• 2 min read
Apple’s next MacBook Pro may keep M5 chips
Apple’s rumored MacBook Pro redesign could add OLED, touch support, Dynamic Island, and a thinner body—but not the M6 Pro or M6 Max.
Image: 9to5Mac
Apple may be preparing one of its biggest MacBook Pro changes in years, with a launch window that Bloomberg says stretches from late this year to early next year. The surprise: despite expectations of M6 Pro and M6 Max, the revamped models may stick with M5 Pro and M5 Max.
According to reports cited by 9to5Mac, including Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg, Apple is expected to move the MacBook Pro from mini-LED to OLED. That would be the first OLED display in a Mac, after Apple previously adopted the technology in the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. The shift should bring true blacks, higher contrast, and potentially more vibrant colors.
Another major change could be the first touchscreen Mac. Bloomberg reports that Apple is reworking macOS for touch input rather than simply adding a touch panel. The system would reportedly adapt controls dynamically, enlarge menu bar elements when tapped, and support familiar gestures such as pinch-to-zoom and faster scrolling.
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The display changes may not stop there. The current camera notch is reportedly being replaced with a hole-punch cutout, while Dynamic Island could come to the Mac for the first time. If that happens, Apple would likely use it much as it does on the iPhone, masking the camera area while surfacing Live Activities and notifications.
What may change in design and chips
Apple is also said to be making the MacBook Pro thinner again. The company made the 2021 redesign thicker than the model it replaced, while restoring ports including MagSafe, HDMI, and an SD card slot. It remains unclear whether a thinner body would affect port selection, though the efficiency of Apple Silicon could give Apple more flexibility than it had during the Intel era.
The chip story is the biggest twist. 9to5Mac says Apple is now expected to skip higher-end M6 variants, offering only a base M6 and holding back M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra. Attention would instead shift to the M7 generation, including M7 Pro and M7 Max, which are reportedly being positioned around major gains in AI performance.
There is also speculation around branding. Mark Gurman has suggested Apple could call the new machines MacBook Ultra to better signal their place at the top of the lineup. Whether Apple keeps the MacBook Pro name or not, the company may unveil the new models in October or November, even though it already shipped a MacBook Pro update in March.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via 9to5Mac
