLED display technology is already used for iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad Pro, but it took a while for larger OLED screens to drop in price.
OLED will in most cases be an upgrade over current mini-LED display technology, offering 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, so there’s less blooming. OLED displays tend to have better HDR than mini-LEDs, but sometimes they don’t match the brightness levels of mini-LEDs.
Rumors indicate that Apple is 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
Along with OLED technology, the MacBook Pro is expected to have the first touchscreen display on a Mac. Users will be able to use their fingers to interact with the Mac’s display, similar to an iPad.
The touchscreen capabilities will be used alongside the trackpad and keyboard, suggesting that Apple sees touch as a supplemental rather than primary control method. Apple is said to be adapting macOS Golden Gate for touch input.
Apple plans to add a reinforced hinge to the MacBook Pro display so it doesn’t wobble when touched.
Touchscreen Tips in macOS 27
There are features in macOS Golden Gate that hint at a future touchscreen Mac. Apple has added direct touch input to Sidecar so users can touch 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 on apps like Safari, Mail, News, Podcasts, and Calendar. A pull-to-refresh option makes more sense on a touch display.
French fries
The current high-end MacBook Pro models come with 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’s expected to appear in a low-end MacBook Pro and an iMac on October 28, but Bloomberg says Apple won’t release any more chips in the M6 series. 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 neural processing improvements that will meet demand for machines that can better handle AI tasks.
With no M6 Pro or M6 Max planned, Apple will have to use the M5 Pro and M5 Max, so it won’t have to wait for the M7 series before debuting the OLED MacBook Pro. A second-generation OLED MacBook Pro will use the M7 Pro and M7 Max chips, with that machine expected in late 2027.
Name
The OLED model was rumored to be called the “MacBook Ultra,” but apparently that didn’t happen. Apple’s product presentation has the slogan “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, priced higher than current MacBook Pro models. Apple raised prices of all Macs in June 2026, so the MacBook Pro could be even more expensive. MacBook Pro prices increased by at least $300 as part of the June price increases.
The high-end 14-inch MacBook Pro with the 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 unveil the new Macs on Wednesday, October 28 as part of its “Pro and tell” launch. There won’t be a livestream 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.
