MacBook Pro: What the major redesign will bring starting in 2026

The MacBook Pro is one of Apple's most powerful and best-known notebooks. The October 2024 update, which introduced new M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max chips, as well as Thunderbolt 5 ports, already saw significant improvements. Many expected a longer hiatus before a fundamental overhaul. However, recent reports indicate that Apple is already working on a comprehensive redesign, which could be released between late 2026 and early 2027.

While the upcoming generation with M5 chips is expected to bring only a moderate performance boost, the subsequent line of MacBook Pro models will, as things stand, introduce several key innovations. Journalists like Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, as well as research firms and analysts, point to six key changes that could significantly advance Apple's premium laptop.

OLED display instead of Mini-LED

Several sources, including research firm Omdia and display analyst Ross Young, are talking about a shift to OLED. Apple is said to already be working on MacBook Pro models with this display technology. While mini-LED screens already provide high brightness and strong contrast, OLED offers even deeper blacks, a better contrast ratio, and greater energy efficiency. This would also enable longer battery life. Gurman expects OLED to be introduced in the MacBook Pro between late 2026 and early 2027.

Thinner and lighter design

The switch to OLED could make devices thinner. Apple already demonstrated with the M4 iPad Pro in May 2024 how thin a product can be built without compromising on performance. According to Gurman, Apple is also working on making the MacBook Pro slimmer. It's notable that the redesign introduced in 2021 made the device thicker and heavier to bring back more ports. So the question remains: how will Apple develop a thinner MacBook Pro without sacrificing the features that were recently reintroduced?

Punch-hole camera without notch

The display notch could soon disappear. A roadmap from Omdia suggests that Apple is planning a punch-hole camera for the new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. This would free up more display space and create a more cohesive design. Whether Apple will implement a solution similar to the Dynamic Island on the iPhone remains unclear. The only thing that is certain is that a punch-hole camera would defuse the long-standing criticism of the notch.

5G modem for mobile connectivity

Apple has been working on its own modem chips for some time. The C1 was first used in the iPhone 16e, and the improved C1X in the iPhone Air. The next step could be a C2 modem, which will be released in 2026 and could also be integrated into the MacBook Pro for the first time. This would enable cellular connectivity directly in the laptop. While the current chips only support 5G below 6 GHz, the second generation is expected to also offer the faster mmWave technology.

M6 chip in 2nm process

Before the major redesign, Apple will initially equip the MacBook Pro line with M5 chips, manufactured on TSMC's 3nm N3P process, in early 2026. The actual overhaul is expected to arrive with the M6 chip. This could be the first to be produced on the 2nm process and utilize WMCM (Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module) packaging. This technology integrates the CPU, GPU, DRAM, and Neural Engine into a single package, enabling more powerful chips with improved energy efficiency.

Touchscreen with On-Cell technology

For the first time, a MacBook Pro could also feature a touchscreen. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reports that Apple will use an on-cell touch panel in the OLED MacBook Pro. This integrates the touch sensors directly into the top layer of the display. This solution simplifies the design while simultaneously improving usability. Kuo sees this as a logical development that mirrors user behavior on the iPad and can enhance both productivity and the user experience.

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The future of the MacBook Pro: OLED, 5G and more

The MacBook Pro will change significantly in the coming years. The models with the M5 chip will still offer moderate improvements, but a comprehensive redesign is expected starting in late 2026 or early 2027. An OLED display, a thinner and lighter chassis, a punch-hole camera, a 5G modem, the 2nm M6 chip, and a touchscreen could fundamentally renew the series. For anyone with a MacBook Pro in their sights for the long term, this upcoming generation should be particularly exciting. The best products for you: Our Amazon Storefront offers a wide selection of accessories, including HomeKit accessories. (Image: Shutterstock / jjaf)