Apple’s MacBook Pro has recently been updated with the M4 chip, with an M5 model anticipated later this year. However, the most exciting news is about a new MacBook Pro set to launch in late 2026, which could represent the most significant upgrade yet. Here’s what we know about it.
A Complete Redesign for a Thinner and Lighter Model
The MacBook Pro underwent a major redesign in 2021 which reintroduced some previously lost ports, resolved long-standing keyboard issues, and was generally viewed as Apple’s way of making amends for past mistakes.
Reports suggest that a substantial redesign is on the horizon for 2026, aimed at making the MacBook Pro even thinner and lighter.
This might raise concerns for users familiar with the problematic butterfly keyboard era. However, with the introduction of Apple Silicon, the company has shown its capability to reduce device thickness without sacrificing performance.
It’s intriguing to consider how Apple will handle the port configuration in the upcoming MacBook Pro. Ideally, I hope they can slim down the design while maintaining all the ports that were recently reintroduced.
A Notchless OLED Display
A major aspect of the redesigned MacBook Pro will be its display, which is set to eliminate the notch in favor of an OLED panel.
The anticipated new display technology is expected to mirror the OLED capabilities found in the M4 iPad Pro. Instead of a notch, a smaller ‘hole cut’ will be implemented.
This raises the possibility of a Dynamic Island feature on the Mac, but we will have to wait for further details. The OLED display on the iPad Pro has been exceptional, so seeing it on the Mac would be a welcome addition.
M6 Chip Series
Though the M4 chip has been available for less than a year and was recently introduced to the Mac lineup, specifics regarding the M6 are still unclear.
Nonetheless, Apple plans to release an M5 MacBook Pro this year, maintaining the existing design, which suggests that the 2026 update will include M6, M6 Pro, and M6 Max models.
Inclusion of 5G Cellular Connectivity
Apple’s in-house 5G modems are expected to launch soon in select devices, with a second-generation modem anticipated for 2026, likely to be integrated into the MacBook Pro.
I’ve long pushed for the inclusion of cellular connectivity in the Mac, and Apple’s in-house modems appear to be the perfect opportunity for this. According to Mark Gurman, it seems Apple is aligned with this vision as well.
Possibility of Touch Support
Touch functionality on the Mac has been speculated for years, especially since the launch of the iPad. However, it hasn’t yet been realized, and it remains to be seen if it ever will.
That said, there is credible evidence suggesting that the 2026 MacBook Pro might be Apple’s first foray into a touch-enabled Mac.
Earlier in 2023, Mark Gurman indicated that a touchscreen-enabled MacBook Pro was in development, with a tentative release aimed for 2025. In that report, Gurman noted:
As part of the MacBook Pro evolution, Apple is also looking to transition its displays to organic light-emitting diode (OLED) technology.
This indicates a planned integration of touch and OLED technology in a refreshed MacBook Pro.
The original 2025 deadline for implementing OLED in the MacBook Pro has now shifted to 2026.
It seems that Apple’s intentions to introduce an OLED touch display in the MacBook Pro have merely been delayed, not abandoned.
Mark Gurman reiterated that Apple’s near-future plans for the Mac would include “faster chips, slimmer designs, and touchscreens.”
While it might be speculative, there is a strong likelihood that the significant redesign of the MacBook Pro in 2026 could finally introduce touch capability.
Summary of the 2026 MacBook Pro Upgrade
We are still quite a way from Apple’s planned major redesign of the MacBook Pro, which is expected to launch in a year and a half. Therefore, many aspects mentioned here might evolve over time.
Assuming Apple manages to implement all these innovations in a powerful, reimagined MacBook Pro, it could indeed be the most remarkable upgrade the device has ever experienced—and potentially the best upgrade in Mac history.
What are your thoughts on the upcoming MacBook Pro modifications? Do you believe they’ll come to fruition? Share your opinions in the comments!
Top Mac Accessories
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
