Apple MacBook Ultra: New design and Samsung display
The upcoming high-end Apple MacBook Ultra is expected to bring the biggest design changes to the MacBook Pro series since 2021. So far, no renderings, chassis information, or dimensions have surfaced, but a number of reports have already revealed much about what will change.
Apple MacBook Ultra with OLED display and slimmer design
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg believes that the Apple MacBook Ultra, with its combination of an OLED display and slimmer design, could represent a true revolution for laptops. Apple is reportedly working on the thinnest and lightest products in their respective categories. The design is also expected to be applied to other devices; for example, the entry-level MacBook Pro 14 planned for 2027 will likely resemble it.
All 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros released since 2021 are 15.5 mm thick – a dimension that has remained unchanged across four chip generations. The next model is expected to be significantly thinner and lighter, but reliable specifications are not yet available. Replacing the mini-LED backlighting with a hybrid OLED panel eliminates a physical layer in the lid, so the reduction in thickness should be most noticeable at the top of the device.
The cutout is expected to be replaced by a pinhole camera – a change first hinted at in a roadmap by market research firm Omdia and later confirmed by Bloomberg. The cutout is said to be pill-shaped to accommodate the Dynamic Island.
The notch has been the most distinctive feature of the MacBook Pro display since 2021. Removing it would leave the menu bar as a continuous strip, interrupted by a small island, instead of being divided into two sections. Apple appears to be preparing for this change at the software level, as the “Search or Ask” interface integrated into Spotlight in macOS 27 uses a dark, pill-shaped design that would fit a notch of this form.
The display bezels of the Apple MacBook Ultra could also become narrower. According to Omdia, Samsung Display will supply 14.3-inch and 16.3-inch panels that are slightly larger than the currently used 14.2-inch and 16.2-inch displays. With a largely unchanged chassis, this would result in even narrower bezels.
Apple is also expected to install a reinforced hinge to prevent the display from wobbling when tapped. Whether the lid can be tilted further back than on the current model, where it stops relatively early for structural reasons, remains to be seen.
However, the Apple MacBook Ultra is also expected to inherit some elements. Bloomberg reported in February that the device would look very similar to the current MacBook Pro. The keyboard and trackpad would be retained, and a detachable or convertible design is not planned. HDMI, MagSafe, and the SD card slot were reintroduced during the 2021 redesign after an unpopular hiatus, and there is no indication that they will be removed again.
Apple MacBook Ultra OLED touch panel is manufactured exclusively by Samsung
According to another new report from the Korean magazine The Elec, Apple will rely exclusively on Samsung Display for the production of OLED touch panels for its redesigned, upcoming MacBook Pro models.
According to industry sources, the 14- and 16-inch panels will be produced on Samsung’s 8.6th generation OLED production line in Asan (South Chungcheong Province, South Korea). The initial shipment is estimated at 2.5 million panels, with mass production expected to begin in August.
Reports indicate that Apple ruled out LG Display and the Chinese BOE Technology Group for panel development due to yield and efficiency issues, as well as their already fully utilized OLED production lines, leaving Samsung as the sole supplier. Samsung is said to have secured this position through close collaboration with Apple from the outset and by adapting its panel specifications and manufacturing capacities during the development process.
An OLED panel with touchscreen support is just one aspect of the planned comprehensive update to the high-end MacBook Pro models. Other rumored features include M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, a frameless display (without a notch), and the aforementioned slimmer design. The devices could all be marketed under the name Apple MacBook Ultra, giving us an entire Ultra series. Furthermore, macOS 27 will offer a touch-friendly user interface specifically for these notebooks.
Gurman expects the Apple MacBook Ultra to be released between late 2026 and early 2027, although the later date is now considered more likely due to the global shortage of memory chips.
