{"id":66708,"date":"2026-05-21T23:18:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T21:18:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/?p=66708"},"modified":"2026-05-21T23:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T21:18:33","slug":"macbook-ultra-all-rumors-at-a-glance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/en\/allgemein\/macbook-ultra-alle-geruechte-im-ueberblick","title":{"rendered":"MacBook Ultra: All the rumors at a glance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple is apparently planning a completely new MacBook class above the MacBook Pro. The so-called MacBook Ultra is expected to be the first MacBook with an OLED display, touchscreen, and the new M6 chip \u2013 a device unlike any other. Originally, the launch was planned for late 2026, but according to Gurman, the global memory chip crisis has now pushed the release back to early 2027.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The MacBook Pro was last updated<\/a> in March 2026 with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips. Externally, little has changed since the 2021 redesign. However, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple is simultaneously working on a completely new laptop that is not intended to replace the MacBook Pro, but rather to surpass it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gurman calls the device \"MacBook Ultra\" - a name that would fit with the existing Ultra branding of Apple Watch Ultra, CarPlay Ultra, and the M Ultra chips. Whether Apple will actually choose this name is not yet confirmed. Gurman himself<\/a> acknowledges that Apple \"could retain the traditional MacBook Pro name,\" but considers the Ultra name more likely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One thing is certain: this MacBook will be fundamentally different from all previous Macs. We've already categorized the existing MacBook models in our comparisons MacBook Air vs. MacBook Pro 2026<\/a> and MacBook Pro M5: 14 vs. 16 inch<\/a>. The MacBook Ultra would be a completely new category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most important points in brief<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Detail<\/th>Expectation<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Product<\/td>New top-tier MacBook above the MacBook Pro<\/td><\/tr>
Name<\/td>\"MacBook Ultra\" (not confirmed)<\/td><\/tr>
Display<\/td>OLED (tandem), first time touchscreen<\/td><\/tr>
Chip<\/td>M6 Pro and M6 Max (2nm process)<\/td><\/tr>
Design<\/td>Thinner, lighter, Dynamic Island instead of Notch<\/td><\/tr>
5G<\/td>Possible via Apple C2 modem<\/td><\/tr>
Release<\/td>Early 2027 (postponed due to memory chip crisis)<\/td><\/tr>
Price<\/td>Significantly more expensive than the current MacBook Pro, estimated to start at \u20ac3,000.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Positioning: Four MacBook lines<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With the MacBook Ultra, Apple would be offering four MacBook tiers for the first time:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Model<\/th>Starting price<\/th>Target group<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
MacBook Neo<\/td>699 \u20ac<\/td>Beginners, students<\/td><\/tr>
MacBook Air<\/td>from \u20ac1,199<\/td>everyday life, mobile users<\/td><\/tr>
MacBook Pro<\/td>from \u20ac1,899<\/td>Professionals, creatives<\/td><\/tr>
MacBook Ultra<\/strong><\/td>from ~3,000+ \u20ac<\/strong><\/td>High-end professionals, creatives<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max will remain available for purchase. The Ultra does not replace it, but rather complements it \u2013 similar to how the Apple Watch Ultra exists alongside the Series.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gurman speculates that Apple might deliberately introduce the OLED model as a new high-end variant. Such a strategy would have two advantages: It would spread demand across two price segments, thus easing the tight supply of components. At the same time, Apple could achieve higher margins without raising the entry-level price of the MacBook Pro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Display: OLED and touchscreen<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First OLED in a MacBook<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The MacBook Ultra is expected to use a tandem OLED display<\/strong> \u2013 the same technology Apple introduced in the iPad Pro in 2024. Two superimposed OLED layers provide extreme brightness, deep blacks, and a contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1. Samsung Display is expected to be the exclusive panel supplier.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current MacBook Pros use Mini-LED (Liquid Retina XDR). Switching to OLED offers better color accuracy, a thinner design, and higher energy efficiency \u2013 at the cost of a higher price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Samsung Display has now mastered manufacturing to such an extent that yields are consistently above 90 percent<\/a> \u2013 individual process steps even reach 95 percent. In the industry, this is considered the "golden yield" and marks the threshold at which economically viable mass production becomes possible. Initial shipments are scheduled to begin in June 2026, with approximately two million panels planned for this year \u2013 distributed across 14- and 16-inch models. Samsung Display is currently operating one of two Gen 8.6 lines; the second could be activated if needed, doubling capacity. This gives Apple a flexible scaling path should OLED demand pick up faster than anticipated. Remarkably, the delay in the market launch to early 2027 is therefore not due to the displays themselves \u2013 the display side is ready for production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First touchscreen in a Mac<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The MacBook Ultra would be the first Mac with touchscreen support. Apple has insisted for years that touchscreens don't belong on laptops \u2013 this stance has changed. Reports indicate that Apple is working on a reinforced hinge design to minimize screen wobble when typing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

macOS 27 is expected to bring system-wide touch support: When you touch an element on the screen, macOS will dynamically adapt and display larger, touch-optimized controls. Pinch-to-zoom and faster scrolling will also be supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The notch disappears: It is replaced by a Dynamic Island<\/strong>, as known from the iPhone. This creates more display area and enables context-sensitive ads directly on the screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chip: M6 Pro and M6 Max<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The M6 chip is manufactured using TSMC's 2nm process<\/strong> \u2013 one step more advanced than the 3nm process of the M5. This means:<\/p>\n\n\n\n