New Apple MacBook Pro: New design and OLED touchscreen
Apple updated the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chipsets in March 2026, but depending on your needs and interests, you might want to skip this generation, as something better is in the works. The MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max models feature faster chips but retain the same design Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and improved performance is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.
OLED touchscreen display
Rumours suggest the next MacBook Pro will be the first with a OLED display. iPhones have been using OLED for years, and Apple launched a device with a larger OLED screen in 2024 with the iPad Pro M4.
OLED offers advantages over the Mini-LED display of current MacBook Pro models. Individual pixels can be controlled, resulting in deeper blacks, more vibrant colors, and no blooming from neighboring pixels. Compared to Mini-LED displays, OLED offers energy savings, faster response times, and better viewing angles.
The brightness of OLED displays may initially be lower compared to LEDs, but has improved with the further development of OLED technology. The combination of deep blacks and vibrant colors is ideal for HDR content.
In addition to OLED, the next MacBook Pro is also expected to have touchscreen functions. Apple had repeatedly stated that the Mac would not have a touchscreen, but this position has changed. Several rumors suggest that touch functionality is in the works and that the Mac will thus be more similar to the iPad. Touch-based control options will be available alongside the conventional input options of mouse and keyboard.
Apple MacBook Pro design
According to some rumors, the OLED MacBook Pro will be thinner. Since Apple hasn’t updated the MacBook Pro’s design since 2021, and this represents a significant technological shift, a design overhaul is likely. The dimensions will remain the same, and Apple will not remove the keyboard or trackpad.
Instead of a notch, the OLED MacBook Pro will feature a dynamic island that occupies less screen space. This dynamic island will be interactive and expand contextually depending on the app or Mac function being used.
2nm chip
The OLED models will be the first to use Apple’s 2-nanometer chip technology, which is expected to be used in the M6 series chips.
The reduction in feature size is expected to enable higher speeds while simultaneously reducing power consumption and increasing transistor density. Power per watt will improve, and the 2nm chips will use GAA nanosheet transistors instead of FinFETs. TSMC states that the new transistor technology will deliver improved performance and lower power consumption.
Mobile connection
There were rumors that 5G would also be available for Macs, and if that’s Apple’s plan, it would make a lot of sense to offer it in the OLED MacBook Pro.
Ultra Branding
Due to cost, OLED touch displays will be limited to the high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, and Apple might even use a new Ultra designation.
It’s possible that the OLED model with the M6 chip will be offered alongside the existing M5, M5 Pro, and M5 Max models, rather than replacing them. In this case, a significant price increase is to be expected. However, Apple could also update the entire product line with variants of the M6 chip and reserve the OLED display for the most expensive models.
If OLED display technology or a touchscreen is not important to you and you are looking for something more affordable, you probably shouldn’t delay your purchase.
First generation technology
Some first-generation Apple Macs may experience more problems than expected, such as the transition to the butterfly keyboard in 2016.
If you don’t want to purchase AppleCare+ and are concerned about issues with the first generation, the MacBook Pro M5 Pro and M5 Max models are the safer choice.
Start date
While the OLED MacBook Pro could be released as early as the end of 2026, it looks more likely that Apple will launch it in early 2027. Apple is facing chip shortages, which necessitate delaying MacBook Pro production to build up sufficient inventory.
